>>> WBGU TV WITH YOUR HOST STEVE KENDALL.

THIS IS WHERE YOUR COMMUNITY MATTERS.

LOCAL PEOPLE, LOCAL ISSUES.

>>> HELLO AND WELCOME TO "THE JOURNAL."

I'M STEVE KENDALL.

THE 2016 PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION HINGED A LOT ON THE ECONOMY.

NOT NATIONAL THE NATIONAL, ECONOMY, AND REGIONAL ECONOMY.

HERE TO TALK ABOUT IT IS DR.

RUSSELL MILLS AND DR.

WILLIAM BURNS.

WELCOME TO "JOURNAL" TODAY.

EXPLAIN WHAT THE CENTER OF DEVELOPMENT IS SO PEOPLE UNDERSTAND WHAT YOU DO.

>> YES, IT IS AN ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT RESEARCH AND TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE CENTER ON CAMPUS HERE.

AND WE TRY TO HELP PROVIDE THE COMMUNITIES IN OUR REGION WITH ASSISTANCE ON ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT ISSUES.

>> WHAT ARE SOME EXAMPLES OF WHAT YOU HAVE DONE IN THE PAST PEOPLE WOULD BE FAMILIAR WITH?

>> WE RECENTLY JUST COMPLETED A LARGE INFRASTRUCTURE ASSISTANT PROJECT WITH PIONEER IN WILLIAMS COUNTY, OHIO WHERE WE HELPED ASSEMBLE THE FINANCING FOR THEM TO BUILD AN INDUSTRIAL PARK CONNECTER ROAD.

IT'S THOSE TYPE OF PROJECTS WHERE WE HOPE TO HELP FACILITATE JOB GROWTH IN THE REGION.

>> SO YOU FIND ENTITIES AND MAKE SURE THEY FIND ALL OF THE RESOURCES THEY NEED TO MAKE THEIR PROJECT COME TO FRUITION?

A LINK BETWEEN ALL OF THE DIFFERENT PARTS OF THAT?

>> AND THE CENTER IS FUNDED THROUGH A GRANT AT THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT INFORMATION IN WASHINGTON.

PART OF THAT FUNDING, AND WE ALSO DO, IN ADDITION TO THE MORE TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE, I WOULD DO APPLIED RESEARCH WHERE WE PROVIDE DATA AND ANALYTICS TO COMMUNITIES WHO MAY WANT TO KNOW WHAT THEIR WORKFORCE LOOKS LIKE, DEMOGRAPHICS, OR WHAT INDUSTRIES THEY SHOULD TARGET FOR FUTURE GROWTH IN THE COMMUNITIES.

>> DO YOU WORK WITH INDIVIDUAL COMPANIES AS WELL?

A COMPANY MAY SAY WE'RE THINKING OF MOVING INTO THE AREA, YOU HAVE DATA AND RESEARCH, WHAT CAN WE EXPECT IN TERMS OF EMPLOYEES AND THINGS OF THAT NATURE?

>> WE SURE DO, WE PUT TOGETHER SOME PRETTY IN-DEPTH DEMOGRAPHIC ANALYSIS FOR COMPANIES THAT ARE LOOKING AT THE REGION TO GIVE THEM AN IDEA OF WHAT TYPE OF WORKFORCE MAY BE AVAILABLE IF THEY DECIDE TO MOVE INTO THE REGION.

WE ALSO WORK WITH EXISTING COMPANIES.

A LOT OF TIMES THERE MAY BE COMPETITION BETWEEN TWO LOCATIONS THAT THE COMPANY HAS, TWO DIFFERENT STATES, AND WE TRY TO MAKE THE CASE THAT THISoádnÑ THE BEST SPOT TO BE.

>> AND THAT COMPETITION IS FIERCE, I KNOW.

I READ A STORY AND MICHIGAN HAS THE BEST INCENTIVES TODAY.

I'M SURE EVERYONE CAN MAKE A CASE FOR THEIR AREA, BUT THAT IS WHAT YOU'RE COMPETING WITH?

>> YES, EVERY STATE HAS INCENTIVES, BUT IN TERMS OF THE SUSTAINABILITY, IT IS REALLY ABOUT, RIGHT NOW, THE COMPETITION IS ABOUT WORKFORCE.

