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    New Dates for Rural, Set, Go: Boost! Workforce Strategy Public Forums

    Workforce Solutions East Texas • Apr 21, 2022

    Rural, Set, Go: Boost! Forums Scheduled for Wood, Marion, Panola, Rusk, Harrison, and Henderson Counties

    Workforce Solutions East Texas (WSET), in partnership with the East Texas Council of Governments, and local elected officials, has been traveling the region hosting its rural economic development forum series titled Rural, Set, Go: Boost! for the past several weeks. Approximately 200 attendees have joined the forums that have been taking place weekly since March and will continue through May in East Texas rural counties. The final dates for Rural, Set, Go, Boost! events are scheduled to cover six counties and are open to local community and business leaders, employers, school districts, secondary schools, economic development corporations, and chambers to attend.


    The remaining dates have been confirmed for Rural, Set, Go: Boost! community forums:

    • May 3 in Marion County, at the Jeffersonian Institute in Jefferson, from 11:30 AM – 1:00 PM
    • May 10 in Panola County, at Panola College in Carthage, from 11:30 AM – 1:00 PM
    • May 17 in Rusk County, location pending, from 11:30 AM – 1:00 PM
    • May 24 in Harrison County, location pending, from 11:30 AM – 1:00 PM
    • May 31 in Henderson County, location pending, from 11:30 AM – 1:00 PM
    • June 7 in Wood County, at Instant Offices of Texas in Quitman, from 11:30 AM – 1:00 PM


    Rural, Set, Go: Boost! is an intentional strategy to engage community leaders, business leaders, and community members in candid conversations about the factors that influence their local workforce and economic development needs. The forums are helping to address some very basic needs for sustainable growth, including increased access to education, workforce, and economic development resources, the challenges of opportunity deserts which are defined as lack of broadband access, lack of basic services such as transportation, child care resources, training and skills development and access to jobs.


    "The Rural, Set, Go initiative is a collaborative effort that will help identify workforce issues by individual counties in the East Texas region. We at Workforce Solutions East Texas are 'rolling up our sleeves' to address the issues and deliver solutions," said Workforce Solutions East Texas Board Chairman Claude Figueroa. 


    “One of the greatest resources East Texas employers offer employees is the chance to work in the towns and countryside of the Piney Woods, close enough to markets to conduct business, far enough to not spend hours commuting. Come tell us how to help you draw, support, and refine your talent base, taking your business to the next level,” said Doug Shryock, WSET Executive Director.


    Forum dates and location information are available online at https://www.easttexasworkforce.org/ruralsetgo. Event details will be added as they are confirmed. Pre-registration is requested for attendees. 


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