Greetings,
 
I am hoping you can join us at the Nashoba Valley Chamber of Commerce on Wednesday July 31st from 745am – 845am.  You are being asked to participate because, as a leader in our community, your input will help shape both the direction of academic and workforce programs over the course of the next several years, but additionally help identify opportunities for economic development.  I am hopeful you can join us. 
 
We are meeting because Mount Wachusett Community College (“MWCC” or the “Mount”) and the Montachusett Regional Planning Commission (“MRPC”) urgently request input from private sector representatives.
 
MWCC is updating its Strategic Plan. The purpose of MWCC’s Strategic Plan is to chart the direction of academic and workforce programs over the next five years based on input from employers, community leaders, and other stakeholders. The college is interested in learning about how well they prepare the workforce for the regional job market, and where there are gaps between your workforce needs and the college’s preparation of the workforce.
 
MRPC is in the process of completing the Montachusett Region Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy (“CEDS” for short). The CEDS is a planning document that identifies opportunities for economic development as identified by private and public sector representatives. The document must be on file and updated periodically so as to enable the cities and towns in greater north central Massachusetts the opportunity to obtain grants from the Federal Economic Development Administration (EDA) to building industrial parks, refit existing buildings for job creation and retention purposes and for planning studies that lead to economic development projects.
 
Related talking points include: A. the characterization of economic assets and liabilities that limit economic growth; B. top economic development opportunities for the Montachusett Region that should be identified and supported; and, C. threats that are affecting the economic well-being of businesses in the region. MWCC and the MRPC are also very interested in better understanding the private sector’s needs in the area of job training.
 
And of course… all this “brain-share” will be a great resource to the chamber.  Please let me know if you can join!