Harnett County Board of Commissioners declared a partnership with Mid-Carolina Regional Council to establish the 2022 Mid-Carolina Workforce Development Board. 

The Mid-Carolina Workforce Development Board will be a collaborative effort between Harnett, Sampson, and Cumberland counties to enhance partnerships that will address regional employment, training, and economic development needs. 

“The formation of the Mid-Carolina Workforce Development Area presents a unique opportunity for our three-county region to build a local workforce program that truly meets the needs of our communities,”Executive Director of Mid-Carolina Regional Council Justin Hembree shared in a press release.

One of 23 Workforce Development Boards located throughout North Carolina, the Mid-Carolina Workforce Development Board will collaborate with businesses, educational and training institutions, community agencies, and regional and state government representatives to help individuals and businesses within the region obtain access to the programs and services that connect talent to jobs.

“I am extremely grateful for the citizen servants that have agreed to serve as members of our Workforce Development Board and have no doubt their efforts will greatly enhance the economic competitiveness of Harnett, Cumberland, and Sampson Counties,” Hembree added. 

Harnett County Board of Commissioners approved the following members to represent Harnett County:

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• Representatives of Businesses
  • - Jerry Milton, president/owner of Southeast Interiors, located in Buies Creek
  • - Ken Adelberg, general partner of Anderson Creek Partners, located in Spring Lake
  • - Scott Tart, owner of Forever Clean Portable Toilets, Inc., located in Fuquay-Varina
  • - Michael Jackson, vice president of 3M&N, Inc., located in Erwin
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• Representatives of Workforce
  • - Phyllis Godwin, vice president of The Godwin Group, located in Dunn
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• Representatives of Education & Training
• - Dr. Jon A. Matthews, provost of Central Carolina Community College, Harnett County campus
• - Dr. Britt Davis, vice president for Institutional Advancement at Campbell University
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• Representatives of Economic/Community Development
  • - Christian Lockamy, director of Harnett County Economic Development
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• Representatives of other local County leadership
  • - Chris Coats, mayor of the Town of Coats
  • - Justin Wilkinson, CTE director of Harnett County Schools

Additionally, Harnett County Board of Commissioners Chairman, Lewis Weatherspoon, will serve as the chief local elected official through June 30, 2023.

All appointed board members will serve an initial appointment term through June 30, 2023. After the initial term, members of the board representing the private sector will serve for three years and other members will serve for a single year. 

Harnett County is set to host the Inaugural Mid-Carolina Workforce Development Summit at the Harnett County Resource Center and Library on Aug. 23 from 9 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.