Over the past 4 years, Lee County Economic Development Group (EDG) Marketing and Communications Manager and Southeast Regional STEM Advisory Board member Dana Millard has been highly involved with developing the local workforce. Traditionally, economic development organizations have not taken this path however, in 2014 and 2016, Lee County EDG interviewed the top 20 employers in the area to determine their needs to grow and invest in Lee County communities. The data from these interviews determined workforce to be the number one issue facing Lee County industries. As one plant manager stated, if we don't have the qualified workers to grow here, corporate may decide we don't need to be here.

Dana Millard (left) partnered with Fort Madison High School Principal Greg Smith (right) to bring business partners to the district

Based on this feedback, Lee County EDG started a Talent for Today & Tomorrow breakfast series with the goal to develop a pipeline of trained and motivated workforce to meet the current and future needs of our employers. Through these breakfasts, the group identified bold ideas that would drive them forward, developing Grow Lee.

A major part of Grow Lee, and developing a pipeline of qualified workers, is being involved with the local schools and promoting STEM activities. The group started in the elementary schools with a Grow Lee Lego Robotics program, which has reached over 240 third through sixth grade students, exposing them to basic engineering and mechanical skills and computer programming, skills greatly needed in the current workforce. Lee County EDG also partnered with Southeastern Community College to provide scholarships to STEM summer camps. Providing over 50 scholarships to date and increasing, Lee County student participation in these STEM career exploration camps grew by over 200%.

They also have a major focus at the high school level, setting up career exploration days, career fairs, job shadows, tours of local industries and an employability class called 12 Plus. Piloted at the Fort Madison High School, and has now expanded to include students from all three local high schools, 12 Plus exposes high school students to different careers in the area while teaching them the skills needed for an entry-level position.

Lee County EDG has leveraged resources and partnered with the Southeast Regional STEM Advisory board to promote the STEM Externship program, having 21% of this year's Southeast Region externs in Lee County. Through these programs and others, Lee County EDG has been able to reach 2,563 students last school year alone.

According to Millard, "It is only through collaboration with our industries, educators and partner organizations that we have been able to achieve success in Lee County. It is our goal to continue these partnerships and assist our students and community in growing in Lee County."