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Alexandria Wright (standing) leads an economic development workshop with a Prescott Young Professionals group.
The New Economic Development Role of Yavapai College
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• www.yc.edu/ycf
For many years, Yavapai College has been involved in workforce preparation and economic development in the form of the occupational
education of students. More recently, YC has broadened its economic development role to include contract training, small business assistance, and local economic planning. The Yavapai College Foundation complements this effort by providing scholarships for students who might not otherwise be able to take advantage of such training opportunities.
Why the new emphasis on regional economic development?
The complexity of economic development in the 21st century has demanded a philosophical shift in approaches from a period of insulated activity in the United States to a world of globalization, advancing technology and automation, and finite natural resources. The factors of production have had a facelift, reflecting the changing tactics in the development and use of land, labor, and capital.
One of the biggest adjustments that society has come to bear in this era lies in the building of a 21st century labor force. Globalization has sent
jobs overseas, automation has replaced the need for traditional manual labor, and a focus on generational advancement away from vocational careers has left the U.S. with a gap in a primary element needed to build an economy. The game-changing events of 2008 forced national, state, and local economies to take a hard look at traditional approaches to building wealth and begin forming new methods that address the reality of workforce needs.
Yavapai College engagement
With the support of the community and an appreciation for innovative practices, Yavapai
College has been able to respond to vocational and professional workforce demands unlike any other rural community in the state. Recognizing the importance of professional degree programs and transferability while maintaining quality technical and vocational programing has allowed Yavapai County to develop a viable and holistic labor force.
The largest gap currently witnessed in state and national labor forces remains vocational instruction. With programing in seven industry fields at YC’s Career & Technical Education Center (CTEC) alone,