Page 19 - LRCC October 2025 Focus

Feature: Building a Workforce

Ready for Tomorrow “90% of respondents believe a high

school-level AP Business with Personal
Finance course would positively impact
workforce readiness, with 44% saying
it would have a significant impact.”

What This Means for Lansing As the State of the Region Report makes clear, Greater
Lansing has many of the right assets: a strong Gen Z
population, a rising startup ecosystem, and nationally
The Lansing Regional Chamber’s 2025 State of the recognized universities and colleges. The challenge and
Region Report underscores both opportunities opportunity are ensuring that tomorrow’s workforce is
and challenges. On one hand, our region is making prepared to seize those advantages.
important strides:
"With evolving technology and growing regional talent
• GDP growth of 10.3% from 2019 to 2023 Animal Science and Zoo Management students get needs, it’s essential for K-12 schools, higher education, Through hands-on instruction, students in the medical CTE
hands-on experience at Potter Park Zoo. program develop essential clinical and teamwork skills for
and local businesses to collaborate on career pathways
• A surge in high-tech employment, growing 12.2%, that connect students’ education to their future careers," their future in healthcare.
outpacing most peer regions managers believe will improve workforce readiness. This Michele Strasz, Executive Director of the Capital Area
course is designed to sharpen skills such as financial College Access Network, emphasizes. "Building home- Our call to action is simple: connect, collaborate, and
• The third highest share of STEM degrees among literacy, communication, and problem solving that are a grown talent requires investing in these educational invest in talent development. Together, we can close the
peer regions, signaling a robust talent pipeline priority for entry level employees. partnerships. Workforce readiness goes beyond the readiness gap, strengthen our regional competitiveness,
classroom, combining skills like financial literacy and and ensure that Greater Lansing remains a place where
Yet we continue to face hurdles. Our population declined Locally, LRCC is leveraging partnerships across critical thinking with hands-on experiences at local businesses and people thrive. u
by nearly 2% between 2019 and 2023. Educational education, business, and government to expand career companies—giving students a firsthand look at the
attainment lags behind many competitors, with just 48% readiness pathways, strengthen our private sector, and wide range of careers and industries in our community."
of adults holding an associate degree or higher. Median build on the region’s growing momentum.
household income and private-sector employment
remain among the lowest of peer regions.

To overcome In Memory of Stephen Plumbley
"Establishing early collaboration
these challenges,
relationships with between The Lansing Regional Chamber of Commerce mourns the
the business
high school students community and loss of our longtime partner and friend,
Stephen Plumbley, who passed away recently. For more
increases the likelihood educational than a decade, Stephen was an integral part of the FOCUS
institutions is
family, shaping the look and feel of our magazine through his
of local talent retention." crucial. Sean design expertise and creativity. He also played a key role in
Williams our updated branding, leaving a lasting impact on what our
emphasizes the importance of these partnerships: readers experience today.
“Establishing early relationships with high school
students increases the likelihood of local talent retention. Stephen was more than a designer. He was a true collaborator
By engaging directly with students, businesses not only and friend to many in our community. His work reflected
help build the skills needed for today’s jobs but they also his talent, care, and vision, and his influence will continue to
strengthen long-term talent pipelines for the inspire us.
Lansing region.” A celebration of Stephen’s life will be held on
November 29, 2025. Additional details will be shared
when available.
The Path Forward We are deeply grateful for Stephen’s contributions

and the time we shared with him. His presence and
The U.S. Chamber’s report points to promising solutions, creativity will be missed. u
including the launch of the AP Business with Personal Future innovators at work—students design, build,
Finance course in 2026, which nearly all surveyed hiring and program robots in CTE robotics class.

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