THEY ARE TRYING TO FIND TALENT AND EMPLOYEES WHO CAN FILL THE POSITIONS THEY HAVE.

>> AND THAT HAS BEEN, I THINK SOMETHING THAT WE TALK ABOUT A LOT RECENTLY.

IS THAT MORE OF AN ISSUE IN THE LAST FIVE OR TEN YEARS OR ARE WE JUST BETTER NOW AT LOOKING WHAT WE HAVE AND PROJECTING WHERE WE NEED TO BE.

>> COMPARE THAT WITH 6% IN THE STATE.

5.1% NATIONALLY.

IF YOU LOOK AT IT, NORTHWEST OHIO -- YOU WOULD THINK THAT IS A GREAT THING, RIGHT?

THAT ALSO MEANS THERE IS A TIGHT LABOR MARKET.

AS THE UNEMPLOYMENT WENT DOWN, THE COMPETITION FOR LABOR IS BECOMING MORE INTENSE.S7█ YOU HAVE A LOW UNEMPLOYMENT RATE, BUT IT IS DIFFICULT FOR COMPANIES TO FIND WORKERS BECAUSE THEY WILL ALMOST IN A WAY HAVE TO TRY AND ROB THEM FROM A COMPANY THAT ALREADY EXISTS.

IT IS A DISINCENTIVE IF THEY HAVE TO PAY MORE, PROVIDE MORE -- >> IT PUTS A LOT OF UPWARD WAGE PRESSURE ON THE COMPANIES BECAUSE PEOPLE IN A LOWER WAGE, LIKE MANUFACTURING, PRODUCTION TYPE POSITION.

THEY MAY MOVE FOR WHAT SEES IN A SMALL INCREASE IN SALARY, THEY MAY JUMP FROM ONE COMPANY TO ANOTHER.

AND IDEALLY, YOU TRY TO DEMONSTRATE TO COMPANIES MATCHING THEIR NEED WITH AVAILABLE WORKFORCES AND RESOURCES.

>> YEAH, WE HAVE DATA ANALYTICS AND PACKAGES THAT HELP US FIGURE OUT WHAT COMPANIES SHOULD LOOK FOR.

FOR INSTANCE, IF THERE IS AN EMPLOYEE FOR A MANUFACTURING FIRM THEY WANT TO HIRE, THERE MAY NOT BE FOLKS IN THAT INDUSTRY, BUT WE CAN TELL THEM WHAT THE NEXT BEST INDUSTRIES WOULD BE SO THOSE KIND OF THINGS ARE WHAT A GOOD COMPANIES AND COMMUNITIES ASK US FOR.

>> WHEN IT COMING TO STRENGTH AND WEAKNESSES.

IS THAT SOMETHING, OUR WONDERFUL OR OUR AVAILABLE RESOURCES FILL THAT, OR MAYBE THEY DON'T?

IS THAT SOMETHING THAT WE KIND OF MEASURE AS WELL?

>> YEAH, WE CERTAINLY LOOK AT OCCUPATIONS THAT WE HAVESH/%n EXPERIENCE IN IN OUR REGION, AND WHAT PROGRAMS ARE AVAILABLE IN THE EDUCATIONAL SYSTEM FOR THEM, TOO, TO GET TRAINING AND CERTIFICATES FOR THE OCCUPATIONS THAT THE COMPANIES ARE LOOKING FOR.

>> WE DO HAVE A LOT OF ADVANTAGES IN THE REGION.

WE HAVE GREAT TRANSPORTATION INFRASTRUCTURE.

WE HAVE BIRAIL AND HIGHWAY.

AND WE HAVE THE ADVANTAGE OF HAVING TWO STATE UNIVERSITIES TO HIRE AT, AND REALLY GREAT TECHNICAL SCHOOLS.

SO I THINK NORTHWEST OHIO, THEY HAVE A LOT OF EDUCATIONAL STRUCTURE AS WELL.

>> AND IT HAS BEEN AUTOMOTIVE DRIVEN, BUT IS THERE OTHER SECTORS THAT WE HAVE BECOME MORE IMPORTANT?

>> WE CERTAINLY ADDED LOTS ON THE DISTRIBUTION SIDE.

THE HANCOCK AREA HAS RECEIVED A LOT OF INVESTMENT IN WAREHOUSING AND DIVERSIFICATION.

THERE IS ALSO A STRONG FOOD PREFERENCING.

