A Huge Workforce Ready and Waiting
Gadsden County businesses enjoy a strong local labor force of almost 17,000. With Tallahassee, Florida and Thomasville and Bainbridge, Georgia less than an hour’s drive away, that workforce swells to more than 260,000. A consortium of nine regional workforce boards representing southeast Alabama, South Georgia, and North Florida are developing sector solutions for transportation, distribution and logistics (TDL), healthcare, information technology, and construction trades.
K-12 Education
Gadsden County Schools are passionately committed to preparing their students for demanding jobs with programs in culinary arts, digital and multimedia and engineering, to name a few.
These and other vocational programs put Gadsden County students ahead of the curve by giving them the skills they need to succeed and helping them earn important industry certifications. For example, students in the Engineering Pathways Program learn about the instruments, tools, and machines as well as the processes and systems used in business and industry. They get the hands-on experience needed to earn National Instrument Autodesk Certified User – AutoCAD and other technical certifications while still in school.
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REACH – Reimaging Education and Career Help
According to US News & World Report, Florida is ranked number one in higher education, but we didn’t stop there. Florida recently launched REACH – Reimaging Education and Career Help – to increase collaboration, improve training, and enhance equity and access to a more expansive workforce and education system for all Floridians. Central to this effort is the inventory of credentials of value as articulated by Florida business and industry.
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Transformational Talent Strategies for Inclusive Economic Development
Gadsden industry, education, and community leaders are collaborating to grow and attract talent to the area’s new schools, expanding neighborhoods, and growing communities. Specifically, we are committed to:
- Improving 3rd grade reading scores
- Expanding rideshare and childcare options
- Creating a holistic employee resource network
- Capitalizing on successful returning citizen initiatives
- Growing year-round work experience for youth and adult workers
- Promoting live, work, play attributes to attract talent
- Facilitating new, attainable housing
Unique Partnerships Garner State Investment
Gadsden Technical College and Four Star Freightliner teamed up to launch a training program for diesel systems technicians. Four Star Freightliner has augmented the training with classroom computer-based instruction through the Daimler Get Ahead program and hands-on instruction in the diesel engine maintenance and repair bays at their new Gadsden County facility. Additionally, Gadsden Technical College is creating a registered apprenticeship for diesel technicians to support local employers who serve as apprenticeship sponsors and/or offer apprenticeships.