FRIENDSVILLE, Tennessee — The Ruth and Steve West Workforce Development Center continues its mission of helping students become employees in Blount County.
One year after they opened, leaders are reporting success.
"We have amazing school systems that are really preparing our kids for these jobs," Jessica Belitz, the workforce development director for Blount Partnership, said "So we want them to be our workforce. And we want our students to know that you can have everything right here at home."
One of the main goals of the center is to attract local students and keep them in Blount County.
"You can start your career here," Belitz said. "You can grow in that career, you can raise a family. We have amazing outdoor adventures here in Blount County with the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, we have a blossoming downtown, so a lot of fun things to do. We've really been working hard on housing initiatives, among other things that really attract young people."
The center is a collaborative effort between Pellissippi State Community College, the Tennessee College of Applied Technology (TCAT) in Knoxville and county leaders including Blount Partnership.
"We work closely in listening to our partners to see what the needs are and see what the demands are and then align our educational programs to meet that," Patty Weaver, the vice president of external affairs of Pellissippi State, said.
"As our community grows, everybody is needed in the workforce in order to be successful and to continue to grow," Nick Gill, the coordinator of workforce development and information technology of TCAT Knoxville, said. "And that includes doctors and lawyers and traditional university education. But it also includes the people who make and do with their hands, a lot of the things that make it possible for our society to work. So as part of an education system, it's important that we make sure that those that are on track for the university who have a passion and in that kind of job and career have that opportunity. But many people also have a passion to do other things. And it's important that that career set is actually met with a quality education."
And the programs aren't only for those straight out of high school, they're for people who need more workforce development or those who want to try a new career path.
"We also at Pellissippi State, we have our workforce and Community Development Program, and that is your customized training," Weaver said. "So if somebody is currently in a field and they want to change professions, or they want to upskill, there are some opportunities to come here and get that short-term training that will get them a credential to shift gears. That also... works for our companies if they have incumbent workers currently that need and ups to upskill because technology is changing so quickly."
Nathan Swartwood said he retired from the U.S. Army after 20 years in 2012. He was an investigator in New York for 7 years and wanted to use his G.I. college bill. He said he tried a conventional school and it wasn't for him, so he decided to try a skill.
"I want to go into pipe fitting, and welding and pipe fitting or go hand in hand," Swartwood said. "And the more being if you have experiences, both a welder and a pipe fitter, you have a chance to make a little bit better money, have a little bit wider job placement, a larger career field that you can choose from, as well as the fact it's just really interesting and really cool."
Weaver said the college is always working on collaborating with industry partners on what programs to bring to the school.
"For example, one area is in aviation," he said. "We all know there's a big demand for pilots and for mechanics and for a lot of things in that field. So we're working with the local collaboration and aviation to start a program there."