CLEVELAND, Tenn. -- Whirlpool's recent announcement to build a plant to replace its old one is a hopeful sign for the Tennessee Rehabilitation Center, its manager said.
"I am encouraged, particularly here in Bradley County, with all that is happening," center Manager Delwyn Smith said. "Whirlpool was good news for us, because a lot of what we do here is for them."
Whirlpool is one of the center's industrial supporters, and other center clients create some of the appliance giant's packaging for shipping. Some of the packaging made in Cleveland is shipped to Whirlpool's Tulsa, Okla., facilities, as well.
Tennessee's network of rehabilitation centers helps the disabled become job ready. Clients are evaluated and taught skills such as resume writing. They also can take part in the center's workshop, learning skills that may help them land a job with a local business.
Because of the center's work, County Commissioner Howard Thompson said, clients can hope to enter, or re-enter, the job market, something that might not have happened otherwise.
This year, the regional rehabilitation center has found fewer jobs for its clients who successfully complete the program, Smith said.
However, the center has a new contract with another firm, he said, and he hopes that will encourage more companies to get involved with supporting the center.
The center now is booked three months in advance for vocational evaluations, he said, and the state may add a second evaluator here or in Hamilton County.
"We are the only business I know of where we constantly try to rid ourselves of our best employees," Smith said.