Positive News in Greene and Putnam County
INVESTED & COMMITTED
A Special Supplement to
www.lakeoconeebreeze.net • Thursday, October 4
Local community leaders respond to our question:
What role does education play in economic development and building the labor force and what steps in training/education must we take to get where we need to be? ducation and economic development growth go hand in hand. The development and future prosperity of any community depend heavily upon the groundwork a community makes in education today. One of the biggest lessons the recent economic recession taught us was that it is vital for every community to have strong resources and support for education. When residents lost jobs in the recession and recent graduates searched for work with limited career opportunities available, training and re-training of prospective employees became crucial. Programs such as Georgia Keith Work Ready, Certified Literate Communities, Go Build Barlow Georgia and the Georgia College and Career Academies Publisher signify to prospective businesses and industries that the Lake Oconee Breeze local community is in tune with their employment needs and wants and that the community working toward developing the skill level of local residents. This way, industries can be assured that the local community is trained and prepared to meet employment opportunities. We no longer exist in a world or an economy where possessing one skills set always translates to a 30-year career at the same job and with the same employer. Skills sets must be multi-tiered and they must also include training and education beyond a high school diploma. Reducing the dropout rate and getting local students to high school graduation is a first step, but not a final step. High school dropouts earn less over the course of their lifetime than those with some level of higher education, and children of parents with higher education and skills development in their background are more likely to work toward the same. An educated community is a community with a strong foundation for building economic development and job growth, and the only way this is possible is through schools and community working together to promote and encourage high school completion and promoting the value of advanced education. Everyone plays a part in supporting education. Everyone and every sector has a roll, and community partnerships are vital to success. Business leaders, community leaders, parents, educators and churches all play a part — and we all have a stake.
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reating a skilled workforce is perhaps the most critical challenge facing Georgia’s economic future today. How important is a qualified workforce to economic growth? Whether it’s a new industry prospect or an existing industry expansion, it all begins and ends with people. Economic Development = Workforce Development. Creating new jobs and sustaining existing jobs is the primary focus of everyone working in economic development. Georgia’s ability to compete and a company’s ability to expand depends upon the availability of a qualified workforce. When it comes to workforce, the difference between supply and demand is skills. The lack of a skilled workHank force inhibits regional, national and international ecoGriffeth nomic health. CGTC Vice President of The economic success of a community is related to Satellite Operations the number of graduates it produces. Eighteen percent of Georgia’s adult population — more than 1.2 million Becky Lee adults — has less than a high school education. The CGTC Vice President of vision is a fully literate Georgia and a workforce that is Economic Development well prepared to compete in the global marketplace. Literacy is the bedrock of workforce development. In order to prepare students for work, a close working relationship between educators and the business community is essential. Georgia’s technical education system is one of the best in the nation. It is important we continue to educate students and parents about the wonderful careers available to those who attend a state technical college. The demand for these graduates is strong, with the most significant benefits of a technical education being: courses that fit interests and career goals, affordability, many career options, and can be a first step towards a bachelor’s degree. A technical education provides world class training that is accessible, affordable and accommodating for all citizens. We must take the steps to insure that everyone in our community is aware of and understands the offerings of these institutions, and sees the benefits of the training through the support of their family, their teachers, prospective employers and community leaders.
