The Enterprise and Holmes Community College Workforce Development completed their first Basic Manufacturing Class the week of Feb. 25-March 1.
Five participants completed the 24-hour course and received their WorkKeys certificate. This class was offered through a regional grant received from the Appalachian Regional Commission
The class was led by retired Webster County School District employees Lyn Blaylock and Becky Oliver along with Thomas Allen from Cook-Allen Engineers in Eupora. Additional Basic Manufacturing Classes will be held in the upcoming months in Choctaw and Webster counties
Young Talent
Thank you to Tennessee Valley Authority Economic Development team member Melissa Halsell for leading our quarterly industry roundtable meeting on Feb. 11. Melissa took participants through an exercise about Young Talent discussing how our community and industry is preparing for future generations to live, work and play in The Enterprise.
Workforce partners
come together
Through an Appalachian Regional Commission Partnerships for Opportunity and Workforce and Economic Revitalization grant awarded to the Golden Triangle Planning and Development District and the ACT Work Ready Community program, Choctaw and Webster counties are becoming better equipped to train the necessary workforce needed by local employers. The new grant and program will work to attract businesses, establish new jobs and increase economic development in opportunities in Choctaw and Webster Counties.
Partners in Workforce in The Enterprise area met Jan. 11 at the Webster County Career and Technology Center to discuss implementation of new workforce programming. They included representatives of The Enterprise, WCCTC, Webster County School District, Holmes Community College, and the Golden Triangle Planning and Development District.
Aspire team
Choctaw County’s Aspire team was featured on WCBI News in Columbus highlighting the group’s accomplishments in working with the Ackerman Board of Alderman to beautify the town’s median. Each Aspire team had to set a goal to work toward in the summer of 2018. Choctaw County chose to increase revenue sales in local businesses. The team is working to beautify the downtown area to attract more visitors and create a more business friendly environment.
Webster County’s Aspire team chose to work with local high school students to improve their job readiness skills for the workforce. Both teams were to graduate from the Mississippi Development Authority Aspire Program in March.
Sharing The
Enterprise Story
North Mississippi Industrial Development Association offers a monthly program called Lunch with Locals where they sponsor a community to present to the Mississippi Development Authority staff. The Enterprise was February’s luncheon participant.
Enterprise Director Lara Bowman gave a 20-minute presentation highlighting the advancements made in property development, workforce development and community livability to MDA over the noon lunch hour.
Additionally in February, Bowman presented to TVA’s Workforce Institute and was able to share The Enterprise’s story to communities around the Tennessee Valley. Bowman shared with participants of the Workforce Institute how she conducted a business climate and wage survey with local industrial employers in May 2018. Bowman has used the data to direct programs of work and highlight areas of success from the feedback of local employers.
ACT Work Ready
Community Update
Choctaw and Webster Counties completed the ACT Work Ready Communities Boot Camp in Little Rock, Ark., in January. Both counties had community representatives attend the Boot Camp to learn about implementation of the program. ACT WRC gave each county goals they must meet to become a certified Work Ready Community. Choctaw County had met 90 percent of its goals and Webster County had met 82 percent of its goals by the end of February.
The Enterprise is working to have both counties certified by April. One goal not being met by either of the counties is the testing of the emerging workforce. The emerging workforce is classified as high school and college students who have taken WorkKeys. Choctaw County High School and French Camp Academy have given all high school seniors the WorkKeys test. East Webster and Eupora High School students are scheduled to take the test in March.
If you would like to become a supporter of The Enterprise, contact Lara Bowman at 769-610-1795 or l.bowman@theenterprisems.com to learn more.
