Chamber of Commerce looks to next steps with Targeted Industry and Workforce Study

Editor's note: Info provided by the Crossville-Cumberland Co. Chamber of Commerce and how the information in the Younger Associates report will be used.

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Chamber of Commerce Office

At their regular monthly meeting on Thursday, May 11th, the Crossville-Cumberland County Chamber of Commerce discussed the Younger Associates report, “Target Business Sector & Workforce Analysis”. This extensive report was almost two years in process since the public sector funding was committed in July of 2015 and fundraising was completed in June of last year. The report looked at a number of factors impacting our community’s ability to attract new companies and help grow the companies already here. Here are just some of the report’s highlights:

1. In the ten counties making up the Cumberland County Labor Shed (where employees come from), Cumberland County loses more folks going to work out-of-town than those who are driving here for work.
2. Cumberland County’s estimated population is 58,811; but, while we will continue to grow, our growth rate has slowed since 2010 and we will continue to lag the rate of growth in the State of Tennessee.
3. An estimate of the total labor shed is roughly 327,000 people.
4. Cumberland County has a wealth of higher education institutions that serve the 10 county labor shed.
5. The study found that there is a “potential part-time hidden labor supply” in groups:

• Age 18-64 (not employed but interested in working part-time) estimated at 11,916
• Retired  (but interested in working part-time) at 4,482

       6. Younger Associates conducted a four-day “intercept survey” getting the opinions of folks just out                        shopping, banking, attending the Friday at the Crossroads event, and so on.  Over 760 surveys were                    completed and some of those highlights include:

• Only 25.9% of people who are currently employed are interested in training for new job skills; a smaller portion than found in other labor shed areas,
• Most people who have a second job are self-employed in their second job (60.3%)
• Of those not currently employed, but interested in finding work, only 9.1% cited disability as the reason for not being employed-other surveys have found this number to be as high as 40%.
• From surveys of those 65+, approximately one quarter of retirees would be willing to help recruit their former business to locate in Cumberland County and about the same amount would be interested in mentoring and helping to educate students about career paths.

        7. The “primary recommended industry targets” include:

• Fabricated metal product manufacturing
• Electrical equipment component manufacturing
• Motor vehicle manufacturing (mid to long-term)
• Wood product manufacturing
• Non-metallic mineral product manufacturing

This is far from an exhaustive listing of information contained in the report; but, now the question is, what are the next steps? Chamber President, Brad Allamong indicated, “We now have in our possession a report that can guide us in determining our most valuable resource-our people-to prepare them for the jobs of the future. Clearly, some of the work is already well underway with the Frontline Leadership Training Program (starting its third program this week), and discussions with the education partners who have been meeting on a regular basis for the past three years.”

Sponsored by Park Place Motors

The initial work will be to farm out the report to various groups, the Chamber’s Workforce Development Council, the 40+ contributors to the Horizon Campaign that paid for the study, the recently formed Executive Managers Group, and others to get their input and response to guide the Chamber Board in setting priorities and unfolding position statements in various areas.

The Crossville-Cumberland County Chamber of Commerce Board took formal action to accept the report as was presented by Younger Associates and deemed that the staff could immediately expedite payment of the remaining fees owed for services rendered under the agreement. Vicki Baucum, Chairman of the Board stated, “With the additional 80 hours pledged by Younger Associates in their response to our RFP, work will be able to continue as we review this data in detail with our various study groups-especially in the area of education preparedness and priming the pump for local industry’s needs in a pool of ready-to-go employees.”

Economic Development report lists targeted industries and workforce development for Cumberland County

Economic development consultant Younger Associates has presented their report to the chamber of commerce and the community including targeted industry and workforce analysis as the community looks work toward bringing in more jobs.

The funds for the study came from the city, county and donations to the chamber specifically for the project from businesses and supporters in the community. The report seeks to position the area as an attractive place for businesses location and expansion by leveraging the I-40 location and to establish the state and capacity of the workforce and what workforce development strategies are needed.

The report indicates the best bets for the area to try and recruit are manufacturing business in the categories of fabricated metal manufacturing, electrical equipment component manufacturing and a mid to long range target of motor vehicle manufacturing of parts and components. Additional targets are wood product manufacturing and non-metallic mineral product manufacturing.

