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| Updates from the SRSCRO | May 2011 |
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Collective Voice in Washington DC
The CSRA Leadership made its annual spring trip to Washington, D.C. just last week. The annual trip to Washington is a collaborative effort between the Augusta, North Augusta, Aiken, and Columbia County Chambers of Commerce. This trip allows approximately forty regional leaders to make the trek to our nation's capital for two days of visits to have their collective voice heard. During the trip, the CSRA leaders meet with Senators and Congressmen and staffers from both South Carolina and Georgia. In addition, trips are made to government agencies with a community presence and impact such as the Department of Energy and the Pentagon.
Prior to the trip, the Chambers gather information on federal issues that will need to be addressed. White Papers are written outlining the issue and our regional position. These can range from budget issues facing the Savannah River Site and support for new missions at Fort Gordon to other economic development issues (like the Savannah River Lock and Dam) that are affecting our economy.
 The trip also offers the opportunity for business and governmental leaders from both sides of the river to become better acquainted and lay the groundwork for cooperative efforts to address our needs and opportunities as a region. Leaders with direct ties to the SRSCRO included Tom Hallman, Fred Humes, David Jameson, Sue Parr,Troy Post, Brian Tucker, Chuck Smith, Marc Miller, Sanford Loyd, Tammy Shepherd, and Rick McLeod. One of the items provided during the trip was the newly released Savannah River Site Economic Impact Study funded by the SRSCRO addressing the impact SRS has on the five-county region in South Carolina and Georgia. See related story below.
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$R$ Dollars and Cents
The operations at Savannah River Site (SRS) create jobs, generate income, and contribute to the tax revenues across both South Carolina and Georgia. When economic multipliers are factored in, the economic ripple effect is enormous. Despite its significance in recent years, there has been little understanding beyond qualitative observations about the value of SRS's contributions to the region and what that impact means in quantifiable terms.
Consequently, the SRSCRO commissioned an Economic Impact Study to examine both SRS's value to the economy, as well as its overall impact on five SRSCRO counties, Aiken, Allendale, and Barnwell in South Carolina and Richmond and Columbia in Georgia. These counties were chosen because this is the area which comprises the SRSCRO's major area of influence as the DOE-designated Community Reuse Organization for the Savannah River Site. The SRSCRO believes this summary will be useful to decision makers and the general public when confronted by the multifaceted issues associated with a 198,000 acre site with complex and diverse projects and programs.
The O'Connell Center for Executive Development at the University of South Carolina Aiken led the study and assembled a team of experts particularly suited to this study. It included specialists from schools of business from two regional universities, Augusta State University and the University of South Carolina Aiken; the school of business from a regional HBCU (Historically Black Colleges and Universities), Claflin University; and an expert in economic impact and new mission planning. The purpose of this study was to determine the economic impact the Savannah River Site (SRS) has on a five-county region in South Carolina and Georgia for a one year period - Fiscal Year 2010. A copy of the Economic Impact Study along with a Summary can be found on the SRSCRO website under the "Community Issues" tab.
Key Points about the Economic Impacts of the Savannah River Site:
- The total yearly budget of SRS for Fiscal Year 2010 is $2.353 billion. Of that $1.191 billion was spent in the five-county region (through payroll and procurement). These expenditures generated an additional $1.195 billion in output, through the output multiplier effect of 2.003 [$1.191B x 2.003 output multiplier = $2.386 B].
- This study estimated the employment multiplier of SRS in the local economy as 2.513, which means that every worker hired by SRS from the five-county area creates additional 1.5 jobs in the region. In 2010, the 2.513 employment multiplier increased the 9,258 SRS jobs held by employees living in the five-county area to a total of 14,004 additional jobs. This brought the total jobs created by SRS in the five-county region to 23,262, once direct and indirect effects are taken into account.
- Every $100 million change (up or down) in SRS spending results in an approximately $50.6 million change in SRS expenditures in the five-county region, and plus or minus 466 SRS employees from the region. The total employment impact of a $100 million change in SRS expenditures is 989 jobs and a $101.4 million negative or positive impact on output.
