Workforce Strategy Seeks To Bolster Cherokee Workforce

CANTON, GA -- The Cherokee Office of Economic Development is poised to unveil a multi-year plan designed to enhance the county's workforce.

The Cherokee Workforce Collaborative brought vested parties together to build upon current efforts and success and look toward the future. The results of this multi-pronged approach will be unveiled at 8 a.m. Thursday, March 9 at The Circuit, which is located on Chattahoochee Technical College's Woodstock Campus at 1 Innovation Way.

This latest push was developed by local industry leaders, Cherokee County School District, Cherokee Office of Economic Development, Cherokee County Chamber of Commerce, Georgia Department of Labor, Atlanta Regional Commission, Chattahoochee Tech, Reinhardt University, Kennesaw State University, entrepreneurs and local non-profits, said Mark Goddard, COED board member and chair of the Cherokee Workforce Collaborative.

The plan will put into action years of research, and is part of COED's mission to keep and bolster the job market in Cherokee County.

“The major component of the Workforce Cherokee strategy is collaborating with industry and education to ensure each side benefits," said COED President Misti Martin. "Cherokee County has a skilled workforce and as we continue to recruit new employers and further opportunities for start-ups through the new Fresh Start Cherokee entrepreneurship program, growing and strengthening that skilled workforce is essential. We want Cherokee to be the strongest workforce supply chain in Georgia.”

The Cherokee Workforce Collaborative created strategic goals and action items to ensure Cherokee continues to be a destination for new and expanding companies. The need for the plan arose from surveys and research through the ‘Opportunity Cherokee’ economic development strategic blueprint.

“When corporations are looking to locate and/or expand, they cite workforce strength as one of the key indicators in their move,” said COED Chairman Marshall Day.

Part of the project includes starting young, which means working with K-12 and post-secondary education officials to ensure students are given the opportunity to succeed in a field that represents their strengths and provides employers with employees who enjoy their industry.

“We have a great opportunity here to work from kid to CEO...to help students find career paths that are right for them,” Martin said.

The Workforce Cherokee plan also addresses the need for retaining their students as part of the quality workforce. Martin stated the plan also includes a young professionals scholarship to provide "real-world internship opportunities" for high school seniors.

Students will be offered college credit for their professional development during the internship. In addition to the opportunity for the student, the scholarship program also makes connections to employers searching for Cherokee’s best and brightest.

The plan responds to current needs in the workforce and puts a talent development strategy in place for the high demand careers of the future.

For more information about the Cherokee Office of Economic Development, visit the organization's website.

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