East Texas, January 16, 2020: The Workforce Solutions East Texas Board in partnership with the East Texas Council of Governments, local elected officials, and new vendor - Career Team, LLC, will launch its first of a series of Rural Economic Development Forums next week. The Forums, titled Rural, Set, Go! have the objective to seek input from local employers, business, and community members on rural economic and workforce development issues.

 

“We recognize the value of rural economic development and the role employers play in developing and sustaining the local economy,” said WSET Board Chairman, Robert Haberle. “We ask the local employers, businesses, and community members to please join us to share your expertise and knowledge in developing a skilled workforce for the region.”

 

Rural, Set, Go! Rural Economic Development Forums are open to the public and will be held at the following dates and locations:

January 21st in Gilmer, Texas, at the Open Range Restaurant, from 5 PM – 7 PM
January 23rd in Jacksonville, Texas, at the Jacksonville College Student Activity Center, from 5 PM – 7 PM

January 28th in Canton, Texas, at the Silver Spur Resort, from 5 PM – 7 PM

The program for the town hall style events will include local employers, chamber of commerce and economic development representatives coming together to discuss rural economic and workforce development issues. WSET staff will share local data on the labor market in each area, and conduct a panel discussion, facilitated by WSET Executive Director, Doug Shryock. Forum attendees will have the opportunity to engage in discussion with subject matter experts providing information on workforce training, child care services, and other useful resources.

 

“The Workforce Solutions East Texas Board has identified our rural communities as a vital resource for economic growth for the region,” said WSET Executive Director, Doug Shryock. “The Board, together with Career Team, will be promoting these events across the region over the next several months. It is important for us to get close to the local needs of the employer and these town hall meetings will help us achieve this goal.”

 

“We are proud to be a part of this very important work which will help us to design a service delivery system that will benefit the region and bolster our job training programs,” stated Mary Ann Rojas, Regional Executive Director for Career Team. “We are equally pleased with the help of our partners: Baker Ripley, who manage subsidized child care services, the Texas Workforce Commission, our rural local employers and community leaders.”

 

Business, education and community partners are encouraged to attend, and seating is limited. For information, or to reserve a seat, contact Kim Stacy at 903-561-8131 or Terrance Mathis at 903-758-1783.

 

About Workforce Solutions East Texas

It is the mission of the Workforce Solutions East Texas Board to improve the quality of life in this area through economic development by providing a first-class workforce for present and future businesses. The Board works in partnership with chief elected officials of the region and is the primary source of local workforce policy. The Workforce Solutions East Texas Board is one of 28 local Workforce Solutions Boards located throughout the state. The board serves Henderson, Van Zandt, Rains, Wood, Upshur, Camp, Marion, Harrison, Panola, Gregg, Rusk, Cherokee, Anderson and Smith counties. The East Texas Council of Governments (ETCOG) serves as the administrating agency of the Workforce Solutions East Texas Board.
www.easttexasworkforce.org