Bollin on Business: Education and economic development — serious business

My dad understood the importance of education. I guess you could say he was obsessed with what he understood was the key to his kids’ future. I, the youngest of three, had somewhat different priorities. I was always more interested in a good laugh, a practical joke.

Yes, I was one of those ”If only he would apply his mind to something useful” kind of kids. Then, things changed for me. All it took was a four-year stint in the Navy, and some GI Bill incentives and I turned into a pretty serious college student graduating with honors from Ithaca College in three years.

I recently overheard a Green Valley resident talking about the fact that he was so glad that he was finished with supporting education. Now that his kids were out of college, it was time for someone else to pay. Interesting thought pattern.

This gentleman, like many of us, had probably made decisions on where to live based on the ranking of the local school system. Where did it score? Who went there? What was the percentage of graduates moving on to college? Would his kids thrive there? Our support of education should never cease. Our quality of life and the lives of those that follow us depend upon our ability to strengthen the one thread common to our economic strength - education.

We in Green Valley, Sahuarita - indeed, the entire Santa Cruz River Valley are facing rapid growth, and economic development. Yet our educational systems are struggling to keep up with supplying the demand for qualified employees in just about every job category.

But, there is also good news here. Local organizations and businesses are on the move to help support our educational institutions that will, ultimately, strengthen our economic development.

In the area of Student Development, SUSD is continuing to improve on its status as a “highly performing” and the Continental School in Green Valley has reached “excelling” performance as determined by the 2007/2007 Arizona Department of Education ratings. With JTED dollars now flowing into SUSD, the Career and Technical Education (CTE) programs are giving students direct experience in areas such as Culinary Arts, Automotive Technology, Computer Technology, and Robotics. These students now have a pathway to either institutions of higher learning, or directly into apprentice and job-shadowing type of programs offered by some area employers.

Educational Development refers to curriculum, educational delivery models, and even the bricks and mortar required to create an education rich economy. Currently, the Education subcommittee of the Green Valley Sahuarita Chamber of Commerce’s EDC is exploring ways to capture an institution of higher learning for our area. With the coming of the new Carondelet hospital, a focus on the biosciences and health seems in order.

Governor Napolitano and state Sen. Tim Bee have expressed the importance of expanding research centers in areas such as solar energy and bio research. Why not here in the Santa Cruz Valley?

On the other end of the spectrum, the Green Valley Chapter of SCORE has delivered business development programs designed to help Green Valley and Sahuarita businesses cope with the changing business environment and ready their organizations for future growth.

Workforce Development is also critical to building a strong local economy. Sahuarita and Green Valley are homes for many of the most talented and accomplished professionals in the country.

These baby boomers have been captains of industry, and experts in their former occupations, we are loaded with former CEOs, VPs, EEs, CFOs, professors, doctors,lawyers machinists, builders, shop owners, and more.

In an attempt to harness this wonderland of talent, the Pima Council on Aging and the Green Valley Sahuarita Chamber of Commerce developed the Mature Workforce Program to link those employers who have a need for proven talent with those who have the desire and drive to delver their talent - and get paid for it - on a full time, part time, or seasonal basis.

Milton Ericksen, state director of Career and Technical Education, offered another opportunity for our talented residents to make a big difference.

The Arizona Department of Education is searching for mature workers who can qualify for a Provisional Teaching Certificate. That’s right. Take your experience and deliver it to students who now need it most.

Become a teacher and make a real difference in the lives of area students.

The importance of education to our local economy and future economic development should not be underestimated.

Can you imagine a research park in our area? How about Solar Energy Laboratories, A four--year residential college, a world class art institution?

I can.

Mark Bollin is marketing director of the Green Valley News & Sun. He can be reached at mbollin@gvnews.com or 520-547-9760.