Farmington Feed: Business Summit and Survey

Jared:

This is the Farmington Feed, bringing you information from the city of Farmington.

Caryn:

Hi, and welcome back to the Farmington Feed. I'm Caryn Hojnicki, the city's communications specialist, and I'm hungry for another episode of the Feed. There are some exciting things happening in the city of Farmington, and we're here today to talk about a collaboration with local community colleges that will help our local business community. I have with me today Stephanie Aman, economic development coordinator, and Jared Sharpen, director of career development at Inver Hills Community College. Hello, and welcome back to the Feed, Stephanie.

Stephanie:

Hi, Caryn.

Caryn:

And thanks for joining us today, Jared.

Jared:

Thank you for having me.

Caryn:

Yeah. Super excited. This is a unique opportunity for businesses in the Farmington area to learn more about your programs and for you to learn more about what businesses in Farmington need. Correct?

Jared:

Absolutely.

Caryn:

Alright. So, Jared, can you explain a little bit about what you do for Inver Hills?

Jared:

Yeah. So the main thing I spend the majority of my time doing is really serving students. 1st and foremost, I'm sort of the in house support system. When students are looking for jobs and internships, we have a process where I obviously start by supporting them with resume writing and cover letter writing. I do mock interview coaching for students.

Jared:

So, really, much of what students would experience potentially at a workforce center, I'm really that in house support at the colleges.

Caryn:

Okay. That's nice. Explain to me a little bit about the Inver Hills DCTC thing too.

Jared:

Yeah. Absolutely. So we are currently aligned institutions. There are a lot of shared staff. Okay.

Jared:

DCTC has, by and large, more career and technical programs, whereas the majority of students at Inver Hills Community College are on a transfer path.

Caryn:

Okay.

Jared:

At any given time, 3 quarters of our students, I'd say, are there, with the aspiration to go and get their 4 year degree afterwards.

Caryn:

For sure.

Jared:

And so that's really, I think, kind of the main difference in terms of how our students or or the desires of our students.

Caryn:

Yeah. And you do for both. Correct?

Jared:

Yes.

Caryn:

Okay. So what can you offer our local businesses that they don't know about?

Jared:

Yeah. I think, first and foremost, I'm kind of a sounding board when it comes to working with businesses. So when a business has hiring needs or if they're having challenges recruiting, you know, I really enjoy having conversations about what I'm seeing internally in terms of students' desires and what they're after and how you know, working with employers to really bridge students to their opportunities.

Caryn:

Because they don't know where to go. And and, you know, the businesses. Right?

Stephanie:

Right.

Caryn:

I go back to way back when I was doing this.

Caryn:

I had to do an internship of sorts, and I basically was like, hey, professor, where should I go?

Stephanie:

Right.

Caryn:

And you hooked me up because you don't know as a student.

Caryn:

Exactly.

Caryn:

It's interesting that a lot of businesses don't understand that connection as well.

Jared:

Yeah. And, you know, in higher education, we have a lot of acronyms, and and we operate mostly thinking everybody knows exactly what we're doing. And so that's really why, you know, I I take serious kind of that identity as a sounding board really to, you know, fielding those questions and, really those interests from employers in our students.

Caryn:

Yeah. And I understand there's a survey as well that is being sent out, to Farmington Businesses. How did this all come about?

Jared:

Yeah. The one of the things so several months ago, we met with these great folks and realized that we had mutual mutual interests. The colleges were interested in hearing from businesses specifically on what we could do for them. Mhmm. And then I'll let Stephanie talk about their interests.

Stephanie:

Sure. So part of what part of the way that this all came about is when the economic development team was out meeting with businesses, we heard things like they were using, a different tech college to fulfill some of their training needs. We're like, hey, do you guys know, like, in your backyard is DCTC and Inver Hills? And, it hadn't occurred to many of them that this resource was literally in their backyard. So we made the connection with Jared and a couple, Bob and Chris at, DCTC and sat down for this meeting and really talked through what it could look like to have a mutual connection.

Stephanie:

And we're like, well, how do we do this? And this survey idea came out of that. So Jared is sending that out to the businesses soon. Mhmm. And the goal there is for the colleges to learn about what training needs the businesses might have.

Caryn:

Oh, yeah. For sure.

Stephanie:

And then the city really just wants to act as a conduit to be able to help connect the businesses to the colleges, kind of our add on. Mhmm. Value add, if you will, because, really, the city doesn't have a lot of funding and that sort of thing to be able to offer to businesses, but we do offer a lot in the way of our relationships and connections. And so, us being able to connect our businesses to internships and that sort of thing. It really is just that bridge.

Caryn:

Yeah. You're bridging.

Stephanie:

So that's kind of where that survey came about, that businesses that take the survey, Jared will receive all of that information, we'll all eventually sit down and look at that information

Caryn:

Yeah.

Stephanie:

To determine, you know, what size businesses are looking for internships because there likely is a clear pattern there. Or what size businesses and what industries are looking for job training in a skilled labor.

