Press Releases

Southern Growth’s 2007 Report on the Future of the South
Focuses on Building an Enterprise Economy and Workforce

ST. LOUIS, MISSOURI –Southern Growth Policies Board, a regional public policy think tank, and Governor Matt Blunt, Chairman, released today the 2007 Report on the Future of the South, EnterpriseSouth.biz, at the Southern Workforce Summit conference at the Hyatt Regency St. Louis.   EnterpriseSouth.biz includes recommendations for Southern states and communities to engage in a cultural shift towards an enterprise economy, characterized by a knowledgeable, entrepreneurial and innovative workforce.

EnterpriseSouth.biz outlines a three-pronged strategy: CONVENE, CONNECT and COMMIT to create an enterprise economy and workforce. The strategy suggests that leaders CONVENE a series of conversations that include not only the business, government, non-profit and education communities but also parents, students and the public at large.  These meetings should be designed to help put the public back in public education, and to CONNECT the various elements of public and private education to maximize effectiveness. The process is designed to encourage all parties to COMMIT to a non-partisan contract to build a southern workforce that is both enterprising and globally competitive. 

As part of Southern Growth’s listening process, more than 4,100 Southerners provided feedback for the report’s recommendations through policy dialogues, community forums and an online survey.  Citizen input was marked by a sense of urgency in sustaining the South’s ability to compete in a global economy.  As Governor Blunt added, “Our students are no longer competing for jobs against peers from other states but with workers across the globe.”  

As Ray Taylor, Senior Fellow and Director of the Council on a New Economy Workforce for Southern Growth explained, “We heard very clearly from Southern citizens that they are frustrated. If our states are putting all this money and effort into education and workforce development, then why do we still have significant achievement gaps?”  He added, “I believe the South is at a tipping point, and that the ‘convene, connect, commit’ model will help us achieve the critical mass necessary for a significant cultural shift.” Additional themes from community feedback included the need to create a culture of learning in the South; get parents more involved in education of their children; strengthen the soft skills and work ethic of Southern youth; expand the knowledge of career and college options; and facilitate collaboration among all the workforce stakeholders –business, government, students, educators, parents and the public.   

The report’s research findings underscore the sense of urgency recorded in citizen feedback.  The South’s education and economic achievements levels have remained below the U.S. average for more than 20 years. According to EnterpriseSouth.biz’s data, the Southern per capital income in 2005 was no closer to the national average than it was in 1995, and little better than it was in 1975. The South has also not made any sustained gains in closing the educational achievement gap.  The gap between the South’s and the nation’s percentage of the over 25 population with a bachelor’s degree or higher was greater in 2000 (U.S. 20 percent, South 24 percent) than it was in 1980 (U.S. 14 percent, South 16 percent). 

In conjunction with the report’s release, Southern Growth launched http://www.enterprisesouth.biz/ to provide a dynamic space for Southern states to track their progress in implementing the convene, connect and commit strategy.  The website includes state workforce data, profiles of the reports recommendations and is designed to foster an ongoing dialogue on building the next workforce among the Southern States. 

Copies of EnterpriseSouth.biz are available to the media by contacting lwilder@southern.org. The report can be ordered for $20 through the Southern Growth Policies Board website at http://www.southern.org/pubs/puborderform.pdf, or by emailing ngos@southern.org.

The Southern Workforce Summit runs June 3-5th with keynote presenters including Deborah Russell, Workforce Director of AARP, Julian L. Alssid, Executive Director of the Workforce Strategy Center, Roy Flores, Chancellor of Pima Community College in Tucson, Arizona, Darla Moore, founder and chair of the Palmetto Institute and Nancy and Peter Karpyk, members of the USA Today Teacher Team.  Panel discussions will cover important workforce and education initiatives in the U.S., systemic reforms, and a panel with workforce pioneers to present innovative ideas and programs in workforce development. The conference will also includes the presentation of the of the Southern Growth Innovator Awards, a town hall meeting with Southern Governors and other leaders, and opportunities to network with regional representatives from business, government, workforce development and higher education.  For a complete agenda, visit http://www.southern.org/conference/conf.shtml.

-30-

About Southern Growth Policies Board
Southern Growth Policies Board is a public policy think tank based in Research Triangle Park, North Carolina.  Formed by the region’s governors in 1971, Southern Growth Policies Board researches and develops economic development policies by providing a forum for collaboration among a diverse cross-section of the region’s governors, legislators, business and academic leaders and the economic and community development sectors.  Southern Growth provides its members, and the region, with authoritative research, discussion forums and pilot projects in the areas of technology and innovation, globalization, workforce development, community development, civic engagement and leadership.  To learn more about Southern Growth Policies Board, visit http://www.southern.org/.