BRCC Forum Focuses On Skilled Workforce
Posted: August 5, 2014
By KASSONDRA CLOOS
Daily News-Record
WEYERS CAVE — Four Valley legislators see collaboration between education institutions and private businesses as one of the most important proactive steps and reactive solutions to improving local industry.
Dels. Steve Landes, R-Weyers Cave, Richard “Dickie” Bell, R-Staunton, Ben Cline, R-Lexington, and Tony Wilt, R-Broadway, served on a panel discussion Monday at the second annual Valley Business Summit, held at Blue Ridge Community College.
“I think one of our biggest responsibilities, one of the things we can best do to support small business or big business, for that matter, is to bring to you a qualified workforce,” said Bell, a retired high school special education teacher. “We hear that from people who are looking to expand, people who are looking to relocate and businesses who are looking to start up.”
About 100 people attended Monday’s summit at Blue Ridge Community College, which also included a Business Resource Fair.
The event offered a way to connect companies with resources they may need to improve business.
Chambers of commerce, schools, business partnerships and organizations offering financial resources were among the groups present.
At the panel discussion, Bell said not everyone must go to college, and more options should be available for those who don’t.
Businesses should more frequently team up with schools and create apprenticeships and other opportunities, he said.
Wilt said the Shenandoah Valley serves as a successful business model for the rest of the state.
He encouraged business owners and leaders at the event to support institutions of higher education, financially and otherwise.
“Be proactive,” Wilt said. “If you’re looking for individuals that are trained in your area, might not hurt to invest, if you will, in the institutions that we have here to help them keep their programs going. And it’ll pay dividends.”
Blue Ridge has developed several new programs in recent years at the request of and in cooperation with Valley businesses in need of qualified workers.
It’s a challenge to make students aware of all the careers available to them, like welding, but the Valley’s approach to those issues makes it unique, BRCC President John Downey said.
“It’s easy to point fingers and blame, but the Valley tends not to do that,” Downey said. “[W]e come to the table and sit down with businesses together. It really makes a huge difference.”
Landes and Bell are on the House Education Committee and discussed ways to better prepare kids even before it’s time for them to consider their career options.
“What we’re trying to do, I think, is bring the technology into the classroom so that kids have access to the knowledge and be able to apply that knowledge on the technology. … The problem is that costs a lot of money,” Landes said.
Internet connectivity — and strong, fast service — is an issue in many school divisions.
Rockingham County Public Schools, for example, has a years-long plan to gradually improve its Internet access and technology resources. The project is being funded with local funding.
After the panel, Landes said he and other delegates will soon work with leaders in the private sector to explore options for improving technology in schools.
Maybe, for example, Internet providers could offer discounts to school divisions and for children whose parents otherwise wouldn’t be able to afford Internet.
Contact Kassondra Cloos at 574-6290 or [email protected]
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