As the vice president of policy and education for the Chattanooga Area Chamber of Commerce, one of my roles is to stimulate interaction between industry and education. I can hardly think of a better example of that interaction than the new Polytechnic Academy at Chattanooga State Community College as reported in the Dec. 12 Times Free Press, "School of the future: Polytechnic Academy to open on Chattanooga State campus."
This innovative approach to secondary education and workforce development is exactly what we all hoped would come out of the Chattanooga 2.0 movement - and it is only one of many new partnerships that will be emerging across Hamilton County.
The Chattanooga 2.0 report last year highlighted the gap that exists in Hamilton County residents who are unable to access living wage jobs due to a lack of skills, training or post-secondary credentials.
This is a discouraging data-point, but it's one that we as a community can impact. With the creation of programs like the Polytechnic Academy, Chattanooga addresses this head-on. We are not only helping more companies plant and grow their roots in Hamilton County, but we are inspiring and equipping more of our young residents to do the same.
Collaboration between industry and education is the ultimate "win-win" scenario. By engaging students in the business world earlier, we better prepare them for career paths in our region, enhancing their economic prospects and encouraging them to build lives here at home. And, of course, we also give our hometown Hamilton County employers a more vibrant workforce and a chance to sustain the growth that will drive our economy in the coming years.
Neither talent nor hope are finite resources. As parents, business leaders, educators and community members, we must nurture talent and energize the students who may not always flourish in a traditional education setting. Chattanooga Poly will cultivate talent and generate hope.
Thanks to the collaborative culture stimulated by the Chattanooga 2.0 movement and the leadership of creative partners, such as Hamilton County Schools, Chattanooga State Community College and many others, we are redefining what opportunity and success will look like for more Hamilton County students and the community we call home.
David Steele, vice president of policy and education for the Chattanooga Area Chamber of Commerce, joined the chamber in March 2016.