The City of Monroe is recognized nationally as one of the sixteen (16) jurisdictions by the National League of Cities (NLC) and the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) to participate in the Good Jobs, Great Cities Academy.
The City of Monroe was chosen through a competitive process in 2023 based on our precision manufacturers, infrastructure, academic partners, public private partnerships, economic development, and local community.
The City of Monroe Strategic Committee cohort members include: Mayor Marion Holloway; Mayor Pro-Tem Gary Anderson; Mark Watson, Monroe City Manager; Teresa Campo, Monroe Community Development Coordinator; Ron Mahle, Monroe Union County Economic Development Commission, Existing Industry Manager; Chris Rivera, South Piedmont Community College, Vice President of Business Solutions; and Laurie Garner, Centralina Workforce Development Board, Business Services Leader.
The City of Monroe Strategic Committee cohort members attended the Washington Academy Session July 10-12, 2023.
The academy will assist the City and our partners in developing innovative and scalable solutions that train long term unemployed and underemployed workers to obtain quality, high-demand jobs in precision manufacturing. The partnership between NLC, the DOL, employers, agencies, and the participants will be mutually beneficial.
The National League of Cities has recognized our strong employer and community engagement as models for other cities to follow, in the selection of the City of Monroe. The Good Jobs, Great Cities Academy affords Monroe an opportunity to share best practices and to learn from other regional leaders.
OUR MISSION/GOALS
As a Good Jobs, Great Cities Academy City we will capitalize on the chance to engage with NLC, the DOL, other federal agencies, national leaders and our peer cities to:
- Identify and convene employers and other stakeholders within a targeted subsector relating to training and employment in precision manufacturing;
- Identify and address barriers, identify gaps, and develop training programs that open the doors for our long term unemployed and underemployed citizens;
- Develop education and workforce ecosystems that enhance existing successful initiatives and/or develop new initiatives;
- Implement strategies that ensure infrastructure, clean energy and advanced manufacturing career opportunities are high-quality and support long term economic vitality in communities that includes employment of our citizens;
- As a result of this work, we will be better positioned to address structural issues that many groups of workers face, including youth, women, disabled, justice impacted individuals, veterans, and all low to moderate income people here in Monroe to have an opportunity for employment making a living wage;
- The City will have access to resources that strengthen our effectiveness in the leveraging and allocation of funds to support goals for addressing workforce needs; and,
- Strengthen policy and practice by intentionally building connections to supportive services for workers, and connecting to the care economy, including childcare, healthcare and mental health as key supports for workers.
COHORT MEMBERS
The Mayor will lead a cross-sector partnership of public and private members, including: City Departments, South Piedmont Community College, Wingate University, Union County Schools (Public, Private, Homeschool), Non-Profits, Associations, and Manufacturers.
The Mayor will be hosting the first Mayor’s Good Jobs Great Cities Symposium for invited guests from the Manufacturing industry on October 26, 2023.
Check back for updates, please reach out to any of the cohort members for further information and how to get involved.