Dexter, Missouri Secures $1 Million Grant to Strengthen Skilled Trades Workforce
- October 30, 2024
In a strategic move to revitalize the local economy and develop a resilient labor pool, Dexter, Missouri, has secured a $1 million grant from the U.S. Department of Commerce. This funding, combined with funds awarded to the Dexter Chamber of Commerce and Three Rivers College through the Delta Regional Authority, as well as matching contributions will support the new Bootheel Technical Training Center project. The training center will offer training for construction and advanced manufacturing, building workforce skills in construction and related trades and positioning the community for future growth after the loss of a major employer.
After the closing of Tyson’s poultry production plant in 2023, the public and private sectors came together to create an economic development roadmap that would retrain the workforce in Dexter, making it a hub for skilled labor. Part of the roadmap involved a new construction trades training center developed in partnership with Three Rivers College that will offer hands-on workforce training for careers in electrical, HVAC, manufacturing, and welding trades.
The city’s proactive approach to workforce development is aimed at attracting new businesses. In fact, Cal-Maine Foods, one of the nation’s largest egg producers, announced it will establish an egg processing facility in Dexter that is expected to create nearly 100 jobs. The grant will provide equipment for an advanced manufacturing lab and CDL training, both crucial for Cal-Maine Foods.
The city is also actively investing in its people and believes that by cultivating a pool of highly skilled workers, Dexter will position itself as an attractive destination for the manufacturing and construction industries.
The federal investment in Dexter’s workforce development not only addresses the immediate needs created by the Tyson plant closure but also sets the stage for long-term economic growth.