March 5, 2009 Issue
Workforce Development Board Hosts Energy Forum
Betty Huskins, senior vice president for external affairs at Advantage West, facilitated an energy issues community forum on February 17. Feedback from the forum will be used in the Southern Growth Policies Board’s 2009 Report on the Future of the South.
The High Country Workforce Development Board hosted an energy issues community forum Tuesday, February 17, in conjunction with the Southern Growth Policies Board. The forum, “The Future of Southern Energy: Making Choices for Your Community,” addressed community priorities and concerns around the issue of energy-related economic development. Each year, forums on an issue relevant to Southern economic development are held throughout 13 Southern states. Feedback from the forums will be presented at Southern Growth’s 2009 annual conference and used to develop Southern Growth’s 2009 Report on the Future of the South, a high profile policy report that is shared with Southern governors and regional leaders in business and education.
Participants in the forum offered ideas on building a green community, encouraging local energy savings and capitalizing on existing energy businesses. Among the ideas discussed were establishing county or regional Green Commissions and Green Plans; supporting legislation to ensure that green education is included in building inspectors’ continuing education; and building internal Green Teams in businesses and other organizations.
Betty Huskins, senior vice president for external affairs at AdvantageWest, a regional economic development organization serving North Carolina’s 23 westernmost counties, facilitated the dialogue.
The Southern Growth Policies Board is a regional public policy think tank representing 13 Southern states that develops and advances visionary economic development policies. For more information on Southern Growth Policies Board, click to www.southern.org.
The High Country Workforce Development Board is a volunteer, business-led board that establishes workforce development policy for the region. The board also oversees the region’s seven JobLink Career Centers. The Board’s mission is to build an adaptive workforce system to meet the demands of a globally competitive economy. The High Country Workforce Development Board serves Alleghany, Ashe, Avery, Mitchell, Watauga, Wilkes and Yancey counties. To learn more about the High Country Workforce Development Board, click to www.highcountrywdb.com.
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