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Economic Development Committee highlights 2025 work and pushes Fab Lab workforce idea
Summary
The county’s EDC reviewed its 2025 activities—data-center and tourism research, outreach—and highlighted a Fab Lab proposal to provide hands-on trades training for students and adults as part of workforce development planning.
Vice-Chairman James Jewett summarized the Economic Development Committee’s 2025 report at the Jan. 28 meeting, saying the committee focused on building a foundation for future work including research into data centers, warehousing and tourism and improving public outreach with a town hall.
A central item discussed was a proposed Fab Lab to provide hands-on training in trades such as welding and carpentry for high school students and residents seeking retraining. Supervisor Jud Buchanan, who described familiarity with a similar program in Pennsylvania, said the Fab Lab could partner with schools’ career-and-technical-education (CTE) programs and charge a modest monthly fee for public access. County staff cautioned that success depends on student interest and qualified instructors and suggested several possible facility locations, including school buildings or private shops.
The EDC expects to present strategic priorities during the upcoming budget process and pursue grant funding to pilot workforce-training initiatives if the Board supports moving forward.
Next steps: The EDC will draft a 2026 strategic plan and seek Board guidance at the start of budget deliberations; staff and Board members indicated an interest in exploring grant opportunities and school partnerships to test the Fab Lab concept.
