Archway Professional Sarah Adams works alongside Thomson’s Mayor, Ed Darby, at this spring’s College and Career Fair at Thomson High School. One of the Thomson-McDuffie Archway Partnership’s priorities since 2017 has been education and workforce development and the duo teamed up to promote specific job openings readily available to applicants in the city. Among those most needed are: police officers, water/sewer distribution utility workers, water treatment plant operators, wastewater treatment plant operators, mechanics, natural gas operations utility worker and streets department employees (CDL required).
The city will pay for CDL training/licensing and police academy attendance to support professional development for these positions if employees will contract for 24 months with the city. The city will also pay for the employee’s first state certification exam. Mayor Darby attended the fair in person to greet students and begin building relationships, emphasizing how important students are for the community’s future success.
Adams also shared about the University of Georgia’s Look Ahead Georgia program through the Archway Partnership. Look Ahead Georgia offers an opportunity for students from McDuffie County, and the immediate surrounding counties, to return home for summer internships thanks to a Department of Labor community project grant. Students are supported through direct connections to local organizations that relate strongly to the students’ majors. Students receive a $5,000 stipend for a summer internship in their hometown. This process allows local industries and organizations to receive direct access to a high-quality workforce with the next generation. Students also receive mentoring and community connections through social service clubs and volunteer opportunities to incorporate additional value to the internship experience as well as their professional careers.
