Georgia’s approach to workforce development in rural areas October 5, 2015

Bottom up, locally driven solutions. How we do it…… Understanding a community's challenges and opportunities, working to develop locally-driven solutions, and bringing resources to the table.

Partnerships are key to our approach

How it works in Georgia  We use our community and economic development financial resources to provide ‘capacity’ building opportunities to our local governments.  It takes a partnership of a local need, a willing local government or development authority and someone who can make widgets because we can’t.  We’re the seat of the stool that provides the balance/gap needed; i.e. the ‘brick and mortar.’  Sustainability after funding is a major consideration.

 A ‘need’ usually identified by a local industry  A willing local government/development authority to serve as the applicant  A ‘widget maker’ to provide training, machinery/equipment, and sustainability  The state serves as the ‘brick and mortar’ funder  Long-term sustainability is a key part of our funding consideration Key ‘ingredients’ to our program

What are our resources  CDBG  Benefit to low/moderate income persons  ‘new jobs/skill training’ not previously available under the ED criteria  ‘slum and blight’ criteria for a creative entrepreneur career academy  State Funding  ‘capacity building’ in rural areas hit hard with a lack of an educated work force.  Provides a funding avenue for innovative approaches for unique needs that we see as ‘best practices.’

Examples: Warren County – ‘slum and blight’ national objective Jefferson County – ‘new skills’ training CDBG-funded projects

Old Warren County High School - Before  The county received funding through the Redevelopment Fund (‘slum and blight’ national objective) to demolish and rehabilitation of a wing of the old historic high school. Phase 1 of the building will be rehabilitated into the Warren County Career Academy. BeforeWhat we funded

Old Warren County High School Before - exterior

Old Warren County High School - Before Before – exteriorBefore - interior

More…………

Warren County Career Academy After – courtyardAfter - exterior

Jefferson County Health Sciences building  Fostering future rural healthcare workers through an innovation high school health sciences curriculum  Partnerships were key but results more than anticipated.

OneGeorgia Equity Fund program Hazlehurst – the Big House Macon – Goodwill of Middle Georgia State-funded programs

Equity Fund  The Equity Fund enhances the competitiveness of non-metro areas by providing a capacity-building funding mechanism where the State can be the minority partner  Loans and grants for Infrastructure to support non-competitive capacity building development, workforce development, downtown revitalization, tourism initiatives, and feasibility studies

The Big House

Middle Georgia Goodwill Center Re-use of a former Sams Club building Unique partnerships  Local development authority received funds to purchase commercial kitchen equipment to be leased to the regional Goodwill Center.  The Center provides culinary training for the region.  Goodwill provides training for people with the most impediments to employment.

Out of the box ‘within the box’

Thanks for your attention Thank-you and we welcome you to Georgia next September for the COSCDA Annual Conference.