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The Community Development Foundation continues to serve as an economic forecaster for the Tupelo/Lee County area. Workforce Development is an integral part of future activities in working with area businesses and industries, K-12 schools, community colleges, universities, and by providing a key link to resources and opportunities to achieve success. The Community Development Foundation continues to serve as an economic forecaster for the Tupelo/Lee County area. Workforce Development is an integral part of future activities in working with area businesses and industries, K-12 schools, community colleges, universities, and by providing a key link to resources and opportunities to achieve success.
The Community Development Foundation has successfully partnered with Itawamba Community College to train thousands of local business and industry employees. This demand driven training has encompassed a plethora of professional development/workforce training opportunities, utilizing the consortium method to ensure low cost and high impact. The collaboration between ICC’s Workforce Development program and CDF Workforce Development program has been a true example of synergy. Each partner has contributed valuable efforts and resources to accomplish more than either could have alone. Ongoing training is vital to the success of area business and industry and critical to individuals to remain competitive in the workforce and today’s global economy.
The Community Development Foundation, Mississippi State University, and Itawamba Community College partnered together to provide training to the furniture industry. Funded by a Department of Labor grant, the program successfully trained over 1,000 employees in areas such as leadership, motivation, performance management, workplace design, and Microsoft applications. This program received the Business Retention and Expansion International award for “Outstanding Multi-Community, County and Regional BR&E Program” in June 2008.
Another important component of the CDF Workforce Program has been the Mississippi Scholars Program.
This initiative has brought business professionals into classrooms in Lee County and Nettleton School districts and demonstrates how better education and obtaining a skill boosts future earnings. Students can also learn employers’ expectations of them upon entering the workforce, as well as the importance of “life- long” learning. More than 120 classroom presentations have been made since 2005, touching over 2200 eighth grade students.
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