All across Oakland County students are heading back to school. In Rochester Hills, many recent high school graduates are starting their higher education pursuits at Oakland University or Rochester College, while others are just beginning their four-year journey through Rochester, Rochester Adams, Stoney Creek, or Avondale High Schools.
The one question that is sure to be asked as students head back is, “What did you do over the summer?”
If the question were asked of us here in Rochester Hills City Hall, our answer would be simple. We have been very focused over the past several months to expand the employment opportunities here at home. For that reason I am optimistic about our future here in Rochester Hills, and the future of our students as they head back to school for that most important education.
Over the summer we landed a couple of big fish that will bring more than 500 new jobs to our local community.
For example, WABCO North America is creating a new division that will be located here and is expected to hire as many as 80 workers by the end of 2010 and as many as 274 jobs within five years. WABCO refurbishes ABS systems and electronic control modules for the heavy truck and commercial vehicle industries.
KOSTAL Kontakt Systeme, Inc. has also selected Rochester Hills and will be filling 30+ new positions in 2010 and nearly 250 over five years. They manufacture switches and junction boxes for hybrid and electric vehicles, as well as solar panels.
And the good news doesn’t stop there. With construction on the Oakland University-William Beaumont Medical School moving along, bringing with it the promise of an even richer educational experience, along with Rochester College announcing their new Nursing Program, you can see that Rochester Hills is proud to be the educational epicenter of Oakland County.
While there is certainly a wonderful benefit to the immediate increase in taxes paid to the city and jobs created for our residents, we get most excited about the growth projections for the future. When companies in growing industries, like advanced automation or alternative energy, plant their roots in Rochester Hills, it means that they are making a long term commitment to our future graduates.
To those local students beginning this new year, study hard and know your community is working equally as hard to keep and attract employment opportunities for your future. A well-educated workforce to fill top-notch, quality jobs is the synergy we’re after, and judging on our recent success- we are receiving high marks here in Rochester Hills.
Mayor of Rochester Hills
Bryan K. Barnett