Fast Track Savannah
Georgia - Fast Track Savannah
Workforce Innovation Submitted By: Coastal Workforce Services/CWIB
Community Challenge/Problem
In October 2014, Gov. Nathan Deal signed a long-awaited federal agreement clearing the way for the deepening of the Savannah River, the state’s most critical economic development project in decades, to start by the year’s end. The initiative is projected to create more than 2,000 entry level jobs over the next five years within the warehousing and logistics industry, where employers have constantly found difficulty in identifying enough skilled workers.
Board Solution/Innovation
The Georgia Department of Economic Development, Coastal Workforce Services/CWIB, Savannah Technical College, and 20+ Warehousing & Logistics employers joined forced to create the first industry-approved customized training offering, Fast Track Savannah, with the purpose of quickly training workers to fill the current needs of industry. The industry-approved certificate includes two stackable credentials, hands on training, and soft skills components.
Outcomes & Results
The initial pilot launched February 2015 with 26 trainees, a waiting list of over 100 applicants, as well as a commitment from key industry partners including Home Depot, Coastal Logistics Group, Dollar Tree, Nordic, and Schneider Logistics (who sponsored the hands-on living lab training facility) to utilize Fast Track to fill more than 200 open positions. Two more Fast Track cohorts are scheduled to begin in April and June, with one proposed class taking place on Fort Stewart exclusively for Veterans.
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