By Paul Dordal,
Brigadier General (ret), Executive Director,
Fort Bragg/ Pope Air Force Base
BRAC Regional Task Force
Several projects are underway at the BRAC Regional Task Force Fort Bragg, NC. First and foremost, the U.S. Department of Labor recently awarded a $5 million grant to the BRAC RTF for a workforce demonstration program. According to the U. S. Department of Labor, this program will be used as a model for other BRAC growth communities for training dislocated workers and to assist in transforming the workforce in the Fort Bragg and Pope AFB region.
"Programs funded by this award will lead workers in this North Carolina regional economy to higher-paying, high-tech careers," said Assistant Secretary of Labor for Employment and Training Emily Stover DeRocco. "This pilot project will not only help North Carolina weather economic changes, but also provide the region the opportunity to develop a pool of skilled workers who are prepared to succeed in today's competitive global economy."
Last month, BRAC RTF, along with Training Development & Associates (TDA), hosted a huge event at the Fort Bragg Officer’s Club. The event was organized to put the Comprehensive Regional Growth Plan (CRGP) in motion. TDA, headquartered in Laurinburg, NC is under contract with BRAC RTF to prepare a growth plan for the region due to the pending relocations of thousands of personnel to Fort Bragg. U.S. Army Forces Command Headquarters and U.S. Army Reserve Command Headquarters are both scheduled to relocate to Ft. Bragg by 2011. More than 200 regional stakeholders, community leaders and officials attended the event. Representative Margaret Dickson (Chairperson of the Regional Caucus), made opening remarks and commented on the sheer numbers of personnel in attendance and the level of talent from throughout the region. “These are truly exciting times for us” commented Representative Dickson.
Several facilitators from the TDA team met with each of the BRAC RTF Working Groups to formulate detailed strategies as part of the growth plan. Other BRAC actions underway include: A Regional Marketing and Branding initiative with Kelly Marketing Communications of Sanford, NC and Moonlight Communications of Fayetteville, NC; hiring of a Deputy Director to augment the BRAC RTF Staff; and Economic Development planning and surveys. For questions about the BRAC RTF, please call (910) 436-1345 or visit the website at: WWW.BRACRTF.COM.
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