Celebrate Economic Development Week in Marshall, Texas with WE Align

The Marshall Economic Development Corporation (Marshall EDC) and Workforce & Education Alignment Group (WE Align) are celebrating Economic Development Week (EDW) during this second week of May! During this time, we focus primarily on spreading awareness of local economic development efforts in Marshall, Texas to enhance the overall community. 

Economic Development Week was originally launched in 2016 by the International Economic Development Council (IEDC) in order to acknowledge economic development programs everywhere. WE Align is a hometown initiative for Marshall, Texas and Harrison County, Texas.  The group focuses on matching skills demanded by local employers with skills taught by local educators.

Marshall EDC formed and launched the WE Align group with the mission of working to achieve educational and workforce alignment in Marshall. WE Align isn’t a one-off project or meeting.  It’s designed to be ever-changing. One of the goals of WE Align is to have an ongoing and growing conversation including multiple stakeholders. Periodic monthly meetings are discussions. Since fall 2021, the group has included an increasing number of businesses, educators, and workforce development specialists. Workforce Solutions East Texas and the Texas Workforce Commission are both actively participating now and working with the WE Align group to find resources to meet the needs of a skilled labor force and the funds to assist in the education of those skills. By communicating skills needs and educational opportunities, the WE Align group is making strides to better educate, train, and retain the future local workforce within their community.

WE Align requires conversation and collaboration between educational institutions and industries. Marshall’s independent school district and Marshall’s four institutions of higher education, namely Texas State Technical College, Panola College – Marshall, Wiley College, and East Texas Baptist University, are actively engaged. So are private and public business sectors including manufacturing, health, retail, distribution, professional services, construction, and government amongst others.

WE Align Workforce Programs in Marshall, Texas

Workforce and educational programs within a community are essential for its sustainable economic growth. Marshall EDC seeks to provide and/or connect efficient and effective economic development opportunities to the community for upskilling and achieving higher wages, gaining mobility, and increasing quality of life. You can learn more about Marshall EDC on their website.

At the most recent WE Align luncheon, Workforce Solutions East Texas presented a number of state workforce programs that both industry and educators can take advantage of now. Several of these programs are listed below:

• Skills Development Fund (SDF)
• Skills for Small Business (SSB)
• Self-Sufficiency Fund (SSF)
• Adult Education & Literacy (AEL)
• Customized Training
• High Demand Job Training Program (HDJT)
• Texas Industry Partnership Program (TIP)
• Pre-Apprenticeship (PA)
• Registered Apprenticeship (RA)
• Vocational Rehabilitation (VR)
• Texas Veterans Leadership Program (TVLP)
• Work Opportunity Tax Credits (WOTC)
• WorkInTexas.com
• Summer Earn and Learn (SEAL)
• Virtual Webinars for Job Seekers
• GrantFinder

Upcoming WE Align Meeting

Are you looking for more ways to help the local Marshall, Texas community? If you would like to celebrate Economic Development Week and help spread the word about economic development programs in the area, there are plenty of options to choose from. For instance, you can join WE Align at an upcoming event!

WE Align members and those wanting to learn more can attend Rural, Set, Go: Boost! on May 24th at The Marshall Grand from 11:30 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. hosted by Workforce Solutions East Texas and sponsored by Marshall EDC. There will be an information and networking forum to discuss the needs of the current workforce. Topics of interest will include skills gaps and the goal of keeping our skilled workers within the Harrison County area.

Businesses, education leaders, independent school districts, community leaders, and organizations in Harrison County are welcome to attend Rural, Set, Go: Boost! Your thoughts and opinions will be crucial in discussing the future of the Marshall workforce.

For more Marshall-based workforce and training information, please contact Marshall EDC today.