By Randy Garrison

Mayor of Hartselle

Last week I had the opportunity to attend an Economic Development Summit in Florence, Alabama. The summit was sponsored by Huntsville/Madison County Chamber of Commerce, Huntsville International Airport and the Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA), and other sponsors as well. Many of those attending worked directly with economic development throughout North Alabama.

The speakers at the conference shared information about the success Alabama, and specifically North Alabama has enjoyed in the past few years, since 2010. The number of jobs and new business and industry locating in our area has been outstanding. Past successes were discussed as well as new opportunities that soon to be in our future. In fact, unless you have been under a rock for the past six months or so you have heard of the planned Toyota-Mazda plant to be constructed in Limestone County. The multi-billion-dollar investment will also offer over 4,500 new jobs for all North Alabama. This does not include spin-off business from suppliers and vendors who will offer support to the Toyota-Mazda plant.

The great news also brings out an important aspect that might surprise many, if you have not followed or kept up with happenings in the employment sector. While economic times have been on the upswing for the past 9 years, workforce development has not kept pace with the growing job market. Basically, this means that trained employees for the highly technical and mechanical jobs that Toyota-Mazda and other employers require are not readily available in the numbers needed to fill position now, and in the coming days and months.

Many of these jobs are not four-year degree jobs, but the requirements are more of a technical based training. In fact, many of the jobs would be hands on type work, but requiring specialized trained, such as industrial maintenance, welding, robotics, etc. While school systems have done a great job of getting students college ready, the other group who may not choose college education, may not have received the attention needed.

Hartselle City Schools have long been innovators in education. Not one to play catch up, but the leaders in education, a system others seek to emulate, would be a better description. In fact, Hartselle City Schools and Hartselle High School are known throughout the state as being leaders in Advance Placement (AP) education.

But knowing other students need to be successful as well, in other areas, and combined with the needs of business and industry, the leaders did not sit idly by and look for others to begin the process. Dr. Dee Dee Jones sought out innovative ways to educate her students. Early training and exposure to technical careers is highly important in filling those needed positions, as well as making sure students can succeed and fill those well-paying job openings. Jeff Hyche, working as workforce development director will add even more to the equation.

Hartselle City Schools has teamed up with local industries, Busche, Cerro Wire and Sonoco to offer on the job training for junior and senior high students. In fact, Sonoco has opened a facility in the Vocational Building on the Junior High Campus. Sonoco has brought in machinery and Hartselle High students are assembling reels that will be sold directly to Sonoco customers.

This is a win-win for the students, the school system and the local industries. The students receive on the job training, with pay, the school system offers another opportunity for learning, and the industry has employees they have trained from the beginning.

Hartselle City Schools leads the way, always striving to be the best for the students today and tomorrow.