BioTek Awarded Vermont Training Program Grant
MONTPELIER, Vt. – BioTek, a Winooski-based life science instrumentation firm has been granted $96,887 from the State‘s Vermont Training Program.
BioTek will work with the Vermont Manufacturing Extension Center (VMEC) to develop and deliver the Lean Fundamentals (Lean 101) and Improving Workplace Communication curriculum. The first training will incorporate classroom, simulation, and selection of real opportunities faced by those diverse teams from BioTek. The second training will be utilized to help support and sustain improvement in communication, so a culture of collaboration emerges, and productivity can be enhanced.
“I am very excited that BioTek is working with VMEC. VMEC has shown continuous success in helping manufacturers innovate, plan, and grow,” said Joan Goldstein, Commissioner of the Department of Economic Development. “We believe that partnering with VMEC to improve its product and people will continue the success of Biotek in Vermont.”
VMEC focuses on the strategies, technologies, products, processes, and people to form solutions that allow businesses to reduce costs and become more competitive in the business climate. Manufacturing is the largest sector of Vermont’s economy, generating $1.89 of additional economic activity for each dollar spent. VMEC finds appropriate business solutions to provide significant client return on investment.
“We are thankful to the state for providing us this grant as it helped our employees be trained in various aspects of lean manufacturing; helping us compete globally while making it locally in Vermont,” said Amit Lodha, BioTek’s Director of Manufacturing.
With its headquarters in Winooski, BioTek has grown to be a premier business for life science instrumentation. Its products can be used for a variety of applications such as cell counting, histology, and cell proliferation. Starting in 1968, the company has shown sustained growth since 1982, when it introduced its first microplate reader. Today, the company has expanded and has opened offices in China, India, Singapore, Switzerland, and Canada. Working with many partners, it helps provide solutions in the area of drug discovery, clinical diagnostics, blood screening, and even veterinary medicine.
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About the Vermont Manufacturing Extension Center (VMEC)
Part of the nationwide MEP National Network™ and hosted by Vermont Technical College since 1995, VMEC operates as a not-for-profit with a primary Mission “To strengthen and empower Vermont manufacturers.” A local resource and trusted adviser to enterprises of all sizes, the VMEC team brings world-class expertise in consulting, coaching, hands-on implementation support, training and education for leaders and workers. Through the VMEC PSG business unit, on a selected basis VMEC also brings its process, strategy and innovation expertise to non-manufacturing businesses, non-profits, healthcare, higher education, and government sectors in Vermont. VMEC provides proven Systems and Solutions focused on Strategies, Processes, Products, Technologies, and People.
About the Vermont Training Program
The Vermont Training Program is administered by the Vermont Agency of Commerce and Community Development, Department of Economic Development. It is a workforce development program to enhance the skills of the Vermont workforce and increase the productivity of Vermont employers; grants may cover up to 50 percent of the training cost which can either be on-site or through a training provider/vendor. For more information on VTP, visit http://accd.vermont.gov/economic-development/funding-incentives/vtp.
About the Vermont Agency of Commerce and Community Development
The Vermont Agency of Commerce and Community Development’s (ACCD) mission is to help Vermonters improve their quality of life and build strong communities. ACCD accomplishes this mission by providing grants, technical assistance, and advocacy through three divisions: The Department of Economic Development, the Department of Tourism and Marketing, and the Department of Housing and Community Development. For more information on ACCD please visit: https://accd.vermont.gov/.