Power management company Eaton announced that its Vehicle Group Kearney, Nebraska, facility has been named the “2017 Outstanding Business of the Year” by the Kearney Area Chamber of Commerce for its commitments to the community. The award was presented during the chamber’s annual meeting on February 12, 2018.
“The Eaton Kearney employees are proud of this recognition,” said Scott Bailey, plant manager, Vehicle Group North America. “In alignment with our values, we support the community because it is the right thing to do, not because of potential recognition.”
The award recognizes the contributions of businesses to the growth of the Kearney area. To be eligible for the award, applicants must meet the following criteria:
- Be a current member in good standing of the Kearney Area Chamber of Commerce for a minimum of two years;
- Have completed a minimum of three years in business;
- Show growth in sales, services and/or growth in number of individuals served and expanded programs and services;
- Demonstrate a commitment to ethical business practices;
- Demonstrate a commitment to employee support, development and diversity;
- Demonstrate community involvement/leadership; and,
- Demonstrate a commitment to utilizing resources in the Kearney area to help your business grow.
The Kearney facility, which has been in operation since 1969, adheres to the Eaton corporate initiative of giving back to the communities in which it lives and works. During the past year, plant employee groups have donated funds, goods and services to more than 20 area organizations, including the Gibbon Volunteer Fire Department, Relay for Life, the Kearney Area Animal Shelter, and the Nebraska Children’s Home Society.
Eaton Kearney employees also have logged hundreds of hours at several non-profit organizations over the past year, including Habitat for Humanity, the Salvation Army and the United Way.
The plant sources materials and services from several local suppliers and vendors, and has forged partnerships with nearby educational institutes, including the University of Nebraska at Kearney and Central Community College. Eaton provides guidance to these schools on their curriculum to help train students for possible employment at the plant.