Acting U.S. Secretary of Labor Keith Sonderling visited Whirlpool Corp.'s (NYSE: WHR) Clyde, Ohio facility on Aug. 5, touring the plant's apprenticeship program and areas being modernized as part of the company's $300 million investment in its U.S. laundry operations.

The Clyde plant, which has been in operation since 1952, employs approximately 2,600 people and has run a formal apprenticeship program since 1958. Sonderling met with current apprentices and journeymen and reviewed the facility's training academy for new production employees. U.S. Senator Jon Husted and state and local leaders also participated in the visit.

Whirlpool's Clyde apprenticeship is a four-year, state-certified program pairing classroom instruction with on-the-job training. The next class is set to begin in the fall.

The $300 million investment covers Whirlpool's Clyde and Marion, Ohio laundry operations and includes new and modernized production lines. The company also said construction is underway in Perrysburg, Ohio for a new parts and sub-assembly plant expected to employ up to 150 people.

"Whirlpool believes in the future of U.S. manufacturing because we see what our people can do when we invest in them," said Kristin Day, Whirlpool Corporation vice president of U.S. manufacturing.

Whirlpool states it has approximately 20,000 U.S. employees, including 14,000 manufacturing workers, and sources 96% of its steel domestically. The company also participated in a workforce roundtable convened by Sonderling at Owens Community College in Perrysburg on the same day.