"Workforce training is the only vehicle to make economic growth possible in Mississippi," stated Chairman of the State Community College Board and Co-Chairman of the State Workforce Development Council, George Walker of Clarksdale.

"Because it is an increasingly world-class, competitive market, the only way to succeed is to have employees who are well trained in the current technology and who are able to perform on a worldwide level," he said.

The call for workforce training began with a gathering of business, education, and government leaders known as the Millenium Group. This organization saw the training of employees and potential employees to work in the state’s industries as the catalyst for continued economic growth.

Workforce training officially began to take place in the state in 1994, making Mississippi the first in the nation to devise a program with the specific provisions for the involvement of employers. Since that time, several other states have followed the model due to its success.

"The genius of the program lies in the District Councils that are based at each of the state’s 15 community colleges. The councils, that include a voting majority of employers, meet on the college grounds where the programs are physically located. These employers from the college’s district, work with the executive director at the specific locations to devise the best possible program. They are teamed with representatives from the state and the field of education to devise a curriculum for education and training that meets the individual’s and the business’ needs for that geographical area."

The Center for Career and Workforce Development at Mississippi Delta Community College (MDCC) offers customized training designed to provide businesses or their employees with the skill requirements of the globally competitive economy.

Dean of Career and Workforce Development for MDCC Dr. Tony Honeycutt, said, "Workforce training development is the number one criteria for economic development. To sustain economic growth in the Delta, we must have a trained workforce and that workforce must continue to be upgraded."

MDCC is doing its part in the training of employees and encouraging economic development in the part of the Delta included in their seven-county district. The Center experienced a 15 percent increase in fiscal year 1996-97 from the previous year, serving almost 19,000 people throughout their total events.

Due to the training received through MDCC, eight companies reported that they elected to locate or remain in the Delta and other companies reported that certain jobs were created or retained. Employer customers of the Center reported that they anticipated both an increase in sales and savings as a result of the training received.

Through the Center, training is provided for individuals whether they need basic skills training or training in a highly technical field. For businesses, the services also run the gamut from training in "soft" skills such as report writing and employee management to training in a variety of manufacturing processes.

Other services provided include counseling assessment for individuals, employer-specific skills training, transition skills training to help individuals move from one stage of their lives to another, productivity enhancement that teaches employees about quality productivity, human resource development, and entrepreneurial development.

"The Delta has industries scattered throughout the area that require employees ranging from operator skill levels up to technicians skilled in various manufacturing processes," said Honeycutt. "We have some very high-tech operations taking place and we offer programs for the wide range of individuals employed by these operations."

Director of Coahoma Community College’s (CCC) Skill Tech Program Lois McMurchy, said, "Our goal is to provide training for businesses and industry and help create a globally-competitive workforce."

CCC, whose district includes Bolivar, Coahoma, Quitman, Tallahatchie, and Tunica counties, offers services in its skill tech program for employees, potential employees, businesses, parents, and even grade school children.

Their services include adult basic education where students can receive assistance through on-site training or at local businesses. Businesses’ employees are also trained at these sites, as employees receive needed training in areas from basic skills to advanced computer applications.

In fact, the college estimates that approximately 1200 persons have participated in their computer-training program alone in the last year with over 6,500 adults receiving training.

A specialized program developed in conjunction with NASA is the Commercial Remote Sensing Program. This program works with farmers in the development of private sector utilization of remote sensing technology with applications such as Geographic Information Systems and aerial survey through the use of satellites.

The Rural Minority Development Center works at CCC in conjunction with the Mississippi Department of Economic and Community Development to provide entrepreneurial training for minority businesses in the area.

In partnership with the Mississippi Forum on Children and Families, a mobile parent education unit travels with a trained parent educator to businesses, industries, and locations within the community to provide assistance for parents.

Another project that has been especially successful in the area has been the JASON Project. Targeted at fourth through ninth graders, the project allows students to interact with world-class scientists via the Internet. Dr. Bob Ballard, who first explored the Titanic, devised the project to bring the world of science to children.

Administrators at both CCC and MDCC, and across the state, agree that workforce training not only meets a need in the community, but also helps the person as an individual.

McMurchy said, "We are impacting lives. We are placing fourth generation welfare recipients in jobs, helping increase their self-esteems and teaching them the value of an education. Because it is a systemic change, the impact will continue to be seen over the next five to ten years." DBJ

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