Tracey Carisch, managing director of the Southeast Tennessee STEM Innovation Hub, will discuss STEM education and the local economy at the Chattanooga Area Chamber of Commerce’s Downtown Council meeting on Feb. 7.
The event, sponsored by episode49, will take place from 7:30–8:30 a.m. at the DoubleTree Hotel, located at 407 Chestnut St. Attendees are invited to come early and stay late for networking.
Established in 2011 to bridge the widening gap between qualified workers and jobs that require skills in science, technology, engineering and math (STEM), the Southeast Tennessee STEM Innovation Hub unites partners in the business and education sectors to cultivate a local workforce prepared for the jobs of the future. At the center of those efforts is the new Hamilton County STEM School, which opened its doors to 75 high school freshmen this fall and will continue adding new students annually as each class graduates to the next grade.
“Chattanooga is very fortunate to be home to our region’s only STEM Innovation Hub, and we want our area businesses to be aware of how this resource might affect their future growth,” said Jim Callihan, president of the Downtown Council. “As STEM education equips more students with the skills required to perform 21st century jobs, local companies will have access to larger pool of qualified workers, which will ultimately enhance their competitiveness in marketplace and grow our regional economy.”
Downtown Council meetings take place the first Thursday of each month and are open to the public. Admission is $10 and includes a full breakfast.
To learn more about the meeting or the Downtown Council, please contact Jim Callihan at 423 755-0716 or jcallihan@lbmc.com.