BUT THE AUTOMOTIVE IS STILL IMPORTANT, IT REALLY IS.

WHAT WE HAD IN OUR 2008 AND 2009 TIME HAS BOUNCED BACK SOME WITH INCREASES IN AUTO PRODUCTION.

>> ONE OF THE REASONS OUR UNEMPLOYMENT RATE IS SO LOW AT THE MOMENT IS BECAUSE AUTOMOTIVE IS DOING SO WELL.

WHEN THEY HAVE ONE PREDOMINANT SECTOR, THE GOOD TIMES ARE GOOD AND THE BAD TIMES ARE BAD.

SO I MEAN, WE ARE SEEING SOME IN TERMS OF DIVERSIFYING THE REGION, BUT IT IS STILL AUTOMOTIVE CENTRIC.

IT IS STILL THE CORE, BUT WHEN IT COMES TO ISSUES, I KNOW THEY TALK ABOUT THIS, HOW IMPORTANT IS QUALITY OF LIFE AND THOSE SORT OF THINGS, IS THAT WHAT THEY FOCUS ON?

>> I THINK WHAT COMPANIES ARE REALIZING, THAT IN ORDER TO ATTRACT THIS GENERATION OF TALENT, IT IS MORE IMPORTANT THAN IT MAY HAVE BEEN.

IT MAY HAVE BEEN PREDOMINANT, BUT I THINK NOW, SPEAKING ON SOMEONE THAT IS BORDERLINE, I THINK QUALITY OF LIFE MAY BE TRUMPING THAT.

AND ONE OF THE INTERESTING THINGS, MOVING TO DOWNTOWN TOLEDO, I THINK THEY WANT TO IMPROVE THE URBAN CORE THAT I THINK WILL SPUR OTHER QUALITY OF LIFE IMPROVEMENTS.

WE HAVE SEEN THEM MOVE IN.

SO THAT IS A SMART MOVE FROM THE REGION.

>> AND AND THIS WE CAN BRING PEOPLE TO THE REGION.

>> I KNOW HEARING DISCUSSIONS THEY TALK ABOUT A LARGE COMPANY MOVING TO NORTHWEST OHIO.

THEY WANTED TO LOCATE IN THE URBAN CENTER THEIR EMPLOYEES WANTED THAT LEVEL OF ACTIVITY AND ENVIRONMENT.

THEY WANTED EVERYTHING NEAR WHERE THEY WORKED IN THAT DOWNTOWN CENTRAL IF I KIND OF FEEL.

WHICH IS DIFFERENT FROM THE WAY WE HAVE DONE IT.

WHEN WE LOCK AT WORK FORCE DEVELOPMENT AND YOU TALK ABOUT THAT, HOW ARE WE DOING WITH THAT ROUGHLY SPEAKING.

ARE WE GETTING BETTER AT IT?

I KNOW THE TYPES OF INDUSTRIES AND WHAT THEY REQUIRE IS CONSTANTLY EVOLVING AND SHIFTING.

ARE WE MOVING TO GET BETTER?

>> I THINK ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE'RE BEHIND ON IS THE ENGINEERING AND THE IT SIDE.

IT IS THINGS THAT TAKE A LITTLE BIT LONGER TO GET QUALIFIED FOR THOSE POSITIONS.

>> WHEN WE COME BACK, LET'S TALK ABOUT SOME OF THE SPECIFIC PROJECTS THAT THE CENTER HAS BEEN WORKING ON BECAUSE THEY ARE VERY WIDE RANGING.

SO WE'LL BE BACK IN JUST A RUNNER WITH THE CENTER FOR REGIONAL DEVELOPMENT HERE ON "THE JOURNAL, ON WBGU TV."

>>> THANK YOU FOR STAYING WITH US HERE ON THE JOURNAL.

WE HAVE DR.

LUSZ MILLS, AND WE WERE TALKING ABOUT WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT, THAT IS PART OF WHAT YOU DO, YOU HAVE A SIGNIFICANT NUMBER OF PROJECTS YOU WORKED ON THAT ARE ACTIVE AND A LONG LIST OF THINGS THAT YOU COMPLETED YEARS AGO.

I'M GOING TO NOTICE NATURE FRESH.

YOU CAN'T MISS NATURE FRESH OUT THERE ON THE TWO HIGHWAYS WHERE THEY CROSS.

