A Perry Business Roundtable will be convened Thursday, April 28 at 2:30 p.m. at La Poste, 1219 Warford St. in Perry, offering area employers and service providers a chance to connect and learn about Perry’s laborshed and available workforce resources.
Participants will discuss challenges and successes of local workforce development and strategize for collective short-term and long-term solutions to the employee shortage.
“A strong workforce is critical for the economic development of a community,” said Eddie Diaz, director of the DMACC Perry VanKirk Career Academy and secretary of Perry Economic Development Inc. “We have worked with our partners to address these challenges over the last couple of years, but the challenges are growing nationally, and it is clear that local solutions are needed.”
The Perry Business Roundtable is sponsored by the city of Perry, Perry Economic Development Inc., the Perry Chamber of Commerce and the Greater Dallas County Economic Development Alliance in partnership with IowaWORKS and the Des Moines Area Community College.
“Many Perry businesses are expanding and we are attracting new businesses to Perry as well,” said Daniel Van Holland, director of the Perry Community and Economic Development Department. “Overall, that is a great thing, but it is no secret that we are facing a workforce shortage, just as many other communities are across the state.”
Participants are encouraged to take a brief online survey about current/future hiring needs — regardless of their industry or the type of open positions — prior to attending the roundtable event.
