Knowledge Nets an Outstanding Workforce

In an effort to connect our existing businesses and industries with workforce, training, and education resources, the Gallatin Economic Development Agency has created KNOW – Knowledge Nets an Outstanding Workforce.  This page provides brief descriptions of and contact information for the missions and services of resources Gallatin businesses have at their disposal.  The page also has hot links to those resources.

If you have a question or issue and, after reviewing this page you still are not sure which agency could best help, please contact us here with your question and we will get back to you as soon as possible.  All inquiries will remain confidential.

Volunteer State Community College - The Business & Industry Institute at Volunteer State Community College offers a comprehensive selection of services to meet business and professional development needs.  With over thirty years of hands-on experience developing and directing training programs for business and industry and other agencies, they will assist with developing training content and outcomes specific to your company’s needs.  Guided by the College's mission of providing innovative quality educational and training programs in response to the ever-changing needs and interests of a diverse and dynamic community and developing workforce, the Institute brings up-to-date training to you at affordable prices.  Select from basic, essential core of topics -- on ground or online classes -- or customize your training program at your site or on campus to meet the specific needs of your business culture, number of employees, schedule, learning styles, and priorities whether you need a half-day, one-day, one-month, or one-year training program.

Bob Jankiewicz
615-230-3359
Bob.Jankiewicz@volstate.edu

Tennessee Small Business Development Center
TSBDC is a FREE and confidential one-on-one counseling service for existing and start-up small businesses. Whether the counseling is in the area of marketing, operations, management, or any other business service, the TSBDC consultant provides guidance every step of the way -- by appointment please.

The TSBDC offers:

1. Training seminars on a wide array of topics for small business owners.
2. Assistance with various funding proposals including SBA loans.
3. Referral to professional services and agencies.

 Charles Alexander, Director
615-230-4780
calexander@mail.tsbdc.org

Tennessee Scholars Program - Tennessee Scholars is an education initiative sponsored by the Tennessee Chamber of Commerce & Industry, business and industry of Tennessee, policy makers, educators, and parents. It is part of the National State Scholars Initiative that includes over 20 states. The Tennessee Scholars program is a rewards and recognition program for high school students, led primarily by each local Chamber of Commerce or Education Foundation. The students are rewarded as they complete a rigorous curriculum and reach a high level of skill in several areas so they are ready for the labor market or higher education.
 It is endorsed by the Governor of the State of Tennessee, the United States Department of Vocational and Adult Education, and many other educational, workforce development, and economic development entities as an exemplary educational and workforce development initiative. The purpose of the State Scholars Initiative (SSI) is to increase the percentage of students graduating from high school with a rigorous, defined academic course of study sufficient to prepare them for higher education, the workforce, or the military.

Ruth Woodall, Director
TN Chamber of Commerce & Industry
615-256-5141
ruth.woodall@tnchamber.org

COMPASS - Community Outreach Making Partnerships At Sumner Schools is a county organization created to promote student success and strengthen public schools by developing partnerships between the business community and Sumner County Schools.  Partners are businesses, organizations, churches and individuals giving their time, money and/or resources.  It provides an opportunity for local businesses and industries to get involved in local education in innovative and creative ways.

Educate & Grow Sumner County is a local scholarship program created by the Sumner County Board of County Commissioners as an outgrowth of the Tennessee Scholars Program to cultivate and maintain a qualified workforce for Sumner County businesses.  Sumner County students who meet the Tennessee Scholar requirements are eligible for funding of four semesters of tuition and fees at Volunteer State Community College.  The program is administered by the Sumner County Compass organization.

Melissa Hollins, Executive Director
615-451-5200 ext 1048
info@sumnercompass.org

Sumner County Schools - The Career & Technical Education Division of the Department of Instruction works with high schools and middle schools to ensure compliance with local, state, and federal policies and guidelines that govern CTE programs.  The goal of CTE is to provide programs that give students opportunities to gain skills and competencies needed to transition from high school into a career, community college, technical school, the military, or four year colleges and universities.  It is critical in meeting the needs of students in academic achievement, career exploration, career preparation, and leadership development in an applied setting.  Program areas include: Agriculture, Business Technology, Family and Consumer Sciences, Health Sciences Education, Marketing, Technology Engineering and Trade and Industrial.

