From June 2-12, 33 graduates from Dalton Public Schools and Whitfield County Schools participated in Project Purpose, a two-week workforce training program designed to prepare students who are not immediately pursuing post-secondary education for careers in the Greater Dalton area. Of the group, 28 students signed on to full-time jobs and were celebrated during a signing day.
Facilitated by Dr. Stephani Womack of the Greater Dalton Chamber of Commerce and Ali Harp of the Dalton-Whitfield Joint Development Authority, the program provides a hands-on, immersive experience in job readiness and local industry exposure. Now in its third year, Project Purpose continues to grow in size and impact.
With support from employers including Carpets of Dalton, Dalton Utilities, Engineered Floors, Essentia Protein Solutions, Georgia Power, Hamilton Medical Center of Vitruvian Health, Mohawk Industries, Nokia, Qcells, Shaw Industries, and Whitfield County the program connects students directly to career opportunities through workshops, site tours, skill-building sessions, and interviews. A Workforce Invest Grant awarded to the JDA from the Tennessee Valley Authority supported the program's continuing growth, helping to cover costs like student stipends, marketing, interview attire, personal protective equipment, and professional development assessments.
“We watched this cohort grow in confidence, skills, and purpose in just two weeks,” Dr. Womack reflected on the program. “The support from our local employers has been nothing short of inspiring; they showed up, invested in these students, and opened real doors to opportunity. These graduates aren’t just entering the workforce – they’re stepping into their roles as the future leaders of our community.”
Week one focused on professionalism, resume development, and financial literacy. Students engaged with leaders from Builtwell Bank, Dalton State College, GALEO, GEDIA Automotive Group, Georgia Power, Health One Alliance, Qcells, and Truist. They also toured Georgia Northwestern Technical College, Hamilton Medical Center, and The Lofts at Hamilton. Students learned the impact of voting and community involvement from Mayor Annalee Harlan Sams. More highlights of the week included mock interviews with local professionals and an interview outfit shopping trip at America’s Thrift.
In week two, students toured the facilities of their potential employers. Ali Harp underlined the importance of these students seeing these local manufacturing facilities, “One of the most impactful things we can do is help them see firsthand the places they might one day work and live. We want them to understand our community offers great jobs and solid career paths, even for those just starting.”
After final resume reviews and coaching, students interviewed with up to four employers each. By the end of the program, nearly every student received at least one job offer. They took a day to deliberate whether they would accept these positions that would kickstart their professional careers only weeks after graduating from high school.
A special signing day celebration was hosted at Trevitt Hall, where the 28 students who had accepted their job offers were each given a moment in the spotlight in front of families, educators, and employers alike. “All kids deserve to be celebrated, not just those who are going into athletic programs after high school,” said Qcell’s Lisa Nash as she represented her company to sign 17 of the graduating students. “These kids are all equally important.”