On August 14-15, 2024, Jobs for the Future (JFF) staff visited several sites in our region to focus on education and workforce development policy with their Congressional Staff Network, a bipartisan, bicameral delegation of Congressional staff. These staff members on the Senate HELP Committee and House Education & Workforce Committee write federal legislation like the reauthorization to the Workforce Innovation & Opportunity Act (WIOA). They select one region in the nation to visit each year to learn more about how federal policy impacts local communities, and this year they selected Western North Carolina.
Emily Nicholson speaking at A-B Tech to the JFF delegation on August 14, 2024. Other panel members, from left to right: Nathan Ramsey, Dr. Gene Loflin, Dr. John Gossett, Patrycja Manning, Debbie Cromwell, and Deborah Bailey
P20’s Executive Director, Emily Nicholson, spoke in two of the sessions. Several current and former P20 Council Members were also speakers at events during these two days, including Diana Blackett, Mark Garrett, John Gossett, Gene Loflin, Scott Queen, and Nathan Ramsey. The delegation also visited P20 Member organization Pratt & Whitney.
The breakfast session on August 14th at A-B Tech was titled, The Role of Community Colleges in Western NC’s Regional Economic Development. This session highlighted the role of community colleges in regional economic and workforce development partnerships, including co-locating NCWorks Career Centers (one-stops) at community colleges, coordinated community partnerships, and labor market-aligned career pathways. Speakers discussed joint efforts to expand work-based learning opportunities, funded by a 2022 U.S. DOL Workforce Opportunities for Rural Communities (WORC IV) grant.
Speakers included:
- Deborah D. Bailey, Vice President of Economic and Workforce Development and Continuing Education, A-B Tech
- Debbie Cromwell, Director, Work-Based Learning and Apprenticeships, A-B Tech
- John D. Gossett, President, A-B Tech
- Gene Loflin, Associate Vice President for Compliance, A-B Tech
- Patrycja Manning, Interim Director, Economic & Workforce Development, A-B Tech
- Emily Nicholson, Executive Director, Land of Sky P20 Council
- Nathan Ramsey, Executive Director, LOS Regional Council, and Director, MAWDB
Members of the JFF Congressional Staff Network delegation at A-B Tech on August 14, 2024.
On August 15, 2024, the team visited Blue Ridge Community College in Flat Rock for multiple sessions. Emily spoke during the session titled, “Designing and Delivering Wraparound Support Services for Rural Communities.” In this session, representatives from Blue Ridge, the Land of Sky P20 Council, and Smart Start of Transylvania County discussed how they coordinate across the workforce and education systems to meet learner and worker needs, with a focus on childcare, housing, transportation, and broadband services. Speakers highlighted lessons learned from the ongoing NC Reconnect and Racial Equity for Adult Credentials in Higher Education (REACH) adult learner re-enrollment initiatives.
Speakers included:
- Kirsten Bunch, Vice President for Student Services, Blue Ridge Community College
- Eileen Mouyard, Interim Executive Director, Smart Start of Transylvania County
- Emily Nicholson, Executive Director, Land of Sky P20 Council
- Scott Queen, Vice President, Economic and Workforce Development, Blue Ridge Community College
