FEATURE

Mission Makers Motivators

By Frank Tate | IDB Executive Director

Frank Tate & Richard Addison

Throughout unnormal times, trendy uncommon words hit the media to generate buzz. Today, social distancing, onshoring, buyer persona, and big data come to mind. Even when things are normal, a term that keeps trending is workforce availability. Almost every conversation related to economic development, WORKFORCE, and availability is top of the list.

Workforce is increasingly becoming a common word in every businesses’ vocabulary. Over the past several years, it is a term that receives more recognition than infrastructure, taxes, and growth.

In the Clarksville region, our workforce is here, growing and becoming a stronghold for our future development. A few years ago, Tennessee’s Economic and Community Development launched a program called the Tennessee Promise, the goal for it was to help our citizens earn two years of college for free. Clarksville has roughly 26% of its high school graduates participating, and the great thing is those individuals are motivated to better themselves.

The exciting part of the program is to meet and hear the stories of the firstgeneration college recipients in a family

In the Clarksville region, our workforce is here, growing and becoming a stronghold for our future development.

or even better about a first-generation high school graduate that is a part of the program.

Montgomery County has 56.6% of its high school graduates enroll in college and also utilize this program. Recently, the IDB had the pleasure of partnering with Clarksville Business Journal and Big Brothers and Big Sisters of Clarksville (BBBS) to recognize Richard, a young high school graduate that will be attending Austin Peay in the Fall.

He is also participating in the Tennessee Promise Hope scholarship program and has been participating in the BBBS program for NUMBER of years. He grew up in a non-traditional home setting, so being able to learn about him and what motivates him to be successful reminded the team of why we are passionate about doing what we do.

To sweeten the introduction, the VIP Clarksville Magazine & Clarksville Business Journal team, developed a Salute to Seniors scholarship program that will help this young man with some expenses the Hope Scholarship won’t cover during his first semester.

Additionally, our friends at Google like Chris Buerck of the BBBS program were so impressed with the tenacity and philanthropic industries like Google and dedication exhibited by Richard that make sure people are provided the that they graciously provided him with tools they need to be successful. a laptop as a graduation gift. Google felt it was important to recognize an To conclude on a personal note: Richard individual who has worked hard to Addison, it is young men and women earn excellent grades in addition to like you that remind community participating in a great program. servants why we must stay motivated The contiguous theme has been the I want to thank you for that reminder. importance of community. Over the last Congratulations on graduating, we are 100 years and beyond, communities have proud of all you have accomplished and tried to determine what brain drain was and how to slow it down. Now, we aren’t focused on that as much as we are about Your degree good luck attending Clarksville’s very own Austin Peay State University. Let’s Go Peay! . Your schedule. creating an educated, well-rounded individual. The tangible strength and growth in Montgomery County is a direct result of our intentional focus on people who make up our workforce.

The community is vibrant, growing, and has all the assets to offer young leaders the opportunity to be successful. I’d say that is a recipe for our continued success and it's served by individuals and passionate about our community.

Your degree. Your schedule.

Flexible, fast-track classes online, on post or on campus.

apsu.edu/adult-learner

Austin Peay State University does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, creed, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity/expression, disability, age, status as a protected veteran, genetic information, or any other legally protected class with respect to all employment, programs and activities sponsored by APSU. The Austin Peay State University policy on nondiscrimination can be found at http://www.apsu.edu/files/policy/6:003.pdf