Columbia County economic staff reported follow-up from a July Department of Commerce business-retention visit and said workforce supply and training funding remain top concerns for local manufacturers and service firms.
The county’s business-retention work included interviews with six firms (Grizzly Manufacturing, Roberts Manufacturing, Far Industries, R & D Hitch Trucking, Howe Pattern and Townhomes), and staff said the recurring issues were finding quality employees, funding for training, average wages and alignment with target industries.
To address employer needs and reduce hiring friction, staff proposed a small-scale “career cafe” series to connect students enrolled in career and technical education (CTE) programs with local employers. The plan is to host short, targeted sessions with about 25 students from specific CTE pathways (welding, building trades, advanced manufacturing) and five employer representatives so students can learn employer expectations and employers can identify near-ready entrants to the workforce.
Staff said participating partners already include Grizzly Manufacturing, CareerSource, Another Way and Express Employment; organizers are considering the first events the first week of November and will hold them at a downtown venue.
The board also discussed partnerships to reach veterans and people exiting detention: staff reported contacts with Veterans Florida and with local reentry liaisons to help employers find qualifying candidates.
Board members framed the career-cafe approach as deeper, one-on-one engagement than a traditional job fair — focused on matching CTE skill sequences to employer needs and easing transitions from classroom to workplace.
Staff described the business-retention and expansion (BRE) network as growing (about 83 members at the time of the meeting) and said they are distributing resources and training information gathered from the Department of Commerce follow-ups.