TALK ABOUT THE CENTER'S INVOLVEMENT.

>> NATURE FRESH, FOR THOSE THAT DON'T REALIZE, THE LARGE GREENHOUSE OPERATION, FROM THE TURNPIKE, OR TO HIGHWAY TWO, SO IT WAS A PROJECT THEY WANT THE TO DEVELOP THE INFRASTRUCTURE, BUT THEY NEEDED INFRASTRUCTURE TO BE DONE.

WE NEEDED TO HELP THEM GET DIE NANSING DONE TO HELP CONSTRUCT A RAW WATER LINE TO SERVE THEIR GROWING NEEDS IN THE WHITE HOUSE.

SO THERE FSZ PLENTY OF WATER AVAILABLE, BUT IT WAS CREATED WATER AND THE COST TO UNTREAT THE WATER IS WHAT FACILITATED IT.

>> YOU MENTIONED WATER, THAT IS ALWAYS AN INTERESTING DEVELOPMENT WHEN IT COMES TO DEALING WITH COMPANIES BECAUSE OF OUR DISCUSSIONS WITH REGIONAL WARTER OUT HERE, AND THE NATURE FRESH, IT'S LIKE 170 ACRES OF GREENHOUSE, AN AMAZING FACILITY WHEN YOU DRIVE BY, YOU CAN'T MISS IT, IT GETS YOUR ATTENTION FOR MILES AND MILES.

ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT ADMINISTRATION CENTER YOU SAID VERY SIMPLY IN A SHORT PHRASE, TELL US ABOUT THAT.

>> SURE, SO ' THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT ADMINISTRATION, AND WE PARTNER WITH OHIO UNIVERSITY.

WE COVER 59 OF THE COUNTIES IN OHIO.

SO THEIR CENTER IS ON THINGS LIKE ENTREPRENEURSHIP, IT USED TO BE RETRAINING FORMER COAL WORKERS FOR THE POWER DISTRICT, BUT WHO KNOWS IF KOHL I -- COAL IS COMING BACK.

SO WHAT WE FOCUSED ON IS FOREIGN DIRECT INVESTMENT.

IN NORTHWEST OHIO, WE HAVE SEEN THE WORK WITH THE REGIONAL GROWTH PARTNERSHIP.

WE HAVE SEEN A LOT OF THE INVESTMENT, A LOT OF COMPANIES INCLUDING NATURE FRESH, WHICH IS A CANADIAN COMPANY.

SO WE HAVE SEEN A LOT OF COMPANIES COMING BACK TO THE UNITED STATES.

>> ONE OF THE OTHER AREAS I SAW, COUNTIES OF RISK, SO TALK ABOUT WHAT COUNTIES AT RISK MEANS.

>> SURE, WE DID A RESEARCH PROJECT, WE CAME UP WITH FIVE TO SIX VARIABLES WE THOUGHT WOULD BE GOOD INDICATORS OF RISK FOR ECONOMIC DECLINE.

AND THEN WE TOOK THOSE AND USING SOME REGRESSION MODELS, TRIED TO COME UP WITH HOW THE VARIABLES INTERACT WITH EACH OTHER AND WHICH COUNTIES ARE MOST -- MOST IN DANGER OF ECONOMIC DECLINE, BASED ON WHAT THEIR STANDINGS ARE.

>> WITH THE IDEA THAT MAYBE THEY CAN IMPLEMENT PROGRAMS OR -- >> THE WHOLE GOES IS IS THERE A WAY THAT WE CAN PEER INTO THE FUTURE A LITTLE BIT AND SAY "BASED ON A MIX OF COMPANIES THAT YOU HAVE, AND YOUR CURRENT SITUATION, YOU ARE AT RISK FOR DECLINE.

SO THERE IS SOMETHING WE CAN DO PROACTIVELY" TO TRY TO GET AHEAD OF IT INSTEAD OF ALWAYS BEING REACTIONARY TO THINGS THAT HAPPEN.

>> ANALYTICS, WE HEAR ABOUT IT IN EVERYTHING FROM SPORTS TO WHATEVER PRODUCT DEVELOPMENT IT HAPPENS TO BE.

