TN Reconnect Ambassador Training for Marshall County

Consider this an invitation to become one of our Marshall Co. TN Reconnect Ambassadors. The information below will explain the program and why I am asking you to take part. I believe this is another important step in the upgrading of our local workforce and you can play an important role for your company and this community. 

TN Reconnect Ambassador Training

Wednesday, Nov. 28 - 4-6pm

Columbia State Community College-Lewisburg 

(980 S. Ellington Pkwy., Lewisburg, TN 37091)

For More Information about TN Reconnect http://midtnreconnect.org/ 

Click to Register Here - https://goo.gl/forms/2zrzldmP4h7H8Mgd2

Please help me in developing this program in Marshall Co. to get more people the skills they need, that you need them to have and to get more people back into the workforce and off the sidelines. Along with TN Promise, this program is one method we are developing in Marshall Co. to improve the quality of our workforce.

Other Methods We Are Undertaking in Marshall County to Improve Workforce:

• Pathways Presentations - Bringing Industries into the schools from 3rd Grade and Up to tell kids about their companies, careers at their companies, the soft skills needed to succeed at their companies and the educational/training levels required to succeed at their companies
• Pathways Tours - Local industries are hosting student tours where entire classes (Freshmen class, Sophomore Class or Junior Class - 7th or 8th grade) from schools across the county come to the plants to see what is being done there and what is needed in the way of workforce
• Job Fair for Seniors - Spot Lowe Technology Center will host a Job Fair for Early Graduating Seniors at MCHS and Other Seniors interested in getting a job on Nov. 29
• Interviews of 6th Graders - Westhills Elementary 6th Graders will be filling out resumes and doing interviews with HR Managers from local industry later this school year to prepare themselves for what it is like to apply for a job
• Along with the JECDB and new director Emily Darnell, we will be working on developing focus groups and boards made up of industry leaders, educational leaders and community leaders to tackle specifically the various issues negatively affecting the availability and quality of workforce in Marshall Co.

Please consider becoming a TN Reconnect Ambassador and attend this training session. 

Thank you.

Comfort Research Hosts Joint LEAN Training

Comfort Research in Lewisburg, TN is holding LEAN training sessions for its employees today and tomorrow and welcomed employees from some of its fellow manufacturers to join in at no cost.
Employees from Berry Global, Calsonic Kansei, Nichirin, Talos Engineering and WestRock joined the Comfort Research crew for the training that is just one way local businesses are working on its workforce development efforts.

Robotics Camp at Columbia State-LewisburgTN

https://registration.xenegrade.com/columbiastate/courseDisplay.cfm?schID=3512

Marshall Co. Transportation Plan Underway – Your Input Is Needed

Marshall County and the municipalities of Lewisburg, Chapel Hill, Cornersville, and Petersburg are developing a comprehensive transportation plan for major roadways within and throughout Marshall County and its jurisdictions. An online interactive map has been setup to receive citizen input on current and future transportation needs throughout Marshall County.  Check out the online map and share your opinions on transportation issues in Marshall County at https://tinyurl.com/CTPMarshall

Marshall County One of Seven Selected for TN ECD Property Evaluation Program

Program to help communities identify industrial sites for economic development projects

NASHVILLE – The Tennessee Department of Economic and Community Development (TNECD) announced today the counties chosen to participate in the latest round of the Select Tennessee Property Evaluation Program (PEP).

The counties selected in this round of PEP include Anderson, Benton, Cheatham, Hardin, Henry, Marshall and Washington.

Started in 2015, PEP is designed to improve the inventory of industrial sites and buildings in Tennessee. The program evaluates potential properties, advising counties on where investment may be most beneficial and how sites can be improved to attract prospective companies.

“Having available, shovel-ready sites is essential for Tennessee counties to remain competitive for industrial recruitment. Through PEP, these seven counties are taking the steps needed to become more marketable,” Rolfe said. “I congratulate the counties chosen to participate in this program and look forward to seeing their future success through PEP.”

PEP originates from the department’s Select Tennessee Certified Site Program. With the assistance of site selection firm Austin Consulting, PEP benefits participating counties by providing guidance on site planning for future industrial development projects.