Advantages to Cumberland County's location for industry and business locations include proximity to U.S. markets and population centers located within a one-day truck delivery of approximately 70% of major markets. Other reasons include

• Proximity to Nashville, Knoxville and Chattanooga for larger metropolitan amenities and access to specialized good, services and commercial air service
• Located on Interstate 40 and U.S. 127; I-40 visibility and access is excellent
• Outstanding natural beauty of the Crossville-Cumberland with numerous outdoor recreational opportunities • Access to higher education including three TCATs within the labor shed
• Effective collaboration among local leadership, particularly among the city and county mayors and the chamber
• Success in attracting grant funding to develop industrial site development
• Excellent availability of sites under preparation using local and grant funds, and potential new sites that can be added to the inventory for business and industrial development

The report also outlines other benefits the community can use to its advantage in recruiting business here:

• Community as a whole has a pro-business attitude
• Good community support for industry-focused workforce development, particularly with the Crossville TCAT, County School System and Horizon Initiative Participants
• Presence of an active business incubator
• Very active arts community
• Downtown area with huge potential for development with great building stock and a good existing mix of retail and services
• Ability to attract tourism and retirement is a good companion for developing amenities that attract other business and industry, and potentially new working age residents

The reasons for the selection of the business targets include that similar businesses are already represented in the economy, the jobs have an average annual wage of greater then $50,000 and a projected national 5 year growth rate of 10 percent. Additionally, the community talent pipeline can supply those trained in technology and engineering to these industries, sites exist for the new industry locations and the transportation infrastructure is available to bring in raw materials in and ship finished product out.

News report sponsored by Park Place Motors

The report indicates tourism is another target and recommends the development of natural attractions, sporting attractions, a conference center hotel, and crossovers with retiree and worker/talent attraction. The report describes downtown development as an opportunity to create a vibrant center to increase enjoyment for local residents and help attract new residents. The report praises downtown for its attractive building stock, uncommon mix of retail, historical cultural assets and an art community.

The report also ties the areas age demographic to the expected growth in medical services needed by the community.

One issue that the Chamber wanted researched was the available work force and Younger and Associates surveyed 767 individuals about their employment and other information. The results show a sizable outflow of workers to Putnam County but not to one specific industry but a variety of reasons. Almost 18 percent of employees also have a second job and a majority of those second jobs are self employment.

The results show only 25.9 percent of those currently employed are interested in training in new job skills, a number smaller then in other areas. Of those surveyed who were unemployed only 58 percent were interested in job training and that number was also lower then other areas. Those that were interested in training were interested in computer technology and management HR.

Area retirees were also surveyed and 25 percent said they would be willing to help recruit their former employer to relocate to the area and 25 percent would also be willing to mentor and help educate students about career paths.

The report indicates a hidden labor supply that would work full-time includes unemployed, part-time wanting full-time, underemployed and recent post secondary graduates with a total of 38,577 people. Another 16,398 are interested in part-time including retirees interested in working.

Other recommendations listed include continue developing existing industrial sites and implement plans to use recently awarded grant funds to improve infrastructure. The community should also continue to option or acquire land and buildings needed to support major business expansions.

Additionally the report recommends promoting information to employees and unemployed that training gives potential for advancement and promotes the availability, ease of access and importance of training to work to change the mindset of the employees not interested in any training.

To increase the workforce, the reports suggests sending out information to potential retirees to :bring the whole family” when they move.     

Chamber's Targeted Industry Analysis and local workforce analysis underway by Memphis Firm Younger Assoc.

Work is getting underway on the targeted industry study and workforce analysis both commissioned by the Chamber of Commerce as part of the Horizon Initiative plan.

The Chamber raised over $120,000 in order to receive $40,000 from each of the city and county governments as part of the plans and study to improve the local area's chance at bringing in additional jobs.

Sharon Young, left and Lana Suites, right of Younger Associates

Sharon Younger, president of Younger & Associates of Memphis heads the firm hired to do the studies and spent some time with local media to explain what they will be doing and how they will be doing it. Younger was visiting Crossville to look at the area and meet with stakeholders for the study including elected officials, chamber members and education leaders. In addition to Younger, the firm's research director Lana Suites was also part of the visiting team.

The firm will be making additional community visits and reports with the chamber and stakeholders including gathering information for an in depth study of the local workforce, their education and skill levels, barriers to employment, whether they are adequately or under employed and other information of interest to potential employers looking at Crossville.

One of the issues facing the community in attracting new companies is the available work force and their level of education. The firm will be interviewing a statistically valid sample of the population and these interviews will take place typically where a wide variety of the population goes such as shopping locations. These surveys are expected to take place in early April. Along with the work in the community, the firm will be using data from local state and federal data sources as well as other information in order to tie all the information together.

A bit later on in the process, the firm will return to meet with employers to ask them what they're needs are as well as what the capacity of the local education components to see if they have the necessary programs and capacity for what the employers say they are seeking.

Younger explained that the firm has already looked at the area and how employees travel from one county to another and the commute time. One interesting bit of information showed that even though many workers from surrounding counties traveled into Cumberland County there were also a number of workers who traveled out of Cumberland County to work. According to Younger, that information shows that if there were adequate jobs locally there is a group of the workforce that could take those jobs.

She said she had a positive impression of the community including the downtown and industrial area, both things that companies look for.