Stafford’s Department of Economic Development today co-hosted the first in a series of four Focus Groups on workforce development.  The collaborative effort was supported by the newly formed Stafford Workforce and Education Partnership (SWEP), a group that includes Stafford County, the University of Mary Washington, Germanna Community College, and Stafford County Public Schools.  

“The Board of Supervisors recently adopted a ten-point economic action plan for Stafford, which specifically called for making workforce development a priority,” said Chairman of the Board of Supervisors Mark Dudenhefer. “These focus groups will help us reach that goal, and encourage the growth of more family sustaining jobs closer to home.”    

This first focus group was held to gain a better understanding of the workforce training and education needs associated specifically with federal contractors, and a select group of other closely related businesses. Other industry groups will be targeted for subsequent focus group sessions over the next three months.  The goal of SWEP is to gather input and information throughout this process from a diverse group of employers and then compile the first ever comprehensive report that assesses workforce needs and desires in Stafford.

“Stafford, like most localities, can only in generalities speak to what we need as far as higher educational opportunities,” said Deputy County Administrator Tim Baroody. “At the conclusion of these focus groups, we will have more specific information about what is needed to support Stafford’s rapidly evolving economy.”    

Stafford companies including SBG, McQ, The Reger Group, Dulos, BAE, MTCSC, SRA and MITRE, SRA all participated in today’s focus group discussion at Germanna Community College’s new Stafford Center.  The Germanna Center opened this past fall, thanks in part to a $300,000 grant from Stafford’s Economic Development Authority. The center served 643 students in its first semester.

Tom Reger, President and CEO of The Reger Group, sent a company representative to participate in the focus group. “Stafford is a good place to do business, with good schools, great proximately to federal contracting opportunities and an abundant and skilled workforce,” he said. “However, I hear all the time from my HR folks, and my friendly competitors, that more needs to be done to keep and attract increasingly skilled individuals.  I applaud Stafford, the University of Mary Washington and Germanna Community College for being proactive in this regard.”      

The next three focus groups are being planned and will include the healthcare, hospitality, and finance sectors, among others.  The information gained from all four focus groups sessions will be combined into a comprehensive report on workforce development.  The report is scheduled to be unveiled at Stafford’s Annual Business Appreciation Luncheon on May 20, 2010.