RICHLAND COUNTY, S.C. (October 23, 2024) -
Kicking off the first full week of November, industrial representatives from Richland County existing industries gathered with team members from the Richland County Office of Economic Development (RCEDO) and Midlands Technical College (MTC). The goal - to share insights on current industry activity and learn about opportunities to grow the workforce pipeline.
Jeff Ruble, RCEDO Director, opened the Morning Meetup with details on recent project announcements and trends in the industrial sector. The 2024 calendar year has seen a variety of announcements ranging from companies specializing in food, electrical and construction products to a growing list of commercial developments. A top need for established companies and those looking to enter the local market is workforce. Ruble shared that our office is taking steps to understand non-profit workforce development entities within the community and how they can be beneficial resources for industries.
"To continue growing the worker pipeline, there's more to consider than just the current workforce. Finding ways to curtail or eliminate barriers, like shortfalls in affordable workforce housing, transportation and childcare, is a priority. Increasing the prosperity for resident and corporate citizens is our goal," Ruble explained.
Addressing workforce needs is a multi-faceted challenge. Partnerships between economic development and workforce developments experts are key in the continued growth of the community. At just four months on the job, MTC President Dr. Gregory Little is focused on establishing the college as a resource for companies throughout the Midlands, specifically as the region undergoes radical change with the arrival of Scout Motors.
"HVAC, building construction technologies, welding, automotive mechatronics - those programs are already bursting at the seams. [Scout Motors] is only going to serve as a multiplier effect to that, so it's going to require us to take significant growth in all of those programs in order to meet the demands, not just for Scout but for everything else... I want us to think beyond just the initial splash because there truly is a ripple effect that we're going to have to service our entire region to prepare ourselves for."
Dr. Little says the college is "lean[ing] into yes" as it works with companies to collaborate on workforce projects of all sizes. The college's Business Solutions department is just one way it's servicing companies. Click here to learn more about MTC programs and get in touch with their Business Solutions team.