GREENVILLE, NC (April 8, 2024) – The Greenville-Pitt County Chamber of Commerce, in partnership with Catalent, the City of Greenville, the Greenville-ENC Alliance, Pitt County Economic Development, and Pitt County Schools, is set to launch Grow Local Week, scheduled for April 15-19, 2024. Grow Local is a no-cost business/educator initiative designed to introduce, involve, inspire, and invest in the future of our community and workforce.
Grow Local, originally introduced in 2018, is a program designed to create and unveil career interests, grow the talent pipeline, and connect local businesses to future employees. The program has matched a program high of 3,433 middle and high school students to participate in an on- or off-campus experience, giving them the opportunity to learn more about all career opportunities available within their host business. These experiences are made possible by the 84 local businesses participating, along with partnerships from Pitt County Schools and the Pitt County Educational Foundation. From tours of local businesses, conversations with business leaders, and hands-on activities, students will have a first-hand experience at a day in the life of an employee in a field relevant to curriculum they are studying in their class.
“The past success and ongoing impact of Grow Local would not be possible without the tremendous support and generosity from our business community,” said Trent McGee, president and CEO of the Greenville-Pitt County Chamber of Commerce. “Our employers and program partners understand how vital targeted workforce development initiatives are to career connections and that early exposure aids in the effort to develop and retain a skilled workforce in Pitt County.”
The Chamber is excited to welcome back Be Pro Be Proud on Tuesday, April 16 and Wednesday, April 17 in the Pitt Community College G. Henry Leslie Building parking lot. Be Pro Be Proud is an initiative to generate students, parents, and educator interest in technical professions. This program utilizes two custom-built exhibition trailers equipped with virtual reality technology to give middle and high school students hands-on experience with skilled professions within the construction, manufacturing, transportation, and utility industries. Be Pro Be Proud NC aims to change perceptions of technical careers and increase training to address longstanding labor shortages in skilled trades professions. If you are interested in visiting the exhibition trailers, email Kimber Stone at kimber@greenvillenc.org for more information.
Additional sponsors for Grow Local include: Avient, Grady-White Boats, Greenville Utilities Commission, Hyster-Yale Group, North Carolina Biotechnology Center, Optimum, and PhRMA.
To find out more about Grow Local, please visit greenvillenc.org/growlocal.
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Lauren Phillips
Director of Marketing & Communications
lauren@greenvillenc.org
252) 752-4101 ext. 2228
