Recent good news you may have missed in the last two months:
Thank you for your time this month and please do not hesitate to contact me (
nhuret@catawbacountync.gov ; 828-244-3085) or the EDC if we can assist you or your business.
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Military Recruitment Taskforce
At the Chamber's recent "Future of Catawba County Summit", Kimberly Williams (Executive Director,
NC4ME) made a strong,
business case for hiring transitioning veterans:
"Every year, 20,000 veterans (and their families) transition out of NC installations with skills in health care, IT, accounting, HR management, facilities maintenance and public safety. Additionally, all of these individuals have received significant training and development in project management, teamwork, ethics and integrity, strategic planning and execution, leadership and effective communication."
For the last year, the Catawba County Chamber, Catawba County EDC and a number of partners have made strides to engage NC's transitioning military as a workforce pipeline for local companies. In that time, this partnership along with several local companies have historically "gone to" the bases and met the veterans at Fort Bragg or others.
We now have a commitment from NC4ME to bring a group of transitioning veterans and their families
to Catawba County for an in-depth community tour and company interviews; we are anticipating a two or three day experience this Fall.
To assist with the organization of this event, the EDC and Chamber are building an ad hoc Military Recruitment Taskforce. We are seeking time and input from 3-4 committed industry partners to help develop a beneficial event for all. Requirements for participation: (1 Commitment to meet several times over the Summer to plan, (2 Positions at your company pay $15/hr or more.
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Manufacturing Academy Class Starts April 17
The next class of the Manufacturing Academy begins Monday, April 17 (ends June 15). This will be the last class before a short hiatus over the Summer.
To date, the Academy has graduated more than 120 students, many of which have been incumbent workers at places like HSM Solutions, Sarstedt, and Blue Ridge Molding. These companies and others continue to utilize the Academy for both new hires (98% job placement out of the Academy) as well as continued skills development for their existing employees. In some cases, employers have reported their existing employees "fighting" to get chosen for Academy participation.
To enroll in this cohort ($250/student), please contact Kristin Wright (
kswright@cvcc.edu) ASAP.
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International Trade Roadshow
International Trade Road Show
April 21, 2017
8:00AM-2:00PM
Asheville-Buncombe Tech Community College, Bldg #24
Free, lunch included
The Economic Development Partnership of North Carolina's International Trade Division maintains seven overseas offices that help companies like yours prosper in North Carolina by growing revenue through exporting. Once a year, this team of experts returns to our State to bring their expertise directly to you.
Learn about opportunities in Global markets through individual meetings with foreign trade representatives based in Canada, China (Hong Kong and Shanghai), Japan, Europe, and Mexico. This year the Export-Import Bank of the U.S. will participate. The EXIM bank provides trade financing solutions - including export credit insurance, working capital guarantees, and guarantees of commercial loans to foreign buyers.
Whether your company is currently exporting, export-ready, or you are interested in learning more about developing international markets, the Road Show is an excellent opportunity for North Carolina companies to develop new foreign markets that can increase exports and profits.
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| Vol. 9, Issue 3 -
April 2017
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In 2016 the NC General Assembly approved $54M in funding to develop a new Western campus of the North Carolina School of Science and Math. The school's existing campus in Durham, with 680 on-campus students and another 350 online students, is considered to be among the finest high schools in the entire nation. This school's presence in Morganton will have a tremendous impact on our region, including as a workforce recruiting tool.
Stakeholder groups from across the state are partnering in the effort to develop the plans for this school, which is scheduled to open in 2021.
One partner, the Friday Institute at North Carolina State University, is helping the school design a vision for its overall educational programming. Part of the process of developing this vision includes soliciting input from business and community leaders, as well as many others.
To provide input for the development of the new campus, please click on this link.
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STEM West Spring Meeting
Wednesday, April 26
10:00AM - NOON
All stakeholders (educators, businesses) are invited to attend this upcoming meeting, which will feature an exhibition of real-world projects designed in partnership between a local educator and local business. Additionally, the meeting will be a starting point to map STEM (Science, Tech, Engineering and Math) assets in the region.
STEM West advocates and supports the alignment of educational and occupational objectives through the regional workforce development and community partnerships. STEM West is a non-profit organization involved with the Western Piedmont Workforce Development and the Western Piedmont Council of Governments.
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