ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT opportunities arise from mutually beneficial relationships between developers, manufacturers, elected officials, partners, and stakeholders. Manufacturers already located in Shelbyville and Bedford expand and create more local jobs when supported and profitable. The Shelbyville-Bedford Partnership plays a vital role in supporting local industries through workforce development and relationship-building opportunities.
Support for our existing manufacturers means making sure companies have the trained workforce they need. Bedford and the surrounding area have a variety of employment sectors. This employment variety generates the need for a diversity of skill sets for schools to teach.
Manufacturing represents the largest employment sector in Bedford County, but there are many more. Other significant sectors include retail trade, transportation and warehousing, construction, accommodation, and food services. Expanding the observation area to a 45-minute drive from Bedford by county yields manufacturing still as the number one sector followed by retail trade, healthcare and social assistance, accommodation, food services, administrative and support services, waste management, remediation services, and transportation and warehousing. In the economic development industry and for the local economy, this diversity is desirable. However, for ed- ucators and schools, it creates a long list of items to include in their curriculums for teaching.
Effective workforce development occurs when the citizenry is trained in the skills needed by employers. The Partnership participates in workforce development through a three-step process. First, the Partnership meets with existing industries to hear directly from plant managers and other leaders in the company about the skills they need from employees. Next, the Partnership’s Director of Existing Business Development, Kelly North, meets with local educator representatives to communicate the information col- lected from industries on employee skill set needs. The list of local educators routinely met with includes the Bedford County school system, Tennessee College of Applied Technology (TCAT), Motlow Community College, and others. The final step occurs when the collected information from industries makes its way into educator curriculums.
Workforce infused teaching ensures Bedford citizens benefit from a host of educators diligently teaching from outlines reflecting employer needs. Meaningful curriculums allow our trained workforce to confidently apply for jobs with the knowledge that they are qualified and prepared to perform their work.
In August of 2021, in collaboration with the local TCAT, the Partnership held the first annual “Tenders and Tea” at the TCAT campus in Shelbyville. The event created an opportunity for existing industry management, education leadership, and local elected officials to network and cultivate productive relation- ships. The event brought together the creators and end-users of our workforce. Speakers for “Tenders and Tea” at the TCAT included a welcome by State Representative and Speaker Pro Tem, Pat Marsh, Bedford County Mayor, Chad Graham, City Manager, Josh Ray, and Assistant Executive Director of Middle Tennessee Industrial Association, Dr. Kendrick Curtis, and Shelbyville TCAT President, Dr. Laura Monks. Representatives from TVA, TNECD, and SBDC also attended the event. In closing remarks, Dr. Monks stressed the ability and willingness of the TCAT to work with local industry to train for workforce needs. The event concluded with TCAT staff providing tours of the campus. -GN
