Workforce development to be focus of forum in Cowley County

The area’s workforce will be the subject of a Nov. 6 economic forum in Arkansas City.

Sponsored by the the Cowley County Economic Planning Committee, the event will run from 8:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. in the Wright Room on the Cowley College campus, according to a news release.

The committee includes representatives of the Arkansas City and Winfield chambers of commerce, CornerBank, Cowley County K-State Extension and Cowley First, the county’s economic development organization.

A shortage in skilled workers in the county’s growing business community is a concern for schools and businesses, according to the release from Cowley First, and the 2014 forum will focus on “joining forces, uniting the education system and local businesses to better prepare and inform the next generation of workforce: students.”

The keynote speaker will be Mike Butler, a business recruitment consultant for the Kansas Department of Commerce East Coast Office. Based in New York, Butler works with businesses looking to start or relocate to Kansas.

Registration is open through Oct. 30. For more information or to register, go to cowleyfirst.com or call 620-221-9951 or 620-442-3094. Tickets are $20, or $10 for high school and college students. Lunch is included.

This story was originally published October 22, 2014 at 7:43 AM with the headline "Workforce development to be focus of forum in Cowley County."