McMinn County EDA Hosts Successful Workforce Summit to Better Prepare Residents for Job Growth

McMinn County EDA Hosts Successful Workforce Summit to Better Prepare Residents for Job Growth Main Photo

29 Jan 2025


News

More than 50 business owners, stakeholders, and elected representatives attended the annual Workforce Summit hosted by the McMinn County Economic Development Authority (EDA) on Friday, January 24. The topics centered around workforce training resources, pathways to higher education, and opportunities for local career exploration.

“We brought everyone to the table who supports local employees or experiences pain points with attraction and retention,” says Lindsey Ferguson, Executive Director of the McMinn County EDA. “This summit created opportunities for information sharing and transparent conversations about the workforce in McMinn. When we are all on the same page, we can work to make the county better.”

If you were unable to attend, you can still learn about the various programs changing the workforce in McMinn County. Here’s why the future is bright for McMinn employees and the companies who hire them. 

More Than a Dozen Industries Were Represented  

Workforce development programs reflect the needs of the local community, which is why the EDA invited business leaders across McMinn County to this summit. When diverse industries are represented, the EDA and workforce development organizations have a clearer picture of the region's training needs. This allows them to respond with relevant training tools and opportunities to address skills gaps.

Among other attendees, the McMinn County EDA would like to thank the following companies for sharing their insights on staffing trends:

These business owners were joined by representatives from local government and utilities providers. State Representative Mark Cochran and State Senator J. Adam Lowe also attended the summit and gave a quick update on the upcoming general assembly session in Nashville. Their presence provided insight into the work being done on a state level to improve local workforces. 

Education Leaders Attended to share CTE and Training Programs

One of the key roles of the EDA is to connect local businesses with resources to help them grow, whether that means highlighting grant opportunities or sharing training programs that could help their employees. Representatives from multiple schools, colleges, and universities participated in the summit and highlighted their programs. Here are the local education departments that attended:

SETW discussed funding and training opportunities in McMinn County, while UTCIS also shared available training programs that businesses can use and recommend to employees.

Some of the most common themes discussed during the summit were developing soft skills, transitioning and exploring new careers, and finding pathways to higher education.

“Employees with soft skills can have an easier time transitioning from one industry to another while the resources provided by education partners can help them acquire hard skills that allow them to succeed,” says Ferguson. “Even employees staying within their fields and companies can benefit from growing their skills.” 

The EDA Introduced its New Workforce Development Initiative

MC Works

The workforce summit ended on a high note as the McMinn County EDA debuted MCWorks, its new workforce development initiative. The EDA will use this program to “build tomorrow’s workforce today,” and prepare McMinn County for upcoming growth. When community leaders and education partners invest in the workforce now, residents of McMinn County will be better prepared to fill skilled roles in the future.

“No matter what industry comes to McMinn County, there will either be skilled employees ready to work or programs available to train residents,” says Ferguson. “This also makes it easier for existing businesses to find talent and expand their operations, making us all stronger.”

Follow Other Workforce Development Opportunities in McMinn County

Workforce education and training is one of the top priorities for the McMinn County EDA this year. In April, the EDA will send out a wage and benefits survey to learn more about the local workforce. It also has events like this summit throughout the year that connect business leaders with training programs and government leaders.

If you want to have a say in the future of McMinn County’s workforce development, become a member of the EDA. You can attend events, keep up with local news, and take advantage of programs and grants. With your membership, we can all Make it in McMinn.