Laurens County: A Higher Opportunity—New video showcases promising career choices for local students

02/06/2018

LAURENS COUNTY- The Laurens County Development Corporation (LCDC) recently partnered with both Laurens County School Districts, as well as the City of Laurens and the City of Clinton, on an exciting new video as part of a new initiative titled “Laurens County: A Higher Opportunity.”

This initiative aims to raise the perception of manufacturing jobs and to recruit the next generation of our county’s manufacturing workforce. The hope is that it will resonate with middle and high school students, as well as the parents of those students. Many local faces can be seen throughout the video, with commentary given by high school students as well testimonials given by individuals already in the manufacturing workforce in Laurens County. LCDC is grateful to CCL label, CeramTec, Michelin and ZF Transmissions for their time and effort in helping to produce the video.

In 2017, manufacturing had its biggest year in the United States since 2004. In fact, manufacturing makes up 45% of the employment base in Laurens County, the most for any county in the Upstate region. Opportunities are abundant for our young people to succeed and prosper right here at home.

“The Laurens County Development Corporation strives to provide the best environment possible for today’s advanced manufacturing and businesses to succeed in Laurens County,” said Jonathan Coleman, LCDC Executive Director. “One of the most important resources existing businesses and new businesses will need to grow is a larger pool of talented workers. Continuing to change the way we develop our workforce of the future and keep Laurens County at the innovative forefront of workforce development in the Upstate will be key to the county’s growth now and in the future.”

“We are delighted to be entering into this partnership with LCDC,” said Dr. Stephen Peters, Laurens County School District 55 Superintendent. “We look forward to the opportunities it will create for our students and the growth it will promote in our community.”

Dr. David O’Shields, Superintendent for Laurens County School District 56 adds, “Students in Laurens County must be provided real-world, highly technical, and intellectually challenging opportunities to compete in the ever-changing workforce. As we work to partner with the LCDC and other entities integrally involved in the development of a highly competent workforce, we must never lose sight in the potential of our students. They are talented, they are capable. They just need to be shown how manufacturing is dynamic and evolving with incredible income potential. Our students, once aware, will meet the demands and opportunities to make Laurens County a hotbed of talent and expertise.”

Link to view “Laurens County: A Higher Opportunity”: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M9jmj6io1So

Learn more about Workforce Development in Laurens County.

Along with being posted across various social media outlets, within e-mail notifications and articles in local media outlets, the video will also be shared with audiences at The Capitol Theatre over the next few months.