SO IT IS IMPORTANT FOR PEOPLE TO SAY YAEB HERE WE ARE NOW, HERE IS WHERE WE DON'T WANT TO BE FIVE YEARS FROM NOW, IF WE'RE GOING THE WRONG DIRECTION, WHAT CAN WE DO TO ALTAR IT.

HERE IS HOW NOT TO END UP THERE.

WHEN YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT, ONE OF THE THINGS THEY INVESTED A HUGE AMOUNT OF MONEY IN IS DEALING WITH OPIATE ADDICTION AND WHAT THAT MEANS TO FIND QUALIFIED WORKERS.

HAVE YOU HAD MUCH CONTACT WITH THAT.

IF YOU'RE TRYING TO KEEP SOMEONE EMPLOYED -- >> I THINK IT IS PART OF THE PROBLEM THAT FOLKS ARE HAVING IN HIRING, PARTICULARLY IN THE MANUFACTURING SIDE.

IT COMES UP QUITE A BIT.

THEY BRING THEM FOR THE DRUG TESTS AND THEY WON'T SHOW OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT, BUT I THINK THERE IS A LARGER ISSUE WITH MANUFACTURING.

A GENERATIONAL ONE.

WE ALWAYS LOOK AT PEOPLE'S PERCEPTIONS OF MANUFACTURING, PARENTS AND CURRENT STUDENTS, AND THEY HAVE A VERY NEGATIVE PERCEPTION.

THEY THINK IT IS A DIRTY FACTORY ENVIRONMENT, BUT PARENTS HAVE SEEN THE JOBS GET OUTSOURCE SO THEY DON'T SEE IT CAREER.

I THINK THIS IS A LOT OF THE REASON BEHIND GOVERNOR KASICH'S PROVISION WHERE THEY HAVE TO GO TO A WORKFORCE ENVIRONMENT.

A LOT OF FOLKS ARE NOT GETTING EXPOSURE TO THOSE THINGS IN HIGH SCHOOL.

I KNOW IT IS A DIFFICULT LOGISTICAL THING, BUT I THINK THAT IS THE MOTIVATION, TRYING TO MAKE THE SHIFT.

IT IS A VERY DIFFICULT ONE.

>> THAT IS AN INTERESTING POINT.

WE HAVE SEEN A GENERATION OF PEOPLE WHO GREW UP IN MIDDLE CLASS HOMES, WHERE PARENTS, ONE OR MAYBE BOTH WORKED IN SOME LEVEL OF MANUFACTURING, AND THOSE WERE TYPICALLY VERY GOOD PAYING JOBS WITH GOOD BENEFITS AND LONG-TERM, USUALLY A LONG-TERM RELATIONSHIP.

YOU CAN FIGURE IF YOU BEGIN WORKING AT AN AUTO PLANT, OR A PARTS SUPPLIER, PEOPLE ARE GENERALLY BUYING CARS FOREVER AND YOU KNEE THE COMPANY AND THE JOB WOULD BE THERE, BUT AS YOU SEE THEM GO AWAY, YOU DON'T SAY "THAT IS A BUSINESS OR CAREER THAT I WANT TO GET INTO."

SO REVERSING THAT PERCEPTION, AND AS YOU SAID, PLANTS ARE NOT DIRTY, CRUDDY, NOISY.

THERE IS A LOT DONE NOW TO GET BETTER PRODUCTIVITY, AND BETTER PRODUCT IN A CLEAN ENVIRONMENT.

SO HOW DO YOU GO ABOUT CHANGING THAT PER EXCEPTION OR DEALING WITH THAT?

>> I THINK ONE THING WE HAVE BEEN PARTICULARLY GOOD AT IS INTEGRATING THE PROGRAMS AT THE HIGH SCHOOL AND EVEN UNION HIGH LEVEL LEVEL NOW.

IT IS LIKE ORGANIZATION TOURS SO THE STUDENTS ARE ABLE TO GO AND VISIT.

THERE IS SO MUCH AUTOMATION AND ROBOTIC OPERATIONS NOW THAT WERE NOT THERE AND NOW IT IS SOMETHING THAT REALLY INTERESTING THE YOUNGER GENERATION.

THE JOBS ARE OUT THERE AND IT IS GOOD THEY ARE ABLE TO GO AND GET HANDS ON EXPERIENCE.

SEEING WHAT THE JOBS OF TODAY ARE.

>> A LOTçO OF THEM HAVE RO BOTIS COMPETITIONS.

