GROW Scotland
Guiding Regional Opportunities & Workforce of Scotland County

The mission of GROW is to connect Scotland County’s educational institutions, employers, and government agencies in creating a sustainable, skilled local workforce aligned with 21st-century economic opportunities. The inaugural meeting brought together a diverse group of stakeholders, underscoring a unified community-wide commitment to addressing the evolving needs of the local economy.

To achieve its mission, the GROW council has developed a strategic framework centered on four core pillars:

• High School & Youth Engagement: The council will focus on building awareness and excitement for career paths among high school students through programs like on-site tours, job shadowing, and an Adopt-a-School partnership, which will assign major employers to schools to offer mentorship and real-world exposure.

• Career & Technical Education Alignment: To bridge the skills gap, the council will work to align school curricula with industry needs. This includes hosting an annual Skills Gap Summit and expanding dual enrollment and youth apprenticeship programs that lead to in-demand certifications (e.g., welding, CNC, OSHA).

• Business-Government-Education Collaboration: The council will establish shared ownership of workforce readiness and retention through a Quarterly Workforce Roundtable and by identifying and pursuing grants to support initiatives like internships and up-skilling for youth.

• Marketing and Communication Strategy: A marketing campaign will work to shift perceptions of skilled trades and promote local opportunities. Initiatives include a “Made in Scotland County” campaign to highlight local jobs and products, as well as the creation of visual career pathway profiles to show students a clear path from high school to a successful career.