James November-December 2024 web - Flipbook - Page 70
Chambers extend their impact
when they serve as conveners
and network builders for various
community stakeholders.
Pines Technical College, school-age students can earn
college credit through the Dual Enrollment program.
The academy also offers career preparation and enrichment courses for adults through the Community
Learning Center.
VALDOSTA
The Valdosta-Lowndes Chamber of Commerce,
alongside a coalition of civic and corporate leaders,
launched One Valdosta-Lowndes in August 2024. The
initiative aims to leverage the county’s economic and
educational assets to become the “Capital of South
Georgia.” As a comprehensive community and eco-
nomic development strategy, One Valdosta-Lowndes
aims to prioritize connecting residents to workforce
opportunities that improve their quality of life.
Local leaders in Valdosta have identified several
ways to increase alignment between education and
workforce strategies, including creating a regional
college and career academy, partnering with the local
technical college to increase enrollment in six, high-demand careers, and increasing participation in programs
that help veterans transition into civilian jobs. The
initiative’s strategic plan, also known as Synergy 2030,
emphasizes the importance of investing in areas that
will attract individuals and businesses to South Georgia, such as health, housing, public safety, and entertainment and recreation.
GREATER COORDINATION & STRATEGIES
The Augusta, Brunswick and Valdosta chambers
are brokering mutually beneficial relationships between
education and business leaders. While the two primary
roles of chambers are to support business growth and
economic development, chambers extend their impact
when they serve as conveners and network builders for
various community stakeholders.
Local and regional chambers can also support their
members by demonstrating the benefits of investing in
expanding the talent pool in their regions. Businesses
can invest in increasing the capabilities of current employees, but working with school districts and post-secondary institutions also has its advantages. Companies
can support high-demand career pathways that prepare
individuals for open positions. Also, the business community, through chamber membership, can work with
education leaders to address the factors that contribute
to talent shortages, such as shifting market demands,
new technologies, and training that is not sufficiently
aligned to employer needs.
The three chambers profiled in this article understand the value of partnering with other non-business
community leaders and serving as a catalyst for greater
coordination and alignment of strategies. By inviting
members to get involved in regional development
efforts, these chambers also created a space to support
local innovation and partnership.
At the Georgia Partnership, we remain hopeful and
committed to success because of the growing evidence
of innovative community and corporate strategies cropping up across the state. By working with leaders in
cross-sector ways, local and regional chambers can be a
hands-on, invaluable partner in transforming quality of
life in their communities.
Matthew Smith is the Director of Policy and Research at the Georgia
Partnership for Excellence in Education.
70