>> YOU KNOW, THEY ANNOUNCED IN DANA THEY'RE HIRING 300 FOLKS.

THE REGION BETTER BE ABLE TO DELIVER ON FILLING THE ISSUES.

YOU'RE ABLE TO ATTRACT THE COMPANY, THAT IS GREAT, BUT YOU NEED TO FULFILL AND HAVE THE FOLKS THEY NEED FOR THOSE POSITIONS.

>> YOU HAVE TO SAY AS THEY WANT TO EXPAND, AS THEY LOOK AT COMING, I CAN FIND EVERYONE I NEED TODAY, BUT WHAT ABOUT IN TWO YEARS FROM NOW.

I WANT TO BUILD ON THIS.

IF YOU CAN'T PROVIDE, I WILL GO SOME PLACE I DON'T HAVE TO THINK ABOUT MOVING.

WHEN YOU LOOK AT THAT, WHAT ARE THE THINGS, THIS GOES BACK, A COMPANY THAT IS LONG GONE NOW, BUT I REMEMBER GOING AS A COLLEGE OPPORTUNITY TO A THEN THEY WERE TALKING ABOUT THE DIFFERENCE NOW, MANUFACTURING WOULD BE LIKE IN THE KIND OF PRODUCTS AND HOW THAT WAS DIFFERENT FROM THE TYPICAL MANUFACTURING PERCEPTION.

BUT THAT GOES BACK 30 OR 40 YEARS NOW.

>> YEAH, I WILL MENTION GETTING OPPORTUNITIES INTO THE CLASSROOM EARLIER, BEEFING UP OUR REGION, TACTICAL TRAINING, SKILLS AND EDUCATION PROGRAMS, BUT ALSO I THINK, A KEY ISSUE TO IT IS WHAT WE CALL SOFT SKILL DEVELOPMENT.

A LOT WORK THE 8 TO 5 SHIFT AND THEY NEVER COME BACK.

THEY GO ONE DAY AND THEY SAY THIS IS NOT WHAT I WANT TO DO.

SO TRYING TO EXPOSE THEM AND GIVE THEM A LOOK AT WHAT THE JOB LOOKS LIKE BEFORE.

>> WHEN WE COME BACK, LET'S TALK ABOUT THE STATE OF THE REGION AND TOUCH ON ANYTHING ELSE THAT WE HAVE NOT CAUGHT UP ON SO FAR.

WE'LL BE RIGHT BACK HERE WITH THE CENTER OF REGIONAL DEVELOPMENT ON WBGU TV.

>>> THANK YOU FOR STAYING WITH US HERE ON "THE JOURNAL."

WE'RE TALKING WITH REPRESENTATIVES FROM THE CENTER OF REGIONAL DEVELOPMENT.

YOU HAVE A BIG EVENT COMING UP, AN ANNUAL EVENT CALLED THE STATE OF THE REGION.

WHAT CAN THEY TALK ABOUT?

>> WE'RE VERY EXCITED, THIS IS OUR 15th ANNUAL STATE OF THE REGION CONFERENCE IF IS A PRETTY LARGE EVENT IN NORTHWEST OHIO AND WE'RE LOOKING FORWARD TO HAVING IT HERE ON MARCH 20th.

WE GIVE A STATE OF THE REGION FROM AN ECONOMIC PERSPECTIVE, AND WE HAVE DR.

MARK SCHWITZER WILL GIVE THAT TALK, AND WE'LL HAVE A REACTION PANEL FROM THE LOCAL SIDE GETTING REACTION FROM PEOPLE FARCE WHAT WAS INCLUDED IN THE TALKS, OR THE REST OF THE CONFERENCE WILL BE FOCUSED ON WORKFORCE.

>> WE'RE BRINGING IN LAUREN, WHO WROTE THIS FINANCIAL BOOK.

SAYING YOU RAISED US, NOW WORK WITH US.

HOW DO WE ADAPT OUR WORKFORCES.

BREAKING DOWN SOME OF THE STEREOTYPES.

IT'S NOT THAT.

BRIDGING THOSE GAPS IS WHAT THEY'RE TRYING TO DO THIS YEAR.

NOT ONLY ATTRACT THIS GENERATION, BUT HOW TO KEEP IT AND HOW TO STRUCTURE THE WORKPLACE.