“As part of PEP, when local leadership takes a critical look at their real estate assets, they almost always come to an agreement on which properties are most competitive,” Director of Austin Consulting Jonathon Gemmen said. “With everyone on the same page, the appropriate next steps can be taken to improve their strongest sites and buildings.”

For counties selected to participate, PEP includes an on-site visit by Austin Consulting and TNECD, an educational webinar on the site selection process and a comprehensive assessment addressing the strengths and needs of a community’s inventory of industrial sites. This assessment also offers recommendations for communities to improve marketability.

PEP selection was based on the demonstrated local need for industrial properties and the county’s ability to assemble viable properties with market potential.

The application process begins with the submission of a letter of intent, which is accepted at any time. Upon receipt of the letter, interested communities will be provided with the PEP application. A new round of communities will be accepted into the program in the fall of 2018. For more details on the PEP, click here.

About the Tennessee Department of Economic and Community Development

The Tennessee Department of Economic and Community Development’s mission is to develop strategies that help make Tennessee the No. 1 location in the Southeast for high quality jobs. To grow and strengthen Team Tennessee, the department seeks to attract new corporate investment in Tennessee and works with Tennessee companies to facilitate expansion and economic growth. Find us on the web: tnecd.com. Follow us on Twitter: @tnecd. Like us on Facebook:facebook.com/tnecd.

Columbia State Hosts April Information Sessions for Tennessee Reconnect

Columbia State Community College will host Tennessee Reconnect information sessions during the month of April.

Tennessee Reconnect is a last-dollar scholarship that provides free tuition for adults to attend a community college. The initiative is designed to help adults enter college to gain new skills, advance in the workplace and fulfill lifelong dreams of completing a degree or credential.

“We are excited about the wonderful opportunity Tennessee Reconnect provides for adults across the state and in the Columbia State service area,” said Joni Allison, Columbia State coordinator of Adult Student Services. “As a participating college, along with our partnering Reconnect communities, we are thrilled to help adult students fulfill their educational goals.”

To be eligible for Tennessee Reconnect, students must meet the following requirements:

• Haven’t earned an associate or bachelor’s degree.
• Have been a Tennessee resident for at least one year.
• Complete the Free Application for Student Aid and be determined as an independent student.
• Be admitted to Columbia State and enroll in a degree or certificate program.
• Must attend at least part-time (6 credit hours).
• Participate in a college success program through a Reconnect Community.

Prospective students can attend one of the following information sessions to learn more:

Chapel Hill Community Center	April 16	6:30 p.m.	206 Depot Street, Chapel Hill
Columbia Campus	April 19	5:30 p.m.	1665 Hampshire Pike, Columbia	Jones Student Center, Cafeteria
Chapel Hill Community Center	April 23	6:30 p.m.	206 Depot Street, Chapel Hill
LewisburgCampus	April 24	5:30 p.m.	980 South Ellington Pkwy, Lewisburg	Room 133
Lawrence Campus	April 26	5:30 p.m.	1620 Springer Rd, Lawrenceburg	Room 144

To to view the full list of steps to apply, or to sign up for an information session, please visit www.ColumbiaState.edu/Reconnect.

For more information, contact Allison at 931.540.2655 or by email at jallison6@ColumbiaState.edu.

Looking to ReConnect - Try Industrial Maintenance Training in Lewisburg

Did you know that you can use the TN Reconnect grant program to pay for training to help you land your next great career right here in Lewisburg?

TCAT-Shelbyville currently offers an Industrial Maintenance Program in Lewisburg!  It is being offered at the Adult Learning Center at 218 W. Commerce Street.  The program is designed to prepare students to enter the Industrial Maintenance field in an entry-level position and/or to enhance the skills of students already employed in the field.  Classes are offered full-time running 7:45 am – 2:15 pm daily, Monday-Friday.  

YouTube Video:   https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCjapgDcaSVyQabs9Pl1XDFw/videos

Website:  https://tcatshelbyville.edu/programs/industrial-maintenance

Please feel free to contact our Student Services Department at any time Monday-Friday from 7:30 am-3:30 pm to answer any additional questions that you may have regarding enrollment, financial aid, etc. 

