Walking the Walk: How Vo-Tech Ed Saved a Town

Not long ago, an industrial "prospect" walked into the Alabama Technology Network Center on the campus at Gadsden State Community College.

This community in northeast Alabama had made the short list of finalist communities for a site search, but the manufacturing executive was still not so sure if his company’s workforce needs could be met here.

Upon entering the building, he immediately saw students programming robots through large windows at the first room to his right, "Hmmm, now that’s interesting," he said.

At the very next room, still in the entrance foyer, the industry exec peered into another window to see a process control lab. He did a double take and walked inside. "These are the very same process controls that we use in our plants," he said.

Bingo.

"All of a sudden, he wasn’t concerned any more as to our ability to meet his workforce needs," said Mike McCain, executive director of the Gadsden-Etowah County Industrial Development Authority.

And this all this took place just moments before the industry exec was to go into a meeting with local educators who had wanted to prove to him that the human resources were hand. At that point, he had all the proof he needed.

Full Story: http://deanbarber.wordpress.com/2013/12/15/walking-the-walk-how-vo-tech-ed-saved-a-town/?goback=.gde_2164533_member_5817990708417544196#!