Town of Franklin’s 2012 Economic Development Summit to be held April 5 at 9 Forge Park

In its continued efforts to support the local business community and create livable wage jobs the Town of Franklin is holding an economic development related event at 8:30 a.m. on April 5 at 9 Forge Park. The 2012 Economic Development Summit, Business Expansion and Retention through Workforce Development, is being hosted by Tegra Medical, in partnership with the Massachusetts Office of Business Development, MassDevelopment, United Regional Chamber of Commerce, 495/MetroWest Partnership, and the Town of Franklin’s Economic Development Committee. One of the most important economic development related subjects being addressed by Massachusetts State government at this time is workforce development. According to a February 6, 2012 article in the Worcester Business Journal written by Governor Duval Patrick, “we have 240,000 people looking for work and nearly 120,000 open jobs today in Massachusetts”. The Governor went on to write that business leaders keep telling him “that it’s because the job seekers don’t have the required skills. Many of these openings are for ‘middle skills’ jobs that require more than a high school diploma but not necessarily a four-year degree”. The mismatch between the requirements of available mid-level positions and qualifications of available workers is a significant problem. The main focus of Franklin’s 2012 Economic Development Summit is to inform Franklin’s business owners and managers of the various workforce development resources available to assist them. The morning of the Town of Franklin’s 2012 Summit, registration, networking and optional tours of Tegra Medical’s award winning facility will begin at 7:45 a.m. The formal program will begin at 8:30 a.m. sharp, which will include an update on current economic development issues. The main focus of the summit, a “Gathering of Workforce Development Resources”, will be moderated by Arthur Robert, regional director from the Massachusetts Office of Business Development (MOBD). As part of the Workforce Development portion of the event, representatives from several State agencies and other workforce development related organizations will introduce themselves and discuss resources that are available to assist local businesses; these organizations include: MOBD, Massachusetts Department of Career Services, Workforce Training Fund; Massachusetts Department of Labor Standards, Division of Apprentice Training; Employment and Training Resources (ETR); Tri-County Regional Vocational Technical High School; Mass Bay Community College; Dean College; Massachusetts Life Sciences Center; Commonwealth Corporation; Massachusetts Manufacturing Extension (MassMEP); and Associated Industries of Massachusetts (AIM). The Town of Franklin’s elected and appointed officials that work regularly to promote local economic development hope that by drawing attention to available workforce development resources, the needs of Franklin’s existing businesses may be more easily met, employment options for the Town of Franklin’s residents will increase, and the Town will continue to attract new businesses. The community’s industrially zoned areas are home to dozens of research and development and manufacturing companies, and Franklin has attracted innovative technology companies in a wide range of industries, including nanotechnology, logistics, data storage, medical devices, biotechnology, and specialty materials; many of these companies currently have, or will have in the near future, positions available for qualified workers. Building relationships with the workforce development organizations attending the 2012 Summit will hopefully result in local businesses more easily filling their available openings with qualified workers. The Town Franklin is continually looking for ways to create conditions favorable for business expansion. The Town’s last Economic Development Summit held on October 27, 2010 focused on Business Expansion and Retention within Franklin’s Economic Opportunity Areas. Property owners and commercial real estate companies with available property within the Town’s six multi-parcel economic opportunity areas were educated about resources available to assist them in redeveloping their properties. The organizers of the event wanted the commercial/industrial site selection world to look to the Town of Franklin first when looking to site a facility. The October 2010 summit was a great success, and this year’s is expected be as well. There is no cost to attend the Town of Franklin’s 2012 Economic Development Summit on April 5th, but individuals are asked to RSVP to the Franklin Department of Planning and Community Development by April 1. Please contact Planning and Community Development Director, Bryan Taberner, if you have questions or require additional information regarding the Town of Franklin’s 2012 Economic Development Summit. Phone: 508-520-4907 Email: btaberner@franklin.ma.us