Rowan College at Burlington County President Paul Drayton, along with college trustee Kate Gibbs, announced that Rowan College at Burlington County will soon open its innovative Workforce Development Institute.
“As a member of both the Rowan College at Burlington County Board of Trustees and the Economic Advisory Panel for the Workforce Development Initiative, I am proud and excited to announce that the new Workforce Development Institute will soon be open for business,” said Gibbs. “This institute will bring together all of our economic workforce development programs and services from many agencies, both public and private, to better and more effectively prepare our students and jobseekers for the job market of today and tomorrow.”
“Two divisions of this new institute, focusing on business outreach, educational programs, and grant services, will be up and running by next month,” Rowan College at Burlington County President Paul Drayton said. “This will streamline our economic development services throughout the county, helping to close the gap between employers and jobseekers.
“Building upon the momentum of our historic partnership with Rowan University, the Workforce Development Institute represents a monumental step forward in how we build curriculums and train jobseekers for better-paying, high-demand jobs available right here in Burlington County,” Drayton added. “We will prove to be a model for the rest of the country on how various workforce development agencies can work together to break down barriers and build up careers and businesses.”
The primary goal of the Workforce Development Institute, which will begin operating this July, is to provide students and jobseekers with the tools they need to build their education around the careers available in today’s job market, better matching the skills of local job seekers with the needs of local employers.
“This is a great example of why Burlington County is a great place for business,” said Daniel J. Caldwell, of Stout and Caldwell Engineers & Surveyors, who serves as chair of the Economic Advisory Panel. “The Rowan College at Burlington County Workforce Development Institute will create the perfect alignment among educators, economic development resources and the private sector that we need to grow our businesses and create good jobs.”
“After a lot of work and planning, this institute is a reality,” Gibbs said. “Working closely with our partners from both the public and private sector, we have transformed the way institutions of higher learning and county government provide workforce and economic development resources and services. For the first time, services for employers and job seekers will be integrated, allowing us to better serve both groups and enabling us to more effectively match the needs of job creators with the skills and training of future employees.”
“The creation of this institute is truly the culmination of a vast and significant effort that began two years ago, with state and federal laws just now catching up and recognizing our innovative approach is the best way forward. In this way, the Rowan College at Burlington County Workforce Development Institute will truly serve as a model for the nation,” Drayton said.
Businesses seeking access to the business and training services should contact the college’s Director of Development Leah Arter at larter@bcc.edu or (856) 222–9311, ext. 2545.
