REGIONAL FOUNDATION BEGINS THIRD ASSESSMENT
Identifying Education and Employment Opportunities
DANVILLE, VA – (October 22, 2007) — The Danville Regional Foundation has begun an assessment of the educational and employment situation in the region, the last of its three community assessments.
The assessment will identify the strengths, challenges and potential capacity in the region to address the education and workforce challenges, said Karl Stauber, Chief Executive Officer. The assessment will be based on interviews with educational officials and data from local, state and national levels.
"To have effective economic development, the community must have a sound system of educating our youth and training them," Stauber said. "Our young people and adults must have the skills and knowledge that businesses and industry require if the Danville region is to be competitive in today’s global economy.
Developing labor market strategies to move the workforce toward a knowledgeable economy requires an understanding of the current strengths and weaknesses of the workforce, Stauber explained.
The results of the assessment will drive recommendations for investments that could significantly improve educational outcomes and opportunities for young people in the region, Stauber said.
The results will be a snapshot of the capabilities and limitations of the region by looking at the needs of employers, the needs of workers and analyzing the gaps between them. Then, the regional information will be compared with the national picture.
"The bottom line is that the Foundation wants to provide information for community agencies and for itself to forge partnerships that will develop a pathway for our young people and workers to become an asset for a better future," Stauber said.
The Foundation is working on assessments of health and the economy of the region.The purpose of the Danville Regional Foundation is the development, promotion and support of activities, programs and organizations that improve the health, education and wellbeing of the Danville reign. In its two years, the Regional Foundation has announced grants of approximately $17.5 million to five not-for-profit organizations and government agencies in Danville, Pittsylvania and Caswell Counties.
The Danville Regional Foundation seeks to develop, promote and support activities that improve the health, education and wellbeing of the residents of the City of Danville and Pittsylvania County, VA and Caswell County, NC. The Foundation has awarded approximately $19.5 million to seven non-profit organizations or government agencies since its founding in 2005.