2007 VEDA Community Economic Development Award

The One Programs are a long term approach to workforce development, facilitating the business community's involvement in interacting with students as early as the sixth grade and continuing through high school graduation and beyond. The programs underlying philosophy is one of early exposure to the diversity of our business community, work environments, employer expectations, and educational opportunities. The programs are designed to foster continuous awareness. The programs engage the business community as an active partner in preparing the future workforce. Businesses interact with schools, colleges, students, and government. The Office of Economic Development facilitates the interactions.

The programs include:

Business Rocks Tours
... provides Lynchburg businesses opportunity to showcase their companies for sixth grade students. Students explore three or four businesses during a school field trip. Students are selected by their schools. The Office of Economic Development recruits businesses and provides transportation.

Grow One™ Summer School Camp
... engages business leaders in promoting entrepreneurial and leadership skills to rising seventh grade students, selected by their schools, in a residential summer camp for one week. Thousands of dollars in financial support from businesses, and local and regional government provide tuition waivers for students who demonstrate financial need. The Office of Economic Development coordinates the work skills program which showcases regional business leaders as guest speakers and is staffed by regional school personnel.

Mentor One™
... matches volunteer mentors from local businesses with eighth grade students selected by their schools, one-on-one, for a calendar year. Business leaders highlight careers available within their companies for students. The program also engages area colleges who promote their academic programs while hosting day-long campus visits. Students' school administration excuses students an average of one day per month so students can learn about our business community, careers and educational requirements. The Office of Economic Development recruits mentors, coordinates campus visits, sponsors special events which include parents, and underwrites the cost of the program.

Take Our Daughters & Sons To Work™
... uses business leaders to provide shadowing experiences for high school freshmen and sophomores to explore a career of choice on the fourth Thursday of April. The program is held in conjunction with the national event. The Office of Economic Development recruits mentors and coordinates the program.

Just Hire 1™
... encourages businesses to hire high school juniors and seniors so students learn workforce requirements and how those match up with their educational experiences, future course selection, and expectations. The Office of Economic Development facilitates twelve hours of pre-employment and financial training prior to arranging interviews between businesses and students.

Keep One™
... presents a communications channel between Lynchburg area employers and college students through annual panel discussion about students' career expectations and lifestyles. The event is coordinated by the Office of Economic Development.

INNOVATIVENESS

The Office of Economic Development for the City of Lynchburg has a long standing business visitation program designed to flush out issues and collaboratively approach problem-solving. The business community's frustrations around workforce were escalating.

Subsequently, Virginia Governor Kaine announced economic development goals for the Commonwealth which included establishing local programs that identify and meet the needs of existing businesses, and providing a workforce system that is responsive to employer and worker needs. He also emphasized regional cooperation.

Lynchburg's Office of Economic Development responded to local concerns and the Governor's goals through research, design and roll-out of the 'One Programs'.

Region 2000, which includes The City of Lynchburg and is home to two universities, three colleges, and one community college, is actively engaged in facilitating higher education and business partnerships. Hence college-age and older workforce members are being educated to meet employers' immediate technical needs.

Our business visitation program, however, revealed that work ethic and soft skills needs were not being met. Because these areas are value-based, they are best addressed at a young age. Therefore, the areas of need necessitate a long term approach to workforce issues. Addressing the needs when students are ready to enter the workforce is too late. The innovative One Programs are designed to engage businesses early on in training tomorrow's employees, reaching them as young as sixth graders.

COMMUNITY COMMITMENT

The impact of the One Programs has been far reaching. The programs have engaged hundreds of businesses, schools, students and government entities. Business leaders have demonstrated support by voluntarily re-enlisting for like and/or additional programs, and financially supporting the programs. School staff has eagerly identified students believed to benefit most from the programs. Colleges have donated manpower and meeting space. Economic development organizations have provided moral and financial support to move forward. Students and parents are engaged, and their survey responses are favorable. Measurable results since the One Programs inception include:

MEASURED OBJECTIVES

Engaged Businesses:	110
Hrs. of Business Involvement:	3,450
Financial Donations	$10,450
Engaged Schools:	20
Hrs. of School Involvement:	68
Engaged Students:	346
Hrs. of Student Involvement:	4,175
Engaged Government Entities:	10
Financial Donations:	$34,000
Entrepreneurship Average Pre-test Score:	58.0
Entrepreneurship Average Post-test Score:	78.8
Average Increase:	20.8

SUMMARY

The City of Lynchburg Office of Economic Development has moved beyond the traditional economic development model of bricks and mortar, forging ahead with innovative workforce development programs for young people, programs that are designed to positively impact the availability and skill levels of tomorrow's workforce. The innovative One Programs will enhance the economic vitality of our community and the region.