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Workforce

                                           development






                                              a focus for community





                       conomic developers and the     include developing a youth and young-
                       local chamber of commerce      adult talent pipeline, building and
                       didn’t wait for the national   strengthening the adult workforce,

             E COVID-19 pandemic-                     creating a community workforce
               prompted labor shortages to begin      network, and promoting and
               addressing the future of the Golden Isles   supporting entrepreneurs locally.
               workforce. They had already brought    It grew out of the recognition

               the stakeholders together and launched   of a problem – Glynn County is
               the Golden Opportunities Talent        growing, but disproportionately so
               Development Strategy to create a future   in demographics that are not part
               in Glynn County with a robust and      of the workforce. Population grew

               skilled set of employees ready to staff   by 19 percent, but only a fraction of


                  “College of Coastal Georgia, Coastal Pines Technical
                    College, the Glynn County School System, and the
                      Golden Isles College and Career Academy are

                                integral pieces of the puzzle.”


               the high-tech companies of tomorrow.   that growth brought in adults who

               Post pandemic, that effort has become   were ready to work. Only about 44
               even more important.                   percent of the residents here were
                 “We need the entire community on     in the workforce.
               this journey to ensure we are creating     “We were not necessarily attracting

               a workforce in Glynn County, and       working-age people,” Moore said.
               we’re prepared to attract and grow       Golden Opportunities seeks to
               businesses,” said Ryan Moore, CEO of   change that, and it is off to a fast start.
               the Golden Isles Development Authority.     “Since March of 2021, nearly 90

                 The Golden Opportunities Talent      percent of the year-one action items
               Development Strategy is a community-   have been completed by volunteers
               wide effort to support talent          across the county,” Moore said. “This
               development in the Golden Isles. It    couldn’t have happened without

               provides action items and goals that   the extra time of our staff and the


       40     Brunswick-Golden Isles Community Magazine  •  The Anchor  •  BrunswickGoldenislesChamber.com
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