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NWI Academy
A nuclear "boot camp" concept, NWI Academy, is scheduled to begin this summer at Aiken Technical College. The program is part of a regional plan to assist young adults in developing nuclear career pathways, a concept that grew from a Nuclear Workforce Initiative (NWI) committee meeting last September. The SRSCRO NWI has facilitated program development by linking the Georgia Energy and Industrial Construction Consortium (GEICC), local colleges, nuclear employers and Workforce Development Administrators in South Carolina and Georgia. The "boot camp" concept is a proven model in other energy industry sectors and can be modified to increase prospects for nuclear industry employability among young adults in our region. GEICC is providing funding support through its sub-award from the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation grant to build a better prepared energy workforce.
Phase I of the NWI Academy is scheduled to begin in June with a college credit based program established at Aiken Technical College. Students will be able to earn college credits and credentials that will help them succeed in nuclear industry-related training programs with strong employability options. During the six week summer program, students will receive work skills assessments, earn course credit and certification, and develop an awareness of nuclear industry careers, work environments and responsibilities. The program is designed to prepare students for successful enrollment in nuclear industry-related academic programs.
During 2012, Phase II implementation will include a similar program at Augusta Technical College in addition to another summer session at Aiken Technical College. Each session is planned for approximately 24 students. The nuclear academy concept has been designed for expansion throughout the region with implementation models for continuing education programs in addition to the college credit approach.
For more information contact Mindy Mets. |
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TREAT for Teachers
 Calling middle and high school science teachers! Applications are now available for the July 12-14, 2011 Teaching Radiation Energy and Technology (TREAT) workshop. Building on last year's success with TREAT, the NWI K-12 Committee is working with Savannah River Nuclear Solutions, Savannah State University and the Department of Energy at SRS to expand this opportunity for more teachers in our region. Teachers will participate in hands-on laboratory activities suitable for use in their classrooms. Information about nuclear career skill preparation and regional opportunities for students will be included. The workshop is funded by the Department of Energy and conducted at the University of South Carolina-Aiken.
For more information contact Mindy Mets. |
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SRSCRO Spotlight | |
SRSCRO
Board Member
Dr. Lisa L. Palmer
Vice President for
Economic Development
Augusta Technical College
Dr. Lisa L. Palmer is currently serving as Vice President for Economic Development at Augusta Technical College. She began her tenure with the college in 1999 where she served as Director of Career Services until 2007 and the Director of Business and Industry Services until April 2009. She has more than 20 years of experience in education, with over 15 years specifically in higher education. In addition to earning her doctorate in 2004, she became a Certified Economic Development Trainer through the Technical College System of Georgia in 2006. She is also an ACT-authorized WorkKeys Job Profiler which equips her to work with companies in determining skill levels needed by their workforce.
Dr. Palmer is a 2008 graduate of Leadership Augusta. She has served as President of the Career Services Statewide Peer Group and also been an active board member with The Optimist Club of Augusta, Golden Harvest Food Bank, the Georgia Association of Colleges and Employers, and the Society of Human Resources Managers - Augusta Chapter.
Dr. Palmer has been a SRSCRO Board Member since 2009. She also serves in the SRSCRO Nuclear Workforce Task Force.
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| Closing Thoughts |
"I like work: it fascinates me. I can sit and look at it for hours" - Jerome K. Jerome
"Whatever your life's work is, do it well. A man should do his job so well that the living, the dead, and the unborn could do it no better." - Martin Luther King, Jr.
"Choose a job you love, and you will never have to work a day in your life." - Confucius
"If you watch a game, it's fun. If you play at it, it's recreation. If you work at it, it's golf." - Bob Hope
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| Contact Information | Rick McLeod - Executive Director - 803-593-9954 x1411
Mindy Mets -NWI Program Manager - 803-593-9954 x1583
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