T-SC TOMORROW Workforce Development & Summer Manufacturing Camp

Hello, this is Wendi Bailey, your Toccoa-Stephens County Chamber of Commerce President with your Weekly Chamber Update.  

The Toccoa-Stephens County Tomorrow visioning program includes a “Champion of Workforce Development” and he is Dr. Mark Ivester, NGTC VP of Economic Development. His mission is to cultivate a workforce that provides a competitive edge for existing businesses and attracts new companies to Toccoa-Stephens County.

NGTC enrolled in the “Dream IT Do IT” campaign which is a national program sponsored by the Manufacturing Institute and promotes manufacturing careers in the US. Organizations from 32 different states enrolled in the program and our NGTC was the first in Georgia.

In an effort to create awareness of manufacturing careers, the college is currently offering a Summer Manufacturing Camp for kids grades 6-9 from June 2-5 from 8am to 4pm at the Clarkesville Campus.   

There will be tours at Caterpillar in Athens and Eastanollee, as well as TI Automotive in Lavonia. A student will work in their engineering lab to design a part then move on to the machine tool lab to build the part.

Presentations will be made showing the history of manufacturing, as well as, manufacturing today.  For more information about the Summer Manufacturing Camp please visit their website at www.northgatech.edu  or call the Chamber at 706-886-2132.

Also, there are additional opportunities for financial aid at the college, i.e. the expanded Strategic Industries Workforce Development Grant, new low interest loans and the Hope Grant are all available for qualifying students. Contact College Admissions to learn more.

I have a few announcements for you:

The Stephens County Historical Society is celebrating the 70^th anniversary of D-Day this Saturday. The run up Currahee Mountain is at 8am, the walk is at 9am, the kids obstacle course is at 10am and the memorial service is at 12pm with the very Reverend Mary Demmler. All events are at the Camp Toccoa at Currahee on Ayersville Rd.

TODAY at 10am is the “Departure Ceremony” for the Toccoa Soldiers at the GBCC. The local National Guard unit is preparing to deploy on a potentially yearlong mission. Soldiers from the 876th Engineering unit will train their Afghan counterparts and either construct or dismantle buildings and the like depending on the need of U.S. troops. The public is encouraged to attend the ceremony at the GBCC.

For more information on these and other events please visit the community calendar at www.toccoagachamber.com.  That’s your weekly update! I’m Wendi Bailey, your Toccoa-Stephens County Chamber of Commerce President!