Ellis Hollerman, Vocational-Technical Education Supervisor
 615-451-5227
ellis.hollerman@sumnerschools.org

Work-Based Learning - Businesses can partner with Sumner County Schools in a win-win program called ‘Work-Based Learning’ (WBL).  WBL provides special needs students an opportunity to experience a variety of job skills at community work-sites while still in school, increasing choices for future career goals as they plan to transition into the adult world and become contributing members of society.  These non-paid placements have been designed to comply with the Fair Labor Standard Act.  Liability insurance is carried through Sumner County.  Transportation and an educational assistant from the school will accompany students to the community site to assist in training as the student learns about your job requirements and practices. 

Neil Laffely, Transition to Work Consultant
615-451-5200 Ext 1030
neil.laffely@sumnerschools.org

Workforce Essentials, Inc. is a partnership of private and public resources providing business and individual training programs to the Local Workforce Investment Area #8 in the state of Tennessee, which includes Cheatham, Dickson, Houston, Humphreys, Montgomery, Robertson, Stewart, Sumner & Williamson Counties.  They provide the following services:

• Drug-free Workplace Program Management & Testing Services
• Training & Consulting Resources
  - Employee Skills Assessment & Recruitment Services
  - Safety & Regulatory Compliance Training
  - Technical Skills Training
  - Business Skills Training
  - Human Resources/Audit Consulting
• Physicals - Pre-employment and DOT Physicals by appointment
• Defensive Driver Training (Corporate Division)
  -Employees driving company vehicles, part of job requirements, or occupational or insurance requirement
  - Court Referrals - drivers who are required to attend a defensive driving course     
  - Government - statutory or loss prevention requirement
  - General Public - Continuing education, family intervention, or insurance reductions
• Employee & Customer Satisfaction Survey Program Management - Through in-depth needs analysis, WorkForce Essentials will develop a customized surveying program, administer the survey, compile the findings, and provide you with a detailed written feedback report-complete with charts-on the survey's findings.
• Employee Training Reimbursement - Employee Training Reimbursement  - consultants are familiar with state programs and grants which allow employers the chance to explore the option of hiring a new employee while being compensated for a portion of their training wages and/or claim a tax credit on eligible new employees.
• On the Job Training
• Work Opportunity Tax Credit
   
  These Workforce Essentials programs are administered through the local
  Tennessee Career Center.

Marla Rye
1-800-865-0981

Sumner County Career Center - Each Tennessee Career Center offers computerized labor market information, internet access, workshops, an on-line talent bank, in addition to job placement, recruitment and training referrals.

• Access to Job Seekers - Employers may place requests for referrals through the job service program offered at each Career Center.  Employers may also set up on-site interviews and recruiting in the Career Center.

• Customized Training - When an employer identifies the need to train a group of job applicants in a specific occupational skill area, the Local Workforce Investment Area can assist with meeting the employer’s training needs.  The local program can pay up to 50% of the total cost for training a group of potential employees.  The employer must agree to hire all of the applicants referred who successfully complete the training.

• On-the-Job Training - When an employer identifies the need to fill a vacant position, they often have a choice of hiring a skilled worker or a worker who needs to have additional training.  If the employer is willing to hire an individual who has no prior experience in the vacant position, an on-the-job training contract may be developed with the Local Workforce Investment Area.  Under this agreement the local program can pay up to 50% of the trainee’s wages during the specified training period.  The employer must agree to hire the trainee, if he/she successfully completes the training.

• Incumbent Worker Training - The state may enter into an agreement with an employer to provide training to workers whose skills must be upgraded in order to avert worker dislocation.  The state program may provide up to 100% of the training costs for this type of training.

Phyllis Copenhaver, Administrator
615-452-1964
phyllis.copenhaver@tn.gov

TN Technology Center at Hartsville - Tennessee Technology Centers have been provided in all sections of the state of Tennessee.  Their purpose is to meet the needs of residents of the State for occupational and technical training preparatory for entry into business and industry. The Tennessee Technology Center at Hartsville is a public, post-secondary educational Tennessee Board of Regents institution, dedicated to WORKFORCE development. The Technology Center is committed to providing opportunities for Tennessee adults to expand career horizons through quality technical education and to provide needs-centered training and qualified entry-level personnel for area business and industry. The Technology Center maximizes access through open-entry, individually paced instruction and placement support while keeping pace with rapid technological change in demand occupations through continual upgrades of curriculum and equipment.

Mae Banks
615-374-2147
Mae.Banks@ttchartsville.edu