TRAVERSE CITY -- A Traverse City manufacturer will increase its workforce by 20 percent over the next four years by tapping into a statewide economic development tool and training offered by Northwestern Michigan College.

By 2015, Century Inc., a manufacturer of precision steel components, expects to add 35 new jobs to its Traverse City operations, according to the terms of a New Jobs Training Program agreement approved Monday by NMC Trustees.

Created by the Michigan Legislature in 2008, the program works as a regional economic development tool by allowing community colleges to offer training that, in turn, enables companies to expand and create new, good-paying jobs. Training costs are paid by a diversion of the payroll taxes generated by the new jobs.

In the Century agreement, the 35 new jobs will boost its workforce to 197. The positions, ranging from production workers to office workers to one engineer, will pay at least $12.95/hour, the minimum wage required to qualify for the New Jobs Training Program.

Jennifer Redumski, human resources manager at Century, said the program and other government grants will help the company reach its strategic goals more cost-effectively.

"This is definitely a great benefit to us," Redumski said, adding that Century wants to build upon previous positive experiences with NMC training in the area of lean manufacturing.

"We wanted to pick things up where we left off," she said.

"As we continue to share information on the New Jobs Training Program with area employers, we find that companies are thinking very strategically about short- and long-term training needs related to the new jobs they are creating," said Marguerite Cotto, vice president for Lifelong and Professional Learning at NMC. "Century, Inc. is a great example of a company thinking about a mix of resources, from customized training through formal courses and certificates to meet the demands of their new customers. We're proud to be their partner."

Training costs and fees are expected to total $199,622 over the four years. Among the training to be offered by NMC's Training & Research division are Crystal Reports, Leadership Skills, ESPRIT for CAM Programming, Solid Works for CAD and Computer Information Technology courses.

The Century agreement is NMC's second New Jobs Training Program deal, following one with Electro-Optics Technology Inc., in December 2010 that is expected to create 13 new jobs at the Traverse City supplier of components and diagnostic equipment for manufacturers and users of high power laser systems.

Training for the Electro-Optics positions will also be offered by NMCs's Training & Research division. In a recent survey, area employers attributed more than $6.2 million in improved productivity and effectiveness to the customized training solutions provided by NMC Training & Research in the last year.

NMC also serves the regional office of the Michigan Manufacturing Technology Center for 21 counties throughout northern lower Michigan, helping improve competitiveness of small and mid-sized manufacturers in the region.