Thanks again!  We look forward to working with you and expanding our partnership in your community!!!

Thanks,

Dawn L. Hobbs

Campus Facilitator

1405 Madison Street

Shelbyville, TN 37160

P: 931.685.5013   F: 931.685.2185

Website:  www.tcatshelbyville.edu

Lewisburg Honors Local Industry with Appreciation Dinner

Seroberto Moreno demonstrates his traffic signal project. 

The Lewisburg ECD 2018 Industry Appreciation Dinner was held February 8 at the Lewisburg Recreation Center in tribute to the companies that make up the main economic engine of Lewisburg and Marshall County.
Hosted by the City of Lewisburg Industrial Development Board, the Marshall Co. Chamber of Commerce and the Marshall Co. Joint Economic and Community Development Board welcomed several industry representatives and their families to the event along with local and state officials, community leaders and representatives from the education and training fields in the region.
The highlight of the dinner focused on training the next generation of workforce as students from the Spot Lowe Technology Center and the TCAT-Shelbyville satellite program of Lewisburg.

Matthew Bragdon and Tyler Woodard demonstrate their project on "Cal Sonic" the Calsonic Kansei North America robot

The Spot Lowe Technology Center in Lewisburg trains middle and high school students in varies occupational fields from cosmetology to residential wiring and automotive technology to welding. It even offers a pre-engineering program and programs in the health sciences.
But for local industries in Lewisburg and Marshall County, the Spot Lowe Technology Center's programs that focus on manufacturing-related training is crucial and key to future workforce quality.
During the dinner, two students, Matthew Bragdon and Tyler Woodard, presented a demonstration on one of their projects - creating a robot for Calsonic Kansei North America. The robot, named "Cal Sonic", has been used by the company to teach students in Marshall County from elementary to high school what Calsonic does and their careers available.
The two students, under the instruction of Danny Adams at Spot Lowe, used parts that CKNA of Lewisburg manufactures to build the robot that features a TV screen for a chest where a video about CKNA played.
Seroberto Moreno, a Spot Lowe graduate, is currently a student at the TCAT-Shelbyville facility off the square in downtown Lewisburg where he is training in Industrial Maintenance and Safety under the instruction of Mike Foster. The satellite facility came to Lewisburg as part of the state's LEAP grant program where regions competed for grants to begin programs of training.
Seroberto, or 'Berto to most people, demonstrated his project on creating a traffic signal using his learning of PLC - programmable logic controller. 'Berto walked the audience through the design of the traffic signal and then demonstrated how the sequences of the lights turning from green, yellow to red worked based on the PLC.
Though the event was held to honor all the manufacturers in Marshall County, a few were recognized for their good works or investments in the community over the past year.
Old Hickory Smokehouse receive the Expansion of the Year award for their growth in the past year from 80 employees to 220. Southern Carton received the Mayors Award for Beautification in recognition of the company's improvements to its facility and another facility next door that the company purchased and greatly enhanced.
Calsonic Kansei North America, Lewisburg Printing, Talos Engineering and Walker Die Casting each received recognition as Community Leaders. CKNA has hosted several community enhancement events and recently donated $200,000 to improvements in the City's Rock Creek Park downtown. Lewisburg Printing has provided printing services for the City and County over the years and recently assisted in the printing of tourism brochures for the county and a calendar for the city in honor of the late Tommy Hawkins. Talos Engineering provided the city with a pair of beautiful bicycle racks currently located at Lewisburg City Hall and Rock Creek Park. And Walker Die Casting has for many years donated funding to a variety of local events and projects along with serving as the second largest employer in the manufacturing sector.

Old Hickory Smokehouse received the Expansion of the Year award. Pictured are Greg Lowe of Lewisburg ECD and Wayne A. Wolf of Old Hickory Smokehouse.

Southern Carton received the Mayor's Award on Beautification. Pictured are Greg Lowe of Lewisburg ECD and Dave Kennedy of Southern Carton.

Calsonic Kansei North America received the Community Leadership Award. Pictured are Greg Lowe of Lewisburg ECD and Keith Wells of CKNA.

