Cabarrus-Rowan Counties, North Carolina

Education and Workforce Development Action Plan

The growing presence of the North Carolina Research Campus (NCRC), the strong growth of the health and motorsports sectors, and the potential of existing firms in Cabarrus and Rowan Counties demand a higher level of commitment to world class education and workforce development.  The Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, & Threats (SWOT) Analysis conducted by Market Street Services identified the need to improve K-12 public education as the most critical issue for the Kannapolis area as it prepared for the arrival of NCRC employees and their families.  The second priority issue continues to be preparing the current and future workforce for jobs with existing firms as well as future NCRC opportunities.

Market Street conducted three Assessments to identify, qualify, and quantify the education and workforce strengths and challenges facing the Counties.  The K-12 Assessment identified the commitments of the school systems to improve education, but highlighted the lack of resources, broad community commitment, and support needed to truly transform the systems into globally competitive 21^st Century Learning Environments.  The NCRC & Existing Business Needs Assessment and the Regional Workforce Assessment highlighted the challenges facing existing entities in transitioning the current workforce for job opportunities in biotechnology, healthcare, motorsports and other advanced technology.  The strong commitment of the Chambers, Counties, businesses, schools systems, workforce development agencies, and Rowan Cabarrus Community College, which emphasized their desire to transform education and workforce development, was present throughout the Assessments.  The Assessments highlighted the need for increasing the value of education, greater career awareness, and job training/education programs for in-demand and future 21^st Century careers.

The process of creating the Education and Workforce Development Action Plan for the Counties was a comprehensive one, involving the participation of hundreds of local residents, business leaders, and public officials.  However, the development of the action areas, objectives, and action steps is just the first step in creating meaningful change in the Counties.  Ultimately, successful education and workforce development efforts will result from a coordinated, collaboration-based, unified implementation effort.  The Action Plan cannot be implemented by the educational institutions, the public sector, residents, or business alone, it is a total selfless community effort.  Increased public and private resources and support will be necessary.  Public rollout of the Action Plan will occur in early 2009.