Wednesday afternoon another session of the forum being hosted by the Golden LEAF Foundation to determine how to use a $2 million community assistance grant was held in the Grimsley Building on the campus of Richmond Community College.

This time, each of the four subgroups dealing with economic development, education, infrastructure and quality of life narrowed their focuses to one statement, and the door is open to decide who will come up with potential projects, and how these projects will be narrowed to one or two to seek funding for.

The four subgroups split off into separate classrooms as they developed one statement to guide the focus of potential projects in their respective areas.

The conversation in the economic development group was more or less indicative of the process Golden LEAF is administering, in which the net is cast-wide to brainstorm, and the focus is narrowed as participants come up with measurable goals.

In this group, conversation revolved around attracting “high skill” technical jobs to the area, by supplying a workforce that is ready to take up these jobs.

“The community college has been a great partner and a lot of what we’ve gotten has been thanks to them,” Richmond County Economic Development Director Rick Sago said at one point during the discussion. “It’s being able to be trained, and that’s very important to businesses who look at coming here.”

Richmond Community College President Dr. Sharon Morrissey discussed potential areas the college could expand training in technical areas to meet the needs of workforce development.

“I was reading in an article that one of the fastest growing industries in rural areas is going to be heating and air-conditioning maintenance,” she said.

She explained many new jobs will be created equipping existing systems to be more energy efficient.

Sago also pointed out there are existing jobs coming open as baby-boomers move into retirement.

“For instance, we know that at CSX, 60 percent of their workers are going to retire in the next five years,” he said. “They’re going to be looking for people to fill those positions.”

“I know of Simmons in Laurinburg,” Morrissey said. “They’re using geo-thermal, really high-end technology with the work they do, and they’re going other places for training. Why can’t we train these workers with our high schools and post schools and community college?”

Others in the group joined the dialogue, adding traditional technical education isn’t going to cut it in the 21st Century.

“We know that in many manufacturing facilities, they’re using automated equipment now, and they need people who can adjust the calibration of the equipment,” RCC Trustee Jim McCaskill said. “So even in manufacturing, your going to have to have some reading comprehension and math skills to keep a job.”

Richmond County Schools Associate Superintendent Dr. Robert Beck addressed career pathways and technical education programs at the high school, and the community college.

“I’ve always said that Richmond Community College is one of the best kept secrets we have in this community,” he said.

He shared his son’s story, who received a two-year degree from RCC, went onto study at the UNC-Charlotte and now works as a senior mechanical engineer at a Progress Energy nuclear power plant.

“We need to get people to understand that we have a resource right here in Richmond County,” Beck continued. “You don’t need to go to Chapel Hill or Appalachian.”

Community member Gerard Morrison pointed out the need for Richmond County students to see that a career in a field like engineering isn’t unattainable.

“I’d like to jump in and suggest we look at some programs where they would get a chance to meet a RIck Sago, who has experience with engineering, and see that it’s not something that’s impossible for them to do,” he said. “They don’t know if this is what they want to do until they are exposed to it.”

He added there should be a special focus on minority youth, to get them involved in the job market.

Moments later, Golden LEAF facilitator Leslie Anderson informed the group there was about 10 minutes left to formulate their statement.

“From the outside looking in, there is going to be someone, or at least some group, that is looking at this in Rocky Mount, and they’re going to want to see something you can measure,” RCC Executive Vice President Dale McInnis said.

The group finally arrived at its focus statement, to increase the number of high skill programs offered at RCC, while increasing the number of Richmond County Schools graduates that enroll at RCC and to develop internship, apprenticeship and job-shadowing programs for students in middle and high school to expose them to industry.

The other groups have followed much the same pattern throughout the course of the last three sessions of this forum.

In the education group, discussion revolved around literacy and high school graduation rates, and what would be appropriate and reachable goals.

One group member raised a concern about setting goals that were too lofty.

“The state average isn’t too lofty a goal,” School board member Ed Ormsby said. “It depends on what sort of time-frame you’re talking about, as well.”

The group decided to center its statement on reaching the state average in literacy, high school graduation and the percentage of the population holding post-secondary degrees.

The group discussing infrastructure, decided to make its statement to provide, improve and expand water and sewer service throughout the county.

The group discussing quality of life decided to make its statement to provide the youth of Richmond County with recreational and cultural activities, as well as the leadership opportunities these provide.

As the separate groups reconvened together, the statements of each were presented to, and debated in the assembly as a whole.

Among the 40 to 50 people in the group, many addressed the group, expressing their concerns and ideas.

“I’m concerned that we’re not addressing the single greatest need in the county, and that is an improved job base,” retired Daily Journal editor Glenn Sumpter said at one point.

Several people responded to his concern, saying that the educational components of workforce development were necessary to attract those jobs.

“Historically, we have exported highly skilled workers,” he responded.

At another point, County Manager Jim Haynes addressed the audience.

“In the past we’ve thrown millions of dollars at workforce development and with education, without any measurable results,” he said. “It will be interesting to see what another $2 million would do.”

“This is just the kind of messy, creative place we’re at right now,” Anderson told the group. “We’re really getting into where the rubber hits the road. You’re through the first two parts, and believe it or not, those are the two hardest.”

Golden LEAF Vice President for Programs Pat Cabe outlined for the group where the sessions would go from that point.

“Next time, we’ll get into the who will be making these decisions, and we’ll be able to actually brainstorm projects for funding,” she said.

Cabe spoke briefly about the committees other counties have chosen to sort through possible projects.