Caryn:

Right.

Stephanie:

Something that the technical colleges can help with.

Caryn:

Yeah. Awesome. So can you remind listeners, your position at the city and what you're kinda doing here?

Stephanie:

I sure can. I'm the economic development coordinator. I was hired a couple years ago to fill that role and, really, this is this is what I love to do and it is really building those connections. Additionally, like, we're obviously always looking to bring in new businesses to the community and finding good fits that are businesses that want to be in Farmington. You know, we talk about telling our story very often and Farmington has a great story to tell and we're looking for those businesses that want to come alongside and be part of the Farmington story.

Caryn:

Yeah. And then, you know, helping the ones that are already here. Right? Correct. You know?

Stephanie:

Absolutely. Which is what this this connection will, hopefully allow for.

Caryn:

Okay. And then so this culmination is what what what is gonna be the business summit?

Stephanie:

The business summit.

Caryn:

Alright. So what can people expect from the event?

Caryn:

Who should attend? That sort of thing.

Stephanie:

Sure. So the event is on February 4th. So 2, 4, 2, 5. Kinda going for some funny business y sort of thing there. But it's on Tuesday 4th, February 4th, and we are we're holding it at The Community Room in Downtown Farmington.

Stephanie:

And, really, the goal there is to bring together businesses of all sizes. If you've got 1 employee or a 1000 employees. Mhmm. There is something there for every last one of them. And Jared and some of the team at DCTC will be presenting on what those job and trainings look like, but, also, there's bigger and higher level things that the schools can offer to businesses.

Stephanie:

Like, AI is a big thing right now for businesses

Caryn:

Oh that's huge for everything.

Stephanie:

And just in conversation in that meeting that we had last August, that was an idea that was brought forward, and it hadn't occurred to us that DCTC could offer training to our businesses about how do you use this in your own business. It's not going away, and so we need to learn how to use it properly.

Caryn:

Yeah. For sure.

Stephanie:

And, additionally, from the college standpoint, they'll be there doing a presentation. They'll hear information from the city about just kind of what our path forward is right now and what's happening in the city. We also will have present the state economic development rep for our area

Caryn:

Okay.

Stephanie:

Because that ties directly into the colleges with their job training programs. There's grant funding available, that sort of thing that maybe our businesses don't know about.

Caryn:

Oh, yeah.

Stephanie:

And some of the folks that know Natalie from MCCD, she will also be there.

Caryn:

That's that open for business ad

Stephanie:

That is correct.

Stephanie:

And so there's something there for everyone. It really is an opportunity for us to all get together, collaborate, communicate, and connect is really the goal.

Caryn:

Awesome. Oh, I bet you're excited.

Jared:

I'm very excited.

Jared:

Yes. Yes.

Caryn:

Does it cost anything to attend?

Speaker 3:

No. No. You need everyone to register.

Caryn:

Just wanting them to register. Okay. And then we'll have that link on our website and on socials as well.

Stephanie:

Absolutely.

Caryn:

Anything else you wanna add about this connection and this exciting summit?

Jared:

Nothing other than it's really exciting.

Stephanie:

I think it's it's a first for us. We did the Small Business Resource Fair last year.

Caryn:

Oh yeah, mhmm.

Stephanie:

And that really focused on our small businesses and we brought resources together for that. This really focuses on our business community as a whole. Come and learn about the different things that are available to you, but also we're looking for feedback from those businesses about what their needs are. And that's, from that small business resource fair, that was one of the big things we got out of it is just them connecting together. They found their own resources and when we come together to do things, it leads to those connections that help you later.

Caryn:

Yeah. Because, I mean, you're in a network here too, right?

Stephanie:

Yes.

Caryn:

I mean, you're gonna talk to different businesses and the presenters.

Stephanie:

have refreshments.

Caryn:

Oh. Well, that's always a good thing to have. Well, thank you so much, Jared and Stephanie, for making these connections in our community to help our Farmington businesses and their employees. Before I wrap up today's episode, Stephanie, can you remind businesses again where they can find the survey and when the summit is? Just for

Stephanie:

Yep. For sure. So the summit is on February 4th at the community room at starting at 3 PM. And the survey will be available when you register for the summit on our website. There's a link right at the end that will come across that allows you to take the survey.

Stephanie:

Any Farmington business leader is welcome to the summit and anyone in Farmington that is part of a business should take that survey.

Caryn:

Oh, perfect. So not just leaders. Right.

Stephanie:

Right.

Caryn:

Okay.

Caryn:

Well, that concludes this month's episode of the Farmington Feed. Thank you for listening. We look forward to connecting with residents with this podcast. If you have feedback, guest requests, or ideas, email me at Communications@FarmingtonMN.gov Don't forget to subscribe to the Farmington feed wherever you like to get your podcasts.

Farmington Feed: Business Summit and Survey
Broadcast by