Rep. Adams and Mayor Joines Support Urban Innovation
WINSTON-SALEM — Congresswoman Alma S. Adams (NC-12) and Mayor Allen Joines visited Forsyth Technical Community College in the Wake Forest Innovation Quarter, to learn more about workforce training.
The Innovation Quarter is one of the fastest growing urban-based districts for innovation in the country. It is a catalyst for the innovation economy in and around Winston-Salem through the support of research; business and education in biomedical science; information technology; clinical services and advanced materials.
The Wake Forest Innovation Quarter serves as the home to over 60 businesses, 4 academic institutions, and over 3100 employees and 6000 students. Tenants of the Innovation Quarter represent the growing demand for STEM jobs and the need for additional skills training in today’s job economy. As today’s workforce economy evolves employers must find skilled employees to fill jobs that are available.
Congresswoman Adams believes that through continued support of legislation in Congress, like the Strengthening Career and Technical Education for the 21st Century Act and small business counseling programs like SCORE, districts like the Innovation Quarter and schools like Forsyth Tech can continue to thrive.
“We were honored to have Representative Adams visit Forsyth Tech @ Innovation Quarter. Her engagement with our college leaders around entrepreneurship, minority business development, and training incumbent workers with the high tech skills needed for the future provided valuable insights to all involved,” said President Green. In particular, her interest in and support for federal investments such as the National Center for the Biotechnology Workforce housed at Forsyth Tech was apparent and is appreciated.”
“I think that what the Wake Forest Innovation Quarter has been able to create is pretty remarkable. To see how technical skills are continuously changing and how fast small businesses are able to grow with the right resources is quite impressive. In Congress I will continue to support legislation that helps to fill workforce and skills training gaps and also small businesses, because it matters here at home,” said Rep. Adams.
“It’s great that the Congresswoman had the opportunity to see firsthand to how cities have had to transition their economies from manufacturing to technical economies, and the role that the community college has played in helping individuals hone in on key skills so that they can play a role in this new economy with key jobs,” said Mayor Joines.