The Workforce Plan Phase II

THE WORKFORCE PLAN for Thomasville-Thomas County

PHASE II

2023

2024

Project Timeline Apr

May

Jun

Jul

Committees meet to narrow goals and strategies

Committees meet to narrow goals and strategies

Phase II released

Aug

Sept

Oct

Nov

Phase II presented to civic groups, council and commissioners

Phase II presented to civic groups, council and commissioners

Committee Checkin Early Learning/Childcare

Longest Table Event TOPIC: Early Learning/Childcare

Jan

Feb

Mar

Apr

Committee Checkin Literacy

Longest Table Event TOPIC: Literacy

Committee Checkin Pipelines to PostSecondary

Longest Table Event TOPIC: Pipelines to Post Secondary

May

Jun

Jul

Aug

Committee Checkin Worker Barriers

Longest Table Event TOPIC: Worker Barriers

Phase II full progress update at School 2 Business Summit 2024

Phase II KPI dashboard release

Phase II presented at School 2 Business Summit

Early Learning and Childcare GOAL: INCREASE AWARENESS AND USE OF CHILDCARE TAX CREDITS.

ACTION STEPS

ENTITY RESPONSIBLE

TIMELINE

1

Research existing programs across the state using childcare tax credits.

Imagine Thomasville

current

2

Disseminate information to businesses regarding childcare tax credit and increase use of employer childcare tax credit.

Imagine Thomasville

current

3

Recruit childcare providers willing to "set aside" spots for businesses.

Imagine Thomasville

Q4 2023

OTHER CONSIDERATIONS/ ACTION ITEMS Add the following items to Master Resource List: DCAL list of licensed and QR providers, list of exempt providers, school contacts for childcare educators (SRTC, TU, TCCHS, THS), advocacy groups including Voices for Georgia's Children and GCCA.

Q3 2023

Discuss potential to use ParentChild+ as a pipeline for a pilot program supporting early childcare scholarships (Can this sort of "study" program be supported by L4GA?)

current

Continue to pursue "One Stop Shop for Families" (April 2024 grant from Georgia Family Resource Center)

Q2 2024

Committee Champion: Melvin Hugans (TNB) Tom Everette (YMCA) | Darian Peavy (YMCA) | Veronica Scott (Worldwide Ministries) Jessica Barfield (SRTC) | Lisa Billups (Community Resource Center) | Elizabeth Mitchum (First Presbyterian Church) | Ashley Lane (Thomas County Schools) | Sherika Hill

Literacy by 3rd Grade GOAL: SUPPORT LITERACY FOR THOMAS COUNTY TO ALIGN AND ELEVATE LOCAL LITERACY ADVOCATES.

ACTION STEPS

ENTITY RESPONSIBLE

TIMELINE

1

Engage a marketing or communication firm to create literacy campaign that includes relevant data (i.e. importance of 3rd grade).

2

Prioritize volunteer needs in after-school, birth-to-five, church, and summer programs based on literacy data from schools.

Literacy for Thomas County/ Family Connections

3

Select preferred training program for literacy volunteers going into afterschool, early care, church, and summer programs.

Literacy for Thomas County/ Family Connections

Q4 2023

4

Continue success of literacy fairs into surrounding county seats.

Literacy for Thomas County/ Family Connections

Q1 2024

Literacy for Thomas County/ Family Connections

Q3 2023

Q3 2023

OTHER CONSIDERATIONS/ ACTION ITEMS Allow program specific donations (i.e. Dictionary Project, etc) on the Donate page on literacyforthomascounty.org.

Q4 2023

Consider use of L4GA or other "community literacy" funds for ParentChild+ to help get kids and parents "reading ready" before they get to school. (two gen approach).

ongoing

Committee Champion: Rainey Campbell (Secure Record Solutions) Original committee has transitioned to Literacy for Thomas County (www.literacyforthomascounty.org).

Pipelines to Post-Secondary GOAL: INCREASE AWARENESS AND PARTICIPATION IN K-12 'WORK READINESS' PROGRAMS FOR HIGHDEMAND, HIGH PAYING JOBS.

ACTION STEPS

1

ENTITY RESPONSIBLE

TIMELINE

SRTC/PDA

Q3 2023

2

Create high impact multi-media campaign to promote "credentials of value" and local training opportunities targeted to K-12 parents, teachers/counselors, and students (Use HOPE Career List to guide).

SRTC/Imagine Thomasville/Goodwill

Q4 2023

3

Expand Project Purpose to include Elementary, Middle, and High School components.

Imagine Thomasville/ New Hire Solutions /TNB/Businesses

Q1 2024

4

Use K-12 Innovation Day to highlight the videos and promote problem-solving, AI awareness, and STEAM skills.

SRTC/Schools Systems

Q2 2024

5

Measure and report student interest and participation in programs ending with "credential of value" (including baseline GED program).

SRTC/Schools Systems

Q2 2024

Prioritize "credentials of value" based on current needs.

Committee Champion: Brittany Bryant (SRTC) Rhea Brashear (SRTC) | Adrian Burns (The Gathering Place) | Kimberly NeSmith (Thomasville City Schools) | Beth Adams (Thomas County Schools) | Christina Reneau (SRTC Foundation) | Danniell Slocumb (TNB) | Alex English (Vashti) | Chris Newman (Archbold) | Guy Smith (FPL Foods) | Andy Semones (SRTC) | Amy Carter (SRTC)

Worker Barriers GOAL: FACILITATE COMMUNITY CONNECTIONS AND UNDERSTANDING AROUND IDENTIFIED WORKER BARRIERS.

ACTION STEPS

ENTITY RESPONSIBLE

TIMELINE

1

Use Chamber Connects and School to Business Summit to introduce non-profit / service providers to businesses. Topics include worker barrier pinch points.

Imagine Thomasville

Q3 2023

2

Create and distribute Master Service Directory (online version).

Imagine Thomasville

Q4 2024

3

Deepen business understanding of the resources through e-Newsletter, Let's Talk Thomasville podcast ("Workforce Solutions" series), and events (Chamber Connects, School to Business).

Literacy for Thomas County/ Family Connections

Q4 2023

OTHER CONSIDERATIONS/ ACTION ITEMS Continue to pursue opportunities for a transportation pilot program.

Q1 2024

Use other "barriers" (affordable housing, transportation, childcare, literacy) to build directory and programs.

Q2 2023

Committee Champion: TBD Barbara Anderson (First Commerce Credit Union) | Cynthia Drayton (Georgia Department of Labor) | Alston Watt (Williams Family Foundation) | Nanette McRae (Hood Industries) | Stephanie Hiers (Habitat for Humanity) | Sharon Edwards (Community Outreach Training Center) | Landis Thomas (New Hire Solutions) | Audrey Linder (NAACP) | Ricky Zambrano (City of Thomasville) | Robin Witherington (Oil Dri) | Rich Massa (Habitat for Humanity)

Communication & Relationship GOAL: CREATE OPPORTUNITIES FOR CIVIC CONVERSATIONS ACROSS IDENTIFIED GAPS (RACIAL, ECONOMIC, CITY/COUNTY, NEW RESIDENTS).

ACTION STEPS

ENTITY RESPONSIBLE

TIMELINE

1

Create quarterly "longest table" events to gather input and report on each working group (i.e. Nov on Early Childcare, Jan on Literacy, April on Pipelines, July on Worker Barriers).

Imagine Thomasville/ Communications Committee

ongoing

2

Host a "Train the Trainer" in Reflective Structured Dialogue with champions and stakeholders.

Imagine Thomasville/Trained committee members

Q4 2024

3

Include Reflective Structured Dialogue training and conversations in adult and youth leadership programs.

Imagine Thomasville/Trained committee members

Q3 2024

OTHER CONSIDERATIONS/ ACTION ITEMS

Create inclusive committee for each of the events.

Q4 2023

Use other "barriers" (affordable housing, transportation, childcare, literacy) to build directory and programs.

Q4 2023

Committee Champion: Lauren Futch (Big Oak Benefits) Naomi Stifter (Check-Mate Industries) Jeremy Emmett (Marriott Hotel) | Shirley Jackson (NAACP) | Chris White (City of Thomasville) | Haile McCollum (Fontaine Maury) | Dr. Shawn Stifter (Check-Mate Industries) | Sonia Vick (Williams Family Foundation) | Amy Maison (SRTC) | Scott Chastain (City Councilman) | Chandler Hurst (New Hire Solutions) | Ucher Dent (Juneteenth of Thomasville-Thomas County) | Earl Williams | Lucinda Brown (NAACP) | Tanya Gavin (Goodwill) | Ricky Zambrano (City of Thomasville)