Lara Bowman, executive director of The Enterprise of Mississippi in Choctaw and Webster counties, has graduated from TVA’s Valley Workforce Institute.
The Valley Workforce Institute, developed and sponsored by TVA Economic Development, is designed to assist economic developers in understanding and selling their workforce assets and address talent pipeline challenges in today’s economy. The program is offered to community economic development professionals in the TVA service area to help foster long-term success.
Four one-day sessions were conducted by leading area experts. The training included focused skills development in these major areas:
• Workforce Data Analysis and Application
• Identifying and Addressing Labor Force Challenges and Opportunities
• Developing Creative Labor Force Solutions
• Crafting a Comprehensive Workforce Story
“A community’s ability to compete, gain jobs, and attract economic investments depends on local leaders being prepared, having product available and understanding its workforce story to differentiate their community’s unique strengths,” said TVA Senior Vice President of Economic Development John Bradley.
Over 60 individuals have participated in the program since it began in 2016.
“This program was valuable to complete to learn new ways to present our local workforce story and capitalize on the assets only available in Choctaw and Webster counties,” Bowman said. “Workforce and available labor are the first topic to be discussed when meeting with existing and new industry in our area. I am appreciative to my board of trustees for allowing me to attend this program provided by TVA.”
Based on the success and responses from this and previous classes, TVA Economic Development is planning future institutes. Economic development professionals located in the TVA region will receive an application if interested in applying for future classes.
The Tennessee Valley Authority, a corporation owned by the U.S. government that provides electricity for business customers and distribution utilities, serves 9 million people in seven southeastern states. Economic development is a major part of TVA’s core mission. TVA’s Economic Development services are focused on attracting targeted new industries, retaining and growing existing businesses and partnering with communities to help foster economic growth. More information is available at TVA.com.
The Enterprise of Mississippi is a regional economic development organization located in north central Mississippi composed of Choctaw and Webster counties. The Enterprise:
• supports existing business and industry by working to retain every job we have in our community;
Seeks opportunities to help local industry and business expand their operations locally;
• improves existing and develops new industrial product to use in the recruitment of new industry;
• advances workforce development initiatives to assist industry and provide opportunity to local residents to improve their skills;
• and fosters relationships with local governments, state and regional organizations to determine the needs of the community and implement programs such as entrepreneurship, leadership and retail development.