Lewisburg Printing received the Community Leadership Award. Pictured are Greg Lowe of Lewisburg ECD and Cathy Talley of Lewisburg Printing.

Walker Die Casting received the Community Leadership Award. Pictured are Greg Lowe of Lewisburg ECD and Tommy Harris of Walker Die Casting. 

Everyone enjoyed a fabulous dinner by Russel Catering and all the manufacturing representatives left home a excellent door prizes thanks to the events sponsors. Special thanks to the Lewisburg Industrial Development Board for sponsoring the dinner. Also, thanks to sponsors - Collins & Miller Insurance and Grover Collins Realty, First Commerce Bank, First Farmers and Merchants Bank, First National Bank, First Tennessee Bank, Heritage South Credit Union and United Communications for their sponsorship of door prizes and a extra special thanks to local manufacturer - Comfort Research - for its donation of several of its products including Big Joe chairs and ottomans and its amazing Water Pads.

Marshall Co. One of 29 Recipients of Work-Based Learning Grants from TNECD

Second round of grant applications open until January 31 
NASHVILLE – The Tennessee Department of Economic and Community Development today announced the 29 recipients of the Work-Based Learning Grant and Marshall County was named one. 
In total, TNECD awarded more than $710,000 to school districts that have designed programs to promote career skills and readiness among Tennessee students. 
“TNECD is proud to provide these Work-Based Learning Grants to help improve the career readiness of Tennessee students and develop a strong workforce of tomorrow,” TNECD Commissioner Bob Rolfe said. “Many communities and school districts across Tennessee have stepped forward with strong programs that will help students develop career skills. I’m encouraged by the continued efforts to ensure Tennessee is the most aligned state in the country when it comes to education and workforce development.” 
The grants will assist the development or expansion of work-based learning programs that promote career awareness and student readiness in grades K12. Work-Based Learning is an education strategy that provides students with experiences to learn and develop career and job skills. 
The selected communities and school districts include: 
• Rutherford County (Rutherford County Schools) 
• Lincoln County (Lincoln County Schools) 
• Cheatham County (Cheatham County School District) 
• Clarksville-Montgomery County (Clarksville-Montgomery County Schools) 
• Fayette County (Fayette County Public Schools) 
• Houston County (Houston County Board of Education) 
• Putnam County (Putnam County School System) 
• Alcoa (Alcoa City Schools) • White County (White County Board of Education) 
• Smith County (Smith County Board of Education) 
• Shelby County (Shelby County Schools) 
• Maryville (Maryville City Schools) 
• Blount County (Blount County Schools) 
• Johnson County (Johnson County Schools) 
• Marshall County (Marshall County Board of Education) 
• Nashville-Davidson County (Tennessee School for the Blind) 
• Warren County (Warren County School District) 
• Lenoir City (Lenoir City Schools) 
• Carter County (Carter County Board of Education) 
• Elizabethtown (Elizabethtown City School System) 
• Bristol (Bristol Tennessee City Schools) 
• Roane County (Roane County Schools) 
• Bradley County (Bradley County Schools) 
• Sumner County (Sumner County Schools) 
• Maury County (Maury County Public Schools) 
• Haywood County (Haywood County Schools) 
• Robertson County (Robertson County Schools) 
• Hamilton County (Hamilton County Schools) 
• Humphreys County (Humphreys County Board of Education) 
TNECD is also accepting applications for the second round of Work-Based Learning Grants. Applicants are eligible for up to $25,000 with a local match requirement based on each community’s economic status. New and expanded existing programs are eligible. Communities and school districts interested in the Work-Based Learning Grant must submit applications by January 31, 2018. 
Visit TNECD’s website to learn more about the program here. 
About the Tennessee Department of Economic and Community Development 
The Tennessee Department of Economic and Community Development’s mission is to develop strategies that help make Tennessee the No. 1 location in the Southeast for high quality jobs. To grow and strengthen Team Tennessee, the department seeks to attract new corporate investment in Tennessee and works with Tennessee companies to facilitate expansion and economic growth. 
Find us on the web: tnecd.com. 
Follow us on Twitter: @tnecd. 
Like us on Facebook: facebook.com/tnecd.