The Vermilion County Farm Bureau Building, on Route 150 West in Danville, will be the location for next Wednesday (Sept 24th) afternoon’s “Danville Area Regional Roundtable” on educating the future workforce in the area. From the business side; the agenda will include Illinois Economic Development Council president Christy George, Vermilion Advantage CEO Mike Marron, and Vermilion County Farm Bureau executive director Kerry Wienke.
From the education side; the agenda includes Danville High School principal Jacob Bretz, Danville Area Community College president Dr. Randall Fletcher, and Vermilion Advantage Workforce Education Director Jodie Ingram.
Ingram says this will be all about making sure are students are AWARE OF and EDUCATED FOR local employment opportunities; with involvement also from the Vermilion Vocational Education Delivery System.
AUDIO: Vermilion Advantage has partnered with Danville Area Community College and VVEDS, which covers like the K through 12 schools. And we’re just trying to create some pathways and pipelines to get these students into the workforce, and create awareness about what’s available.
Prior to his return from Vermilion Advantage’s recent trip to Washington, CEO Mike Marron previewed the upcoming Wednesday roundtable.
AUDIO: Christi George, who is the head of Intersect Illinois, which is kind of the biggest firm in the state that actually helps businesses locate in certain areas; is going to be the keynote speaker. And then we have a great panel. As you mentioned; Principal Bretz from Danville High School, Dr. Fletcher from DACC, and Jodie Ingram from Vermilion Advantage will be talking about workforce development.
Ingram was also on that Vermilion Advantage trip to Washington; where one of the issues reported back to CIMG was that two existing Vermilion County industries would like to expand; pending some help with tariffs.
AUDIO: We have to have the industry for the students to go into. We have to be able to expand our jobs. We have to be able to bring in new jobs. We have to be available; that when the jobs are there and ready, we have to have the workforce that’s ready to move in. And so it all connects; it all ties together.
Wednesday’s Danville Area Regional Roundtable at the Farm Bureau is scheduled for 1 to 3:15 PM.
