News Archives #1:

Creating Our Own Economic Future The Northeast Tennessee Workforce Investment Board co-sponsored the "Creating our Own Economic Future" symposium which brought together more than 260 representatives from regional governments, businesses, educational institutions, and Chambers of Commerce.

The symposium explored new and emerging trends and marketplace influences that need to be considered in aligning strategies for positive economic change in our region.  This collaboration is critical for our local area to attract the proper mix of high-tech industries and the  appropriate skilled workers.

Because of LWIA 1's commitment to developing strategic partnership Tennessee Department of Labor and Workforce Development selected our area as a Bi-State (Tennessee and North Carolina) Pilot Model for Inter-Regional Initiatives. An employer survey is being developed which will be used to assist the Initiative in creating a working model for each state's economic needs and concerns.

 For more information please e-mail; Kathy Pierce 

WIA Services makes a Difference, Thank You                                                       Article by Beth; NE TN Career Center Johnson City, TN,

My name is Beth. I am an LPN student in the evening class at Tennessee Technology Center at Elizabethton, TN. I am a single mother of two children ages three and six. Growing up I was surrounded with family members in the medical field. My life long dream has been to become a neonatologist. Becoming an LPN is just the first step on the stairway of my dream.  Obtaining my LPN license will not only provide a job with security, excellent pay, and benefits, but also will allow me to continue with my education. School has been a wonderful experience.

I have gained not only knowledge from my classes and experience from clinicals, but also gained a new self worth. Through school I found the strength, the courage, and the support I needed to free myself from an abusive relationship. I tried several times before to leave, but always went back due to a lack of financial support. My dreams were looking very dim after working several dead end jobs and struggling to raise two children. However, those dreams have now been relit and the future is brightening for not only my life, but my children's lives.

I would like to take the time to thank each person who makes AB&T possible. It is each of you who has helped change my life. While living in Safe Passage, the domestic violence shelter, I did not know where my children and I would be living, but I never had to worry about how school was going to be paid for. I can never thank each of you that played a part in this. When your day at work seems gloomy and you wonder if you will ever get to go home I hope that you will remember my story and smile because I am only one of thousands that you have helped. Thank you again to everyone who has helped me to get on the road to my new life.

Health Care Skills Demonstration Project

In response to the need of skilled health care employees which were identified by surveying local industry employers by the the Northeast Tennessee Technical Skills Training Initiative. AB&T and LWIA1 applied for and was awarded three Skills Shortage Demonstration Projects funded through the State of Tennessee Department of Labor and Workforce Development, two for LPN training and one for Radiologic Technologist. The purpose of these projects are to reduce the health care skills shortages and employee shortages in LWIA 1 through the development of an ongoing cooperative, training consortium governed by private sector employers.

This collaborative effort includes the Northeast Tennessee Workforce Investment Board, the Alliance for Business and Training, the Tennessee Technology Center at Elizabethton, Mountain States Health Alliance, Frontier Health and East Tennessee State University. The need for employees possessing diverse skills in health care will continue to be a critical  employment issue for Northeast Tennessee and will require constant planning and innovative solutions.

For more information please e-mail; Marquita Tittle  

News Archives  - #1