>> TO MEET THEIR EXPECTATIONS.

>> THEN WE'RE BRINGING TWO COMPANIES, AND WELLSTONE INCORPORATED, SORT OF LOCAL COMPANIES THAT ARE BOTH RANGED IN THE FORBES TOP 100 EMPLOYERS FOR MILLENNIALS.

>> WHEN YOU LOOK AT THE MILLENNIAL GENERATION?

WHAT ARE THE TOP THREE THINGS THEY LOOK FOR?

WHAT IS IT, IF I'M A COMPANY COMING IN, WHAT DO I WANT TO PROVIDE?

WHAT SHOULD I PROVIDE?

>> A COUPLE OF THE THINGS -- THIS PROFESSOR HERE, I CAN VERIFY THIS, THEY LIKE IMMEDIATE AND CONSTANT FEED IN THE WORKPLACE?

>> THIS MEANS ROUTINE SORT OF -- YEAH, THAT WAS GOOD, HERE IS HOW YOU LEARN FROM IT.

IT DOESN'T HAPPEN THAT WAY, YOU DON'T GET THAT FEEDBACK.

IT IS0L█ FLEXIBILITY.

SO THIS IS WHY YOU SEE THE RISE IN WHAT WE CALL THE GIG ECONOMY.

WORKING FOR PLACES LIKE UBER.

>> MAKING YOUR OWN SCHEDULE.

>> YEAH, THE PROBLEM WITH LOWER INCOME JOBS, IS THEY WOULD RATHER PIECE TOGETHER $40,000 OR $50,000 FROM TWO OR THREE -- DRIVING FOR UBER, HAVING ONE PART-TIME JOB, AND HAVING FLEXIBILITY ON THEIR TERMS.

INTERESTING.

THE 8:00 TO 5:00 IS NOT THE PACKAGE THEY LOOK AT.

THEY HAVE A TIME SCHEDULE.

>> NINE TO TEN DIFFERENT EMPLOYERS IN THEIR LIFE.

A LOT OF THAT GOING BACK TO THE NEGATIVE PERCEPTION OF MANUFACTURING, A LOT OF THIS GENERATION AND OTHER PARENTS THEY LOSE THEIR PENSION.

THEY HAVE THAT ALL REDIRECTED INTO A 401K THAT MAY OR MAY NOT DO WELL FOR THE PARENT.

COMPANY LOYALTY IS SOMETHING THAT GOES AS WELL.

REALIZING THEIR EMPLOYEES ARE NOT NECESSARILY LOYAL TO THEM FOR 30 YEARS.

>> IT'S AN INTERESTING POINT.

THAT ENGENDERS ALL OF THE OTHER THINGS.

IF YOU HAVE A WORKFORCE THAT CONSTANTLY TURNS OVER.

THAT CREATES THEN TRAINING, THE ATTENTION BECOMES -- WE ALL KNOW ABOUT RETENTION AT UNIVERSITIES BUT OTHER MANUFACTURING SIGHTS, THE CONSTANT COST OF RETRAINING AND THE IMPACT THAT HAS ON QUALITY OF PRODUCT.

AND ALL OF THAT.

>> ON THE MANUFACTURING SIDE, FLEXIBLE SCHEDULING CAN BE A BIT OF AN ISSUE.

IF YOU HAVE A CERTAIN NUMBER OF PARTS YOU NEED TO GET OUT THE DOOR.

>> ONE WAY THAT WE HAVE SEEN SOME PLACES DO THIS YOU'RE GETTING CROSS TRAINED ON -- >> YOU DO GET THAT ENVIRONMENT AND THAT FLEXIBILITY THEY SAY WHERE SHOULD I GO FOR INFORMATION.

>> THE CENTER FOR REGIONAL DEVELOPMENT WEBSITE.

THEY GO TO THE WEBSITE AND IT WILL BE AT HILTON GARDEN IN ON MARCH 20th.

NETWORKING STARTS AT 8:00 A.M., BUT IT'S OKAY TO JUST COME.

WALK INS ARE WELCOME.

>> I WILL BE ALLOWED IN THIS YEAR.

THINGS ARE RELAXING MORE.

>> THE STATE OF THE REGION, MARCH 20th, HILTON GARDEN IN.

THANK YOU FOR BEING WITH US ON "JOURNAL."

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