Throughout 2023, we are taking on the challenges of workforce acquisition, retention and growth. In our Spring issue, we focused on addressing your region's workforce needs for a new or expanding industry. Now, we delve into our second question: | |
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IS YOUR REGION'S WORKFORCE SKILLED OR ABLE TO BE UPSKILLED/RETRAINED?
Weyerhaeuser, along with VisionFirst Advisors, tackles this question for its supersites.
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Assessing the skills and reliability of the workforce is imperative for industry success. Our assessment includes an analysis of occupational characteristics, including educational attainment within the manufacturing sector, turnover rates and underemployment. | |
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EDUCATIONAL ATTAINMENT VS. INDUSTRY REQUIREMENTS
In our last issue, we focused on the overall educational attainment and its impact on other statistics, including literacy, unemployment and average household income. Weyerhaeuser goes beyond standard educational attainment statistics, emphasizing the educational attainment of our supersites' overall workforce versus what criteria companies are requiring.
To determine if current workforce competitive advantages exist for Weyerhaeuserʼs supersites, VisionFirst assessed the regionʼs labor force educational attainment versus education and training requirements in the Manufacturing Career Cluster®. The Cluster focuses on planning, managing and performing the process of materials into intermediate or final products, along with related professional and technical support activities such as production planning and control; maintenance; and manufacturing and process engineering.
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An excess of talent with certificates and degrees positions Weyerhaeuser's supersites with a competitive advantage when prospective companies are trying to expand and attract skilled jobs. This data highlights a portion of the pipeline with skilled workers to meet current and future workforce demands. | |
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TURNOVER RATES
In todayʼs economy, jobs are plentiful, however people needed to fill them are scarce. Those in the labor force are finding themselves with an increasing amount of leverage. This amplifies the already difficult situation many employers face in finding and keeping qualified employees. Industries in all sectors are reviewing and evaluating current wages and benefit packages.
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Weyerhaeuser's supersites boast low turnover rates in the Manufacturing sector, indicating a reduced bottom-line expense to companies operating in the region. Time and resource allocations are decreased for screening new hires and training new employees. | |
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UNDEREMPLOYMENT
Underemployment data sets are based on the number of workers who earned a bachelorʼs degree or higher, yet are working in an occupation that typically requires less than a four-year degree. Ultimately, underemployment measures employment and labor utilization in the region (60-mile radius) in terms of skills, experience and availability to work.
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Weyerhaeuserʼs supersites highlight segments of the workforce that can provide a greater benefit to the economy through industry expansions or new locations in the region. | |
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WEYERHAEUSER'S THREE DISTINCTIVE SUPERSITE LOCATIONS
Access to Transport, Workforce Partners and Utility Resources
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HAWTHORNE INDUSTRY PARK
- Located 15 minutes from Gainesville, FL
- U.S. Approved Opportunity Zone
- U.S. Highway 301 and S.R. 20 frontage; within minutes to I-75 and I-10
- CSX Rail main north-south freight line runs directly along border of site
- #5 Public University (University of Florida) and #1 Two-Year College (Santa Fe College) within 15 miles
- Proximity to JAXPORT, Jacksonville International Airport, Orlando's two international airports and Gainesville Regional Airport
- 1.6 million workforce within 60 miles
- Workforce partners include CareerSource North Central Florida, Florida Department of Economic Opportunity, Santa Fe College and Alachua County Schools
- 634 acres zoned for 3.5 million square feet
- REDI Community
- 150,000 square feet commercial space
- Zoned for 200 multi-family units
- Flexibility of parcel sizes and uses
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NORTH FLORIDA MEGA INDUSTRIAL PARK
- Located in Lake City/Columbia County, FL
- Fully permitted with utilities in place
- U.S. Approved Opportunity Zone
- Frontage on U.S. 90, with easy access to I-75 and I-10
- Foreign Trade Zone #64 with JAXPORT (largest in Florida), allowing companies to exempt standard tariffs
- Rail spur directly into park for accelerated movement of materials and goods; additional rail spur to south entrance underway
- Adjacent to Lake City Gateway Airport and only 60 miles to Jacksonville International Airport
- 1.2 million workforce within 60 miles
- Workforce partners include CareerSource Florida Crown, Florida Department of Economic Opportunity and Columbia High School
- Two-year college adjacent to site for workforce development; additional opportunities nearby at University of Florida and Santa Fe College
- 2,622 zoned acres for eight million square feet
- Rural Area of Opportunity/CSX Select Site
- 100,000 square feet commercial space
- Up to 1,200 residential units
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HEART OF GEORGIA MEGA SITE
- Southeastern industrial distribution hub
- Located in Dublin/Laurens County, GA, midway between Atlanta and Savannah
- Frontage on Interstate 16, connecting to I-75 and I-95
- Direct access to the Port of Savannah via I-16
- Served by Georgia Central Railroad, connecting to Norfolk Southern in Macon and CSX in Savannah
- Georgia has the #1 workforce training program in the country, QuickStart; additional programs and preparation available to ensure the right skill sets
- Three educational partners located in Dublin, along with Mercer University in nearby Macon
- Over 450,000 workforce within 60 miles
- 2,000 acres zoned for 17 million square feet
- Three certifications, including Georgia Ready for Accelerated Development (GRAD)
- Incredible flexibility of parcel sizes and configurations
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WEYERHAEUSER IS INDUSTRIAL STRENGTH
North Florida Mega Industrial Park presents fully permitted acreage in an ideal North Central Florida location. See for yourself the many advantages we offer at this supersite with this overview video!
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WEYERHAEUSER PARTNER SITES - COLYELL AND STOKES
Outstanding Locations in Louisiana and South Carolina with Engaged Economic Partners
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Weyerhaeuser's Colyell site in Livingston Parish, Louisiana is ideally located between Baton Rouge (30 minutes) and New Orleans (one hour) via I-12. With 420 acres, the site offers an incredible opportunity for industrial development. Access to rail is less than three miles. Plus, an amazing local economic partner in Livingston Economic Development Council. |
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Located in Colleton County, South Carolina (midway between Charleston and Savannah), our Stokes site presents 457 acres just two miles west of I-95. Palmetto Railways runs along the site. A workforce of 647k provides the skill sets needed. With South Carolina Economic Alliance, Inc. as our economic development partner, the site is positioned to be an ideal location in the Southeast. | | |
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BANK ON THE BEST
Weyerhaeuser’s wetland and stream mitigation banks have helped provide timely, cost-effective and ecologically significant mitigation solutions for unavoidable impacts to wetlands and streams. These mitigation projects work to help replace the functions of a specific wetland and/or stream habitat affected by your project. Click the map to view mitigation bank sites.
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