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Courtesy of the Clarksville Montgomery County Economic Development Council
The Clarksville-Montgomery County Industrial Development Board (IDB) is pleased to partner with the Montgomery County Sheriff's Office and Tennessee College of Applied Technology Clarksville, to launch a Smart Start training program to address critical workforce needs. The program is designed to provide skills and training to “at risk” individuals with justice system involvement. Two cohorts of ten students were selected by the Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office for a Metal Inert Gas (MIG) welding certification.
The IDB received a “Critical Workforce Needs” grant from the Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) to fund a large portion of the initial program and plans to measure the success of the program by a ninety percent completion rate and reduced recidivism rate among participants.
“This is a unique opportunity for the IDB to assist the underserved population in Clarksville-Montgomery County and support local workforce needs through an innovative partnership ” Shea Hopkins ClarksvilleMontgomery County IDB Director said.
The Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office launched a reinvigorated Inmate Programs Initiative (IPI) in December of 2021. The goal was to collaborate with community stakeholders with a vested interested in our community. The intended result was to reduce recidivism rates by providing individuals moving through our local criminal justice system with tools to make positive behavior changes, coupled with real-world occupation-basedskills for successful reentry into our community. This IPI aspires to be much more than simply releasing members back into our community; rather providing the essential skills for successful reentry.
“Post incarceration is often difficult for those reentering society one key barrier is the ability to make a living wage which is distinctly different from being employed. Participation in our current inmate programs initiative along with this 60 Hour MIG welding certification course will increase the chances of a successful reentry,” Jail Administrator Joe Thomas said.
Our multi-faceted inmate services include utilizing a comprehensive assessment tool, “Changing Course” evidence based curriculum, facility re-classification standards, participation in workshops such as Industrial Readiness Training (IRT) and now the MIG welding certification course.
“I am proud of the results that I continue to see coming out of our Inmate Programs Initiative. As a community, we all win when individuals leave the criminal justice system to become stable and positively contributing members of our community,” Sheriff John Fuson said. “It is our goal and desire to continue initiatives like this and watch them flourish in the coming months. I appreciate the support and dedication of the IDB and all of our stakeholders.”
