Everyone should experience the life-changing power of a job.
The United Way of the Chattahoochee Valley is advancing economic development alongside workforce development. We’re building pathways out of poverty by creating jobs and ensuring a career-ready population.
Taking action to lift our region.
Columbus ranks in the bottom 7 percent of economically mobile communities, meaning that children born poor face significant odds and barriers to moving out of poverty. This impacts quality of life, including crime, community development, public services, blight and perception of our region. Most importantly, this affects the ability for individuals and families to build their futures.
Leaders across Columbus are changing this by collaborating to attract new jobs while simultaneously enhancing educational systems to equip our current and future workforce with job training and in-demand skills.
Here’s how we’re doing it.
Expansion of training opportunities
We are creating and expanding training opportunities in skilled trades, catering to both youth entering the workforce and adults seeking employment or upskilling.
Improved accessibility for everyone
We are bringing training resources to communities in need and eliminating cost-related barriers to program entry, increasing accessibility for all individuals.
Industry-focused job attraction
CHIPS4CHIPS is a cross sector coalition of more than 80 organizations mobilized to attract the semiconductor industry and its supply chain, which is projected to add 100,000 U.S. jobs in the next 6 years.
Tracking progress to ensure success
A coordinated network of partners spanning the Columbus metro area will track individuals in the training-to-employment pipeline, ensuring effective support or intervention when needed.
Projects and programs across the Chattahoochee Valley
Community Schools United
Community Schools United brings together schools, students, families, and the
community to thrive as a unit to achieve student success. The objective is to narrow
achievement gaps and reduce barriers to employment and attainment of
self-sufficiency.
Chips Camp
Middle school students attended a newly-created 3-day CHIPS Camp cohosted by
Georgia Tech, Columbus State, and Columbus Tech. A second round of camps,
expanded to include high school students, will be held this summer.
Randstad Talent Development
Program
A partnership with Randstad’s Talent Development Program is focused on finding
and developing high-quality tech talent to build the Columbus region’s STEM
workforce.
Truth Spring Trade School Expansion
The expansion of a successful community-based skilled trade certification program,
which will __
Tech Nexus AL-GA
In partnership with StartUp Columbus, we’re converting a downtown building to
incubate growing startups. Known as Tech Nexus AL-GA, the location will include
Micromize, the most recent semiconductor company to move to our region.
Technical Readiness GA
Technical Readiness GA will enable the purchase of equipment needed to expand
advanced manufacturing certification programs at Columbus Technical College
(CTC), including a mobile lab that will offer training in under-resourced rural areas.
Connect Chattahoochee
Connect Chattahoochee will provide support to community-based nonprofits,
including stipends for teachers in high demand fields, stipends for students in
career-oriented programs, and a no-interest revolving loan program for car purchase.
It will also include professional services and software to track the workforce pipeline
and support successful outcomes. .
Chattahoochee Valley Hub for
Innovation and Production of
Semiconductors (CHIPS4CHIPS)
The Chattahoochee Hub for Innovation and Production of Semiconductors
(CHIPS4Chips) is a cross-sector coalition of organizations working to support the growth of the semiconductor industry across the Chattahoochee Valley
U.S. Economic Development
Administration Recompete Program
Columbus is among 22 finalists out of 565 applicants nationwide competing for federal
grants ranging from $20 million to $50 million in the U.S. Economic Development
Administration Recompete Program. The EDA has already granted the United Way of
the Chattahoochee Valley a $500,000 Strategy Development Grant that is supporting
regional workforce development planning and coordination.
“We’re building an economically healthy community not only by attracting jobs, but also by ensuring our residents are ready with in-demand skills.”
Andy Hilmes, Executive Vice President of Economic Development
Connect with Us
PO Box 1157 Columbus, GA 31902
706-327-3255 (Phone) 678-619-0387 (Fax)
EWELLS@UNITEDCV.ORG (EMAIL)
