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Education key to creating quality jobs
The International Economic Development Council recently released a study titled Creating Quality Jobs: Transforming the Economic Development Landscape. 
 
The Council looked at seven cities and communities throughout the United States with varying attributes to explore the issue of quality job creation from the economic developer's viewpoint. Below are some of the IEDC findings and how they relate to Quincy and Adams County. 
 
Read IEDC's full report here.
 
Economic Development and Jobs
Economic development literature today overflows with articles noting that the presence of a strong, skilled workforce has replaced a low-cost business environment as the number one concern of expanding and relocating companies. 
 
While economic developers must focus on creating high-skilled jobs that fuel many growth industries, there is still a large portion of the workforce that does not have entry qualifications for these jobs. Matching this large segment of the population with quality jobs and workforce training opportunities to help them get these jobs is a vital part of a comprehensive job creation strategy. 
 
It means prioritizing the alignment of economic development with workforce development and education to ensure that people are being trained to meet industry needs.
 
Several years ago, GREDF recognized this need and supported a partnership between John Wood Community College and Workforce Investment Board of Western Illinois (WIB). The three groups have worked in harmony to connect industries in the public and private sectors with educators to ensure workforce needs are met as the economic climate continues to change. 
 
Quality job creation must include:
  • Targeting both competitive clusters and steady-demand sectors
  • Support for entrepreneurship and small business
  • Aligning economic and workforce development to connect job creation with human capital development
  • Common acceptance of regional goals and movement of resources individually and jointly to achieve these goals
Workforce Development and Quincy
JWCC president Thomas Klincar speaks at the Workforce Development Center ribbon cutting ceremony September 27, 2009.
Workforce Development Center Opening
At a time when many communities are just beginning to look at workforce development in response to the national economic climate, Quincy is turning out workers with skills that fit local business and industry's specific needs. This is thanks in part to the timing of a 2007 survey funded by WIB.

John Wood Community College's 30,000 square-foot workforce development center is quickly becoming the premier training facility in the west central Illinois region. The facility which is situated on 14 acres and was purchased in 2008 as part of the College's master site and facilities plan, is the result of a collaborative project fueled by JWCC, local business, industry and community leaders.  
 
The college envisions the Workforce Development Center as a vital resource to area business and industry.  The JWCC Workforce Development Center opened in fall 2009 and is located at 4220 Koch's Lane in one of Quincy's several industrial areas.

May, 2010 

Volume 1, Issue 5

 
 
 
Great River Economic    Development Foundation  
 
300 Civic Center Plaza  
Suite 256  
Quincy, IL 62301  
 
p. 217.223.4313  
 f. 217.221.2030  
 
 
 
 
"Thanks to WIB and John Wood Community College, we feel like we're ahead of the game," Jim Mentesti, president of the Great River Economic Development Foundation, said.
 
"For years members of our business and educational communities have been sitting around the table discussing how we can work together to develop a plan that makes sense."
 
 
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The Great River Economic Development Foundation exists to maintain and improve the economic vitality of the Quincy and Adams County, Illinois region through the retention and expansion of existing businesses and the attraction of new businesses to our communities. We view economic development as a collaborative process, resulting in an environment that benefits the region, as well as business. To that end, we place a high value on partnerships and welcome the opportunity to work with businesses and organizations for the good of our entire region.