Thread by @william_r_kerr

Our @HarvardHBS MBA course on #ManagingTheFutureOfWork is underway!

I share a few key ideas from each class that sparked conversation.

Class 26 discussed @GTR_link's efforts to attract investment into the rural Mississippi region: hbsp.harvard.edu/product/818089…

MS' Golden Triangle Region holds a rich manufacturing history, but plant shutdowns and job losses hit GTR hard from the 1980s thru early 2000s.

GTR Link's mission is to restore jobs and create growth by attracting new companies (especially in advanced manufacturing).

To do this, GTR first needed to show prospective investors that it had a workforce ready to do high-skill manufacturing work. This was a challenge, and required pushing forward the region's workforce.

GTR Link COO @mkwhitaker on the reskilling that needed to happen:

GTR had an ally in this in Eastern Mississippi Community College. Together, they developed a strong ecosystem: companies could closely align with EMCC on its workforce needs - even installing equipment directly on campus - and EMCC would train students for the skills needed.

Students debated the state/local incentives offered to companies, esp how to measure the spillovers to the community, beyond just jobs, that these state-of-the-art plants would offer. Building supply chain links and minority inclusion in management are vital for broader gains.

Workforce commitments & incentives lay the groundwork, but winning the deal can sometimes come down to personal connection and building relationships. GTR Link CEO Joe Max felt this was the reason they convinced Yokohama to build a massive new plant in the region: