Business
Rural America is facing some incredible challenges. When rural students graduate high school many of them move away to urban areas. The up-and-coming generation tends to overlook their opportunities in rural areas. This hurts the economy of local communities, including those in Southwest Tennessee.The Southwest Tennessee Rural Workforce Readiness Collaborative is working to reverse this problem. By building a comprehensive approach to help bridge the skills gap, they’re beginning to show students the opportunities around them for meaningful employment in great-paying careers—like manufacturing and construction—and then providing the path.In order to strengthen the workforce across four rural counties, the collaborative pursued—and received—a first-of-its-kind $250,000 grant from the USDA. It will likely serve as a national model for similar programs across the nation seeking to build on the success of ACT® Work Ready Communities and generate investment in the talent pipeline.On this episode of Ready for Work, we’re joined by Joe T. Wood and Jim Tracy. They discuss the importance of workforce development in rural areas, the technology that the USDA’s grant is making possible, the implementation of ACT programs, and what’s happening next.Join the ConversationJim Tracy Twitter: @JimTracyJoe T. Wood LinkedIn: Joe T WoodJasen Jones Twitter: @JasenCJonesACT Twitter: @actACT Workforce Solutions: LinkedInResourcesPresentation from Joe T. Wood and Jim Tracy at ACT Workforce SummitUSDA Rural Development grant to Tennessee Board of Regents will assist workforce readiness in Chester, Decatur, Henderson & Perry countiesTennessee School Board Association Career Cluster DashboardUSDA Rural Community Development InitiativeACT WorkKeys® National Career Readiness Certificate® (NCRC®)ACT Work Ready CommunitiesACT Workforce Solutions See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.