Readying the Workforce
That means leaders have six years or less to find a solution to another challenge : finding a qualified workforce to fill those 100,000 jobs .
According to Hedrick , workforce development has been an issue in Appalachia for years — since the Baby Boomers ’ retirement left open positions that couldn ’ t be easily or quickly filled . For the petrochemical industry , several institutions and programs are doing their part to help prepare this future workforce need , like BridgeValley Community & Technical College and its Advanced Technology Center and West Virginia State University . The industry is also looking to reputable engineering schools like West Virginia University , Ohio State University and Virginia Tech that are creating graduates now .
“ We need those schools and universities to generate not just chemical engineers but many other STEM education-based graduates ,” he says . “ We also need people who will run businesses . There ’ s a general shortage when you look at $ 36 billion of investment in the petrochemical industry because it generates jobs outside the chemical sector on a 5:1 basis . For every job inside the chemical industry ’ s fence lines , five more are created outside of the fence line .”
More than anything , though , the future workforce needs hope . Middle schoolers who have a knack for STEM education need to be informed about the career opportunities that exist for them , especially in the petrochemical industry in West Virginia .
“ The key ingredient is hope ,” says Hedrick . “ If we as leaders in the industry and the state and all across Appalachia can ’ t
create hope by virtue of what we are doing , then it ’ s time for a little bit of a gut check . We need our young people to have hope that what is next for them is good — not an escapist mentality but a mentality of how do we stay here and get this done .”
Moving Full Speed Ahead
Getting things done is the hard part . It ’ s the choosing to stay that comes easy for West Virginians . They have a unique loyalty to the Mountain State , and given the opportunity to prosper here , more times than not they will choose home . That choice becomes a little easier when considering all the successes the hub initiative has already garnered .
The Appalachia Storage and Trading Hub has earned its Part II Application invitation from the DOE ’ s Loan Program Office , and the Request For Information ( RFI ) to engineering and procurement and construction ( EPC ) companies has closed . Hedrick is proud to confirm that the RFI had a significant response from the heaviest of heavyweights in the EPC community , though he can ’ t name names just yet . In the coming months , the group will open the Request for Proposal ( RFP ) process , and in the weeks that follow they will begin reviewing RFP responses for the specific design of the hub .
“ We are moving right along ,” says Hedrick . “ We ’ re moving with vigor to deliver on the mission we took up to create the Appalachia Storage and Trading Hub as a catalyst for the development or redevelopment of the chemical industry across Appalachia . Some people say , ‘ You ’ re trying to take us back to where we were .’ No , we ’ re trying to take us to an even better place .” •
True Performers know preventive care is better care .
As part of our True Performance program , we ’ re helping Dr . Christine Florendo keep her patients healthy — and rewarding her for it . By using our data , she and her staff are able to identify patients who need specific vaccines . It also allows them to take a more proactive role in scheduling routine follow-ups . Because of doctors like Christine , to date , this program has saved $ 180 million in emergency room visits and hospital stays .*
There ’ s value in that .
Christine Florendo , MD Kids Care Pediatrics True Performer
Download the True Performance ebook at HighmarkTruePerformers . com .
True Performance results :
13 % fewer emergency room visits
16 % fewer hospital admissions
$ 180 million in cost avoided
* Based on reduction in hospital costs for patients with True Performance doctors compared to those without from January 2017 to July 2017 . Highmark Blue Cross Blue Shield is an independent licensee of the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association .
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WEST VIRGINIA EXECUTIVE