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he role of education is vital to economic development and building a labor force for the 21st century. As we look at our everyday environment and the many aspects involved in its function we can see that we are no longer a “strong back” and “sweat of the brow” society. Mechanics of modern day automobiles must be able to operate computerized diagnostic equipment John Reid before he can begin repairs on a car Mayor that also requires many different City of Eatonton torque specifications. In manufacturing plants most of the labor that was once done by humans is now done by a series of robotic equipment and a mere handful of technicians that operate them. There are fewer jobs to compete for because so many of them have
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ducation is one of the most powerful engines of economic development. The entire community profits when business, industry and public schools partner with higher education to create a seamless pathway for students to graduate prepared for college and career opportunities. Education benefits individuals in many ways including documented higher lifetime earnings, and benefits local communities and the state
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Marcia T. Clanton Superintendent Putnam County Charter School System
Thursday, October 4, 2012
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moved to other countries where wages are lower and environmental restrictions are more relaxed. While we are very hopeful that we will soon see such outsourcing of jobs that were once domiciled in the American market end, it is a reality of the time. Our greatest weapon to combat the issues that we face is to raise the education levels of our workforce. Although there is no “cookie cutter” or “one size fits all” approach to improving education attainment for the sake of improving economic development in our communities, is has come to the forefront of our way of addressing job growth. In recent years, programs such as the Georgia Certified Work Ready and Certified Literacy Programs have been implemented to show that our communities are preparing our workforce to meet the needs of prospective and existing employees. If we are to remain competitive in the Global workplace market we must continue to invest in and implement programs that educate and train our workforce.
as a whole. In every educated student, the state and nation save money, which would be spent in social arenas such as health, welfare and law enforcement while simultaneously boosting the economy via a skilled workforce, increased productivity and attraction to business development. The vast majority of jobs in the future will require some form of post-high school education — a high school diploma is no longer a passport to prosperity — so students must be prepared with content, practical application skills and “soft” employment skills that make them competitive.
SHOPPING STARTS
HERE
NEWSPAPER ADVERTISING WORKS!
Every day, locals look to us for the latest shopping news, sales and coupons. Put your business in the spotlight with professionally designed print and online advertising, or pinpoint your market in one of our themed special sections.
Research shows that 79 percent of readers acted on a newspaper ad in the past month, and newspaper advertising is still the number-one resource consumers use to plan shopping and purchasing decisions. So why are you still waiting? Put newspaper advertising to work for you today!
To Advertise, Call 478.453.1436
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Thursday, October 4, 2012
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for employment closer to home. The area loses an opportunity to gain new residents and tax revenue, while I lose skilled employees, invested time and money. If we want to see economic growth, our community needs to attract, educate and provide amenities to the entrepreneurs who start businesses and the individuals they seek to employ. That starts with investment in the local schools because high-performing schools attract those business-oriented individuals. It’s impossible to achieve sustainable economic development if we don't invest in our people. The only way to truly invest in our people is through quality education. As citizens and leaders, we need to take a long-term perspective. We need to support and nurture the schools that are achieving academic success, and duplicate that success where we can. Where education isn’t working, we need to partner together to improve quality This requires courageous reform and financial commitment. If we work together to build and attract an educated labor force, our community can expect faster economic growth that will yield considerable return for years to come.
ducation is vital to the economic health and development of our community, state and nation. It is the foundation upon which America is built. As individuals, education is what prepares us to hold rewarding jobs. A quality education gives us a better chance of having a career that allows us to raise our standard of living and give our children a world of opportunities. Education is the key to lifting people out of poverty Montez and despair. Carter At the community level, education is Interim President what enables our area to attract and St. Mary’s Good retain quality employers and all the Samaritan Hospital benefits that come with a strong economic base. As a state and nation, education is what enables us to thrive in a democratic republic and to compete in today’s global marketplace.
Good jobs require good education. Here at St. Mary’s Good Samaritan Hospital, for example, we depend on highly educated people to provide the care our patients need — doctors, nurses, therapists, pharmacists, and technologists, to name a few. We rely on people who can process complex regulations and work with insurance companies, Medicare and Medicaid. We also need our patients to be educated. Education helps our patients better understand their health needs and enjoy quality outcomes. So what do we need to do to improve education? We must invest in good schools and good teachers. We must provide teachers with the tools they need to teach, and our children with the supplies and technology they need to be competitive in tomorrow’s workplace. We must have strong, locally available post-secondary education to train people to meet the changing needs of employers in our community. But most importantly, as families and as individuals, we must embrace the truth that education is essential to our own economic and personal wellbeing. First and foremost, we must want to learn.
