Kress, Regional Business and Ed Leaders Discuss Benefits of Economic Development Projects

NOVA President Anne M. Kress was part of a recent panel discussing the benefits of the new Amazon headquarters set to open in Arlington next year and the important regional partnerships that will make it a success. Hosted by WTOP radio, the panel brought together civic, business and educational leaders from across the region and from Amazon, including Kress; Victor Hoskins, president and CEO of the Fairfax County Economic Development Authority; Christian Dorsey, vice chair of the Arlington County Board; Gregory Washington, president of George Mason University; Holly Sullivan, vice president of worldwide economic development for Amazon and WTOP Anchor Bruce Alan, who moderated the discussion. Panelists gathered to answer the question, “What makes a good economic development project, both for a community and for a developer”?

Kress said that a hallmark of a good economic project is that it addresses the full needs of the region. “It is inclusive economic development, and Amazon is a classic example of that, where there is opportunity for everyone at every level; and it’s really working collaboratively with the entire region to advance the quality of life and to advance the recognition of the region as well.”

“If an organization is coming into a region, you want to not only match the industry sectors that you’re trying to grow, but you also want it to match the values and the culture of your region,” Hoskins said.

Conversation between companies and higher ed., a major provider of talent, is key to determining the content of programs against the needs of the companies, Washington said.

Kress added, “We looked at the need that Amazon Web Services had in trying to build an apprenticeship program, and how we could build a workforce that could earn and learn at the same time, so that they could advance economically.”

Kress went on to say that NOVA’s faculty actually sat down with Amazon Web Services to build a curriculum that included both workplace and classroom instruction, and ensure those two activities complemented each other. That collaboration set a template for working with other employers to learn their needs and tailor curriculum and apprenticeship opportunities to match those needs.

“I do think, when you’re talking about tailoring that workforce, you’re also looking at tailoring multiple onramps. Some of those onramps may lead to a four-year degree, may lead to a masters; some of them may lead to a short-term certificate and immediate employment. So again, I think it comes back to that notion of inclusive economic opportunity, but also recognizing the diverse talent that’s right in front of you and providing those onramps. Having all of these onramps provides a diverse pathway into a place like Amazon and beyond,” she added.

Dorsey added that it is important to not wait until people are at the community college or university level, but to begin building useful employment skills and soft skills that young people will need to be successful no matter what they choose. “I’m a big believer that public education should expand the mind and develop great capabilities, and that’s useful no matter what you do. But if we can marry the learning that’s coming from the higher ed community as well as the business community to more specifically equip our students, then it’s all the better.

Sullivan said companies need to build enthusiasm among high school students, citing a program that AWS established by building an “AWS Think Big” space at Wakefield High School and watching young people, who previously didn’t know what coding was, get excited about it.

Backing up even farther, Hoskins talked about having employers introduce themselves to boys and girls clubs in the region so even children can get an understanding of the landscape that is out there for careers. Gesturing to Dr. Kress, “You said it right, different onramps and offramps. Knowing that you don’t need a Ph.D. to participate in technology on some level,” he said.

Washington stressed that the onramps and offramps are not just for young people. “There are 150 million Americans without any college experience, and 39 million who have some college but no degree. Finding onramps for those individuals, many of whom may have tangential skills that some of these companies need. Finding an onramp for them that will provide them with the necessary skills so they can get a better paying job and be more impactful to the company. And the region is also a part of what we’re doing, too.”

He went on to say that, “Less than five miles from where Amazon is building HQ2, right off Route 1, is one of the poorest communities in the region. This past weekend, they had a major STEMfest. Instead of inviting those youth to Mason—some of whom just couldn’t get there—instead we had this huge STEMfest. Over 300 kids learned about coding to building and utilizing robots to understanding how electricity works, Newton’s laws, everything, and it was all hands-on engagement. And the idea of the engagement was to get these students enthusiastic and get them connected to these technologies at as early an age as possible so that they keep it with them as they move up.”

Kress added that it also takes an investment in teachers. NOVA SySTEMic provides enrichment activities for students, but also for teachers. And it goes even further and helps them to gain the credentials that are necessary to teach high school dual enrollment classes in the very disciplines that we’re talking about.

It really is hitting on every single level. You want to reach the students. How do you reach the students, you reach the teachers, you build that excitement, and you also build an understanding about what careers are out there. Students want to grow up to be what they know and what they understand. We need to help them understand what these careers are.

Sullivan discussed the many partnerships that Amazon currently has with all members at the table, as well as University of Maryland and other educational institutions, but she stressed the importance of ensuring they can build those long-term partnerships, but it is always a reinvestment in the partnerships, “What we need today in talent will be different five years from now, and definitely ten years from now, and the way that Dr. Kress and Dr. Washington have opened their minds to a company like ours to give us the opportunity to say ‘these are our specific needs, so how do we build that foundation now, but knowing that it’s always going to evolve.’ It takes time from all of us. It takes money from all of us, but it’s worth the investment.”

To view the entire discussion, click here.

Submitted by:
Sam El-Aker, Communications, HElaker@nvcc.edu