Workforce development efforts discussed
The City of Minden will be hosting a televised “town hall” discussing workforce development progress later this month, according to a press release from the city.
“Workforce Readiness in Northwest Louisiana, A New Model for Success” will air on Tuesday, May 22, at 6:30 p.m. at the Northwest Louisiana Technical College Minden campus at 9500 Industrial Dr.
Discussion during the event will involve the City of Minden, the Webster Parish School Board, Northwest Louisiana Technical College, several Minden-based private employers, and Northern Louisiana Economic Partnership, the release said.
The panel will discuss, “working together to prepare the current and future workforce of Webster Parish.”
CNN Correspondent Maribel Aber of “Money Matters” and KTBS-3 News Anchor Brenda Teele will both be in Minden to serve as program moderators for the town hall broadcast, the release said.
“[The program will feature] the community’s collaborative activities to prepare the current and future workforce of Webster Parish,” the release said.
The town hall will broadcast/stream on KTBS Channel 3, KTBS’ 24-Hour News Channel, and KTBS.com. The town hall is by invitation only, the release said.
“What makes this collaboration unique is that eight organizations, public and private, nonprofit and for-profit, municipal and regional have joined forces to help ensure that the community’s labor force is work-ready,” said James Graham, Economic Development Director for the City of Minden.
“What makes it important is that young people, preparing themselves to enter into the labor market, will have more preparatory options other than only academia or military-based experiences. They will have technical skill-based training to meet the growing demand for skilled labor.”
Minden Mayor Tommy Davis said the people of Minden have always been hard-working and self-reliant.
“Hard work is in our blood, and we just want to be properly prepared and work-ready to support our families and community,” he said.