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s a small business owner who has served the area for almost 15 years, finding employees capable of providing the high level of professional service this community has come to expect is a continual challenge. It is particularly difficult in the medical community, where we must have licensed, uniquely skilled labor. Currently, we have four dental hygienists who each travel an average of 100 miles round trip to our Dr. David office. Some have considered moving Bradley closer, but the uncertainty and availLake Oconee Dentistry ability of school options for their families has placed their plans on hold. These same decisions are being made by doctors, nurses, technicians, and support staff of other offices and hospitals in our area. As an employer, I often make considerable training investments in staff, only to find that eventually the commute catches up with these employees, and they opt
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www.lakeoconeebreeze.net
Your local source for individual and group health coverage.
Please call us Today! Kim Cullens • Valerie Lipscomb • Megan Green
www.pfpbenefits.com
RETIREMENT SUCCESS is driven by a series of good decisions
What is the sign of a good decision?® It’s working with those who can help build your retirement plan – and confidence.
Income – How will you create income for life? How much of your income should you guarantee? What about inflation?
When planning for retirement, we all face similar questions. But each of our answers will be as unique as we are – based on where we are now and where we want to be later. Reaching those goals will require making a series of good decisions about what’s right for you in these key areas:
Liquidity – Will you have access to money as you need it? Over the 20 to 30-plus years your retirement will span, no doubt there will be unexpected challenges – and opportunities – along the way. You’ll need assets readily available to handle the unexpected and still maintain your lifestyle.
Long Term Care – What will you do if you or a loved one can no longer live independently because of a chronic, long-term condition? Thanks to medical advances, people are living longer than ever in history. Plan now to help ensure your lifestyle isn’t jeopardized by long term care costs. Legacy – What legacy will you leave? For many, the thought of living well includes leaving behind a legacy of financial security. If this is important to you, you’ll also want to explore how to establish a sound estate plan.
Fortunately, you don’t have to make these decisions on your own. Take the most important next step now: Contact your financial professional. The sooner you do, the more confidently you can look ahead towards a rewarding retirement.
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Piedmont Financial Partners
Howell Cullens • Steve Mason • Trey Rhodes Financial Service Representatives 2901 Reynolds Walk Trail, Suite 202 •Greensboro, Georgia 30642 www.piedmontfinancialpartners.com Phone: 706-467-1300 Fax: 706-467-0095
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www.lakeoconeebreeze.net
A Patient - Centered Medical Home for the Entire Family DENTAL
MEDICAL • Family Practice/Primary Care • Internal Medicine • OB/GYN Women’s Health Care • Outpatient Surgery • On-site Lab Services • Pediatrics/Newborn & Well Baby Care
• Cleanings • Full and Partial Dentures • Root Canals & Extractions • Cosmetic Dentistry • Single & Panoramic X-rays • Precision Crowns & Bridges
Come in and Meet our Staff of Physicians and Providers
Dr. Dennis Spencer; Providers Debbie Darugar & Donna Kaufman Dr. Dave Ringer; Dr. Leroy Loving and Provider Bob Perry
Dr. Barry Darugar; Provider Rhonda Mealor; Dr. Butch Fossier; Pharmacist Charlie Culpepper; Dr. Elizabeth Coe; Provider Kandace Allen; Dr. James Southerland and Dr. Darcey Talor
Medical • Dental • Pharmacy • Wellness Services
HEALTH AND WELLNESS DEPARTMENT
Health & Wellness Educators Brenda Oulsnam and Pam Luke
• Biggest Loser for Weight Loss • One on One Patient Education • Living with Diabetes Classes • On-site wellness classes at businesses • Travel Medicine Clinic 138029
2 LOCATIONS TO SERVE YOU 803 South Main Street Greensboro, GA
1041 Park Drive (at the entrance to Harbor Club) Greensboro, GA
706-453-1201
706-453-4945
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Thursday, October 4, 2012