By NANCY MCCLEARY, The Sanford Herald

A big bonus when Sanford Area Growth Alliance officers are looking to lure lucrative economic development projects to Lee County is Central Carolina 社区 大学's workforce training programs.

"The award-winning 推荐正规买球平台 plays a major role in every large project we work,迈克尔·史密斯说, executive director of Economic Development for SAGA.

It's the workforce training program established at the community college that draws the attention of visiting businessmen, 史密斯说.

Specialized courses offer training -- hands-on and classroom courses -- for specific skills like those needed in manufacturing, biotechnology and bioprocessing.

凯茜L. Swindell and Margaret Roberton couldn't agree more.

Roberton is vice president for Workforce Development while Swindell is director of Industry 服务 at Central Carolina.

"When you try to attract a company, part of the package is the workforce," 罗伯特说. "You're not just attracting new businesses, you're creating opportunities for the people who live here."

Specifically, workforce is one of five things considered in economic development, 她说. Those areas include the available infrastructure such as existing buildings, 公用事业公司, broadband internet service and water, 罗伯特说.

Swindell develops customized training programs in manufacturing industries. When a prospective industrial operation is considering Lee County as a site, they want to know what you have, 她说

"If we've got a metal fabricator company coming in, they want to know what can you do, training-wise, to skill up employees once they're hired,她说.

Bharat Forge, an auto component manufacturer, is opening a facility in Sanford in coming months. The company has worked with Swindell to develop a training program for new employees.

和其他东西一样, the COVID-19 pandemic has forced some changes to instruction with more coursework offered online, Swindell说.

"There's only so much you can do online, but we've managed,她说. "Some industries have gone totally online for training while others are online and hands-on training with reduced class sizes."

Swindell is working on 10 training programs ranging from advanced manufacturing to pharmaceutical to food processing to automotive areas.

"The one common denominator (for a program) is they have to be a manufacturer of some sort,斯温德尔说.

Involvement isn't just in manufacturing, food processing or biotechnology, 罗伯特说.

If training in an area such as construction is needed, the college has the ability to develop a program, 她说.

"There's not a business that's left out because it's manufacturing, but we look to address it in a different way with different resources,她说.

The cost for training is often included in incentive packages offered by SAGA, 罗伯特说.

Roberton and Swindell说 Sanford and Lee County residents can compete for higher-paying jobs and, 这样做的时候, improve their communities.

"Some of the trends I'm seeing is that businesses are starting to look at the quality of work life and the quality of life away from work for employees,斯温德尔说.

That includes educational and recreational facilities for children.

"We're a development engine," 罗伯特说. "If we're in the conversation and part of the attraction to draw a company here, that puts tax dollars into the community and provides good jobs."

The key factor, 罗伯特说, is Central Carolina 社区 大学 working with SAGA.

"It comes down to partnerships,她说. "We're fortunate to have a solid relationship with SAGA and to be able to help.

Smith praised the college's work with SAGA in trying to bring economic development to the county.

"They do an outstanding job with our clients and are a key part of any success we have bringing new jobs to Sanford and Lee County,他说.