"We first came to RochesterWorks! for assistance with on-the-job training grants," says Alice Curry, Employee Care Team Manager. "Over time, we moved into other services they offered, such as recruiting. This past summer, we were involved with the Digital Afternoons program."

A new program that provides technical certification for youth ages 14-18, Digital Afternoons puts youth through a rigorous online curriculum for ten weeks before companies such as Hammer Packaging offer internships to help youth apply their newly learned skills. A positive experience for Hammer Packaging, Digital Afternoons is something Curry said her company would definitely do again. "We had two 16-year-old youths who worked in our IT department," says Curry. She adds, "Both worked out very well, and one youth is now working part-time for us through the rest of the year."

Hammer primarily produces high quality, multi-color labels for the food, beverage and household chemical industries using state-of-the-art print technology. The company employs more than 300 associates at three facilities. Hammer recognizes that employee training and education go hand-in-hand with company growth and therefore every associate is required to complete 24 hours of paid-in-house and off-site training each year. Hammer Packaging has received assistance from RochesterWorks! staff to obtain about $75,000 through customized training, on-the-job training, and direct grants. The company also works with RochesterWorks! to recruit for entry-level manufacturing positions, where workplace ethics are an important factor.

"We've done on-site recruitment with RochesterWorks! and it was a very positive experience. The atmosphere, service, and staff who assisted us were all very positive."

As Curry looks forward to working further with RochesterWorks!, she describes the biggest benefit for her company. "One-stop shopping. Another great benefit is having such knowledgeable staff regarding various government grants." She explains, "One phone call to RochesterWorks! and my question or concern is addressed versus having to make calls to several agencies. With so many services housed under one umbrella, convenience is the greatest benefit."