State grant benefits JD Distributors

Posted: Tuesday, April 24, 2012 7:00 pm

An $8,093 state grant will be used by Union City’s JD Distributors to train its staff on how to maintain, update and process website sales.
JD Distributors has been in business since 1999 and is owned and  operated by Bill Flood and his two sons, Jimmy and David Flood.
The company is headquartered at 408 East Florida Ave. in downtown Union City, with a second location in Jackson.
JD Distributors began as a janitorial supply company, and over the years, has expanded into office supplies and office furniture, food service supplies, logo mats, safety supplies and custom printing.
The state grant was awarded through the Incumbent Worker Training Grant program.
“If Tennessee is going to become the No. 1 location in the Southeast for high-quality jobs, then we must offer a well-trained workforce to employers,” Gov. Bill Haslam said. “This kind of training grant not only helps educate workers, but also provides incentives to employers looking to relocate or expand in Tennessee.”
“Both job creation and retention are vital in maintaining a healthy economy in Tennessee and the Incumbent Worker Training program has played a key role in accomplishing this,” state Commissioner of Labor and Workforce Development Karla Davis said.
“Since the program’s inception, Incumbent Worker Training grants have assisted more than 600 businesses by providing $14 million to train approximately 50,000 employees.”
The worker training grant will help JD Distributors with website development, which will allow customers to shop the website directly at any time, which will increase sales and make the company more competitive.
“By investing in the skills of Tennessee’s workforce, we’re also investing in our future economic success,” state Rep. Bill Sanderson said.
“I would like to thank Governor Haslam and Commissioner Davis for their involvement in awarding this grant for the workers of Obion County,” state Sen. Roy Herron said.
The state’s Incumbent Worker Training program has been structured to be flexible to meet training objectives and businesses may use public, private or their own in-house training provider, based on the nature of the training.
Prerequisites for grant eligibility include being in business for at least a year in Tennessee prior to the application date and employers must have at least five full-time employees.
Funding priority is given to businesses whose grant proposals represent a significant layoff avoidance strategy and represent a significant upgrade of skills.

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