What do kids do in high school nowadays?
That is a question many of us ask ourselves whenever talk of supporting education and public schools arises. We did some digging and found the answer to this question…. robots have taken over.
With 2011 in the rearview mirror, it’s time to focus on 2012. What lies ahead for Spokane? What will happen, what might happen, and how will it affect the business community?
Let’s look into the crystal ball, shall we?
Fourteen area public school districts will have a levy on the Feb. 14 ballot (which drops in the mail Jan. 27). These levies fund vital programs and resources, such as textbooks, teaching materials, extracurricular activities, classified support staff and a lot more.
The levies will fund bus transportation and vital programs and resources, such as textbooks, teaching materials, extracurricular activities, classified support staff and a lot more.
The Executive Committee of Greater Spokane Incorporated voted on behalf of the Board of Trustees to support the school levies.
Here’s why:
Our President and CEO, Rich Hadley, was quoted in the paper regarding Tuesday’s late breaking news that Providence Health & Services will bring 250 billing jobs to Spokane – from clerks to executives, as the story says. Saying it was a great “gift” for Spokane got us thinking.
What are some other recent “gifts” Spokane has received? Since it’s the gift-giving and receiving time of year, let’s take a look.
Here’s a stat that needs consideration:
Nearly 30 percent of the fastest-growing occupations in the next decade will require at least some background in Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM)*. With a large amount of our STEM workforce nearing retirement, a good amount of jobs will be available for the taking.
At our September 29 “Community Conversation on STEM Education,” businesses and educators came together to talk about how to advance STEM initiatives. At the event, Avista Utilities said 30 to 40 percent of workers in the electric power industry are eligible for retirement by 2013. 45 percent of utility engineers are eligible for retirement in the next five years. This isn’t the only industry that will need workers with skills anchored in STEM.
Today’s students will be crucial to our future economic success in those STEM jobs. After all, students today will be employees, business owners and CEOs tomorrow. Let’s take a look at what we’re doing to help prepare our students to enter the STEM workforce.
Senator Patty Murray visited Spokane’s Triumph Composite Systems last week to lead a discussion on workforce development. Senator Murray spoke to a large group of aerospace companies, including members of the Inland Northwest Aerospace Consortium (INWAC), which was co-founded by Greater Spokane Incorporated.
Murray indicated that we are not only battling a financial deficit, but we are also facing an infrastructure deficit and an education and skills training deficit. Let’s see how she is helping reduce that deficit.
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Updated – July 28
The United States government found that those with a college education receive on average $51,206 a year while those with just a high school diploma earn $27,915.
The region is filled with money making opportunities by being home to more than 13 different higher education institutions. Some of these universities include Eastern Washington University, Gonzaga, Washington State University Spokane, Whitworth and the Community Colleges of Spokane.
Let’s take a look at some local universities… (more…)
So, sending the kids off to summer camp?
High school students from across the state were at Gonzaga University last week for a certain summer camp. But this camp didn’t have soccer balls or canoe rides.
Instead, it had stethoscopes, public speaking courses and real-life business scenarios.
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When you were a kid, what did you want to be when you grew up? We aim to assist today’s youth with that question. We did that – and have been doing that the past three years – with Career Exploration Day.
This year’s event was at the beautifully remodeled Rogers High School. About 2,500 middle and high school students from all over the region were introduced to more than 60 area companies spanning a variety of different industries.
Here’s how cool this year’s event was:
The Cherry Blossom Festival in Washington D.C. is in full swing. What better time than now to take a trip to our nation’s capital?
That’s what we’re doing here at Greater Spokane Incorporated. But we’re not going for the festival (although it’s a nice perk). We’re headed over to D.C. to advocate on behalf of Eastern Washington and North Idaho. Our region has more than 40 business leaders and the Greater Spokane Valley, West Plains, Post Falls and Coeur d’Alene Chambers of Commerce on our side.
