In one of my most recent columns on economic development, I stressed that workforce availability and development have become the number one criterion for companies in deciding where to locate their facilities. Therefore, there is probably nothing more important to the CSRA’s economic development than building and developing its workforce. While attracting a workforce from outside of the area is a key component of workforce development, the most important aspect of building a strong workforce comes from developing and retaining the talent that already resides in the area. While education, including K-12, technical colleges, and universities play a primary role in developing a workforce that will attract business to the area, workforce development does not occur just in the classroom. Beyond the classroom, internships play an outsized role in workforce development. In a series of columns over the next couple of weeks, I want to share how different internship opportunities provide not only workforce development for the community, but also benefits to both students who serve as interns and the companies that employ them.
In today’s column, my goal is to highlight the summer internship programs for high school students sponsored by the Augusta Metro Chamber of Commerce and the Columbia County Chamber Foundation. I will continue the series in future columns by discussing required internships at Augusta University’s Hull College of Business and how internships led my daughters and their friends to help them make better career decisions and better employees for their future employers.
I am particularly excited by the prospects of improving workforce development in CSRA because of the local chambers sponsoring internship programs for high school students. The opportunities now available for high school students in the CSRA were certainly not available when I was in high school in the 1970’s and still not available to my daughters in Metro Atlanta in 2010’s.
In Augusta-Richmond County, the Metro Augusta Chamber of Commerce, in conjunction with Richmond County Schools, has created the “Students2Work” program, with the tagline, “1 student plus 1 job, it all adds up!” The goal is to provide students with valuable hands-on work experience in local businesses within the Metro Augusta area. This 2023 program officially kicked off on Friday, June 2, with an Employer & Student Match Luncheon. Forty-eight Richmond County Schools high school students were matched with thirty-four local companies where they will be working this summer. Host companies range from smaller companies like Keen Signs & Graphics, to large companies like ADP, Bank of America, and the Starbucks manufacturing plant and span industries from manufacturers to service companies, to health care providers to skilled trades. Kudos to Bank of America for its $30,000 donation to support the program.
Similarly, the Columbia County Chamber Foundation kicked off its 2023 Summer Internship program on June 1, with “soft skills” training and a “signing” banquet. The Columbia County students will have an eight-week commitment with a local business in the CSRA for at least 20 hours per week and receive minimum wage compensation. Kudos to Newsome Electrical Construction for sponsoring the program and the other employers who are participating, which include GIW Industries, CSRA Electrical JATC, Brush Strokes Quality Painting, and Gymnastics Gold.
Everyone who participates in programs like this is a winner! Clearly, our community is a winner because our companies are working together on workforce development. While we all know the importance of education in order to be a productive member of society, we also should know that being “work ready” is also very important. Each of the companies who are participating in these programs is making an investment in the development of each student, and therefore, contributing to the development of our workforce as a whole. Companies are more likely to locate in the CSRA knowing that we not only have a well-educated workforce, but also one that has the soft skills and experiences to thrive in a workplace environment. Both of these programs are exposing our young people to many different potential career opportunities in various fields and trades, but overall, are also showing them what it takes to succeed at work.
However, while these programs are outstanding in demonstrating our community’s commitment to workforce development, they also provide direct benefits to both the students and the companies. For the students, in addition to gaining practical work experience, they are also getting information about particular types of jobs and industries, which will help inform them as they make college major choices and career decisions. They will get to network with professionals and develop soft skills, such as communication and teamwork. In addition, it is likely they will gain mentors to help develop them into leaders.
Finally, the companies are big winners as well. While it is obvious the contribution they are making to the workforce, which will enhance their future prospects as well, there are also other returns. Bringing young people into your organization brings energy and fresh ideas. They will contribute to your company at a very low cost. They will also become “brand ambassadors” for you in the community, which will likely improve your bottom line and your recruitment of other employees.
Congratulations to the Metro Augusta and Columbia County Chamber for leading and implementing such important efforts and to all of the participating companies, who while receiving the benefits noted above, are also providing a significant service to the community. I hope those of you who have companies who are not yet participating in these programs will consider participating next summer.
In my next installment on internships, I will tell a similar story on why it is important for the Hull College of Business to require its students to have internships and why local companies should hire Hull interns. It is another winning proposition!
