The Knox County Area Partnership for Economic Development is introducing a new initiative that could be an aid to students’ future employment and area businesses.
They’re calling it Talent Connect Knox County and it’s designed to influence area youth towards careers in the area’s “core growth industries”, job sectors where employment is highly available and will likely be in the future as well.
Those three industries are advanced manufacturing, healthcare and transportation.
The initiative will coordinate industry showcases across Knox County, which will include speakers from local businesses, business visits, internships and summer work experiences.
They’ll have their first event on April 13, a healthcare industry showcase at both Galesburg and ROWVA High Schools.
KCAP President Ken Springer says the program will coordinate things like showcases, guest speakers from area businesses, business visit and job shadowing opportunities and even summer work experience.
He says the pathways this will coordinate “represent community opportunities that link into our local economic development plan.”
Those growth areas they’re referring to are careers in advanced manufacturing, healthcare and transportation.
GHS Principal Jeff Houston says he’s excited about the program and says it give students a chance to explore careers and gain meaningful work experience.
Springer says the initiative is about building a stronger relationship between the region’s education system and business community.
