Highlands Looking to Revamp IT Industry in Region

The Highlands Initiative looks to add more jobs in the information technology field as it continues with phase four of the organization’s five-year plan.

Stephen Crook is the Vice President of Economic Development with the HEP. He said the region is currently behind in terms of available jobs in the IT industry.

“Even after companies such as Digital Dream Forge, SAIC, and some local firms growing and expanding at an exponential rate,” Crook said, “we’re still at about 40 percent of where we should be in the IT field. So we’re trying to align the educational curriculum with the needs of the IT employers.”

As part of the Highland Economic Partnership’s fourth phase, the organization is looking to attract new businesses in areas the region has lost jobs in. According to the HEP, the region lost over 300 IT and analytical jobs between 2005 and 2013.

Crook said enhancing the educational opportunities in the IT field within the region will help attract new businesses in the industry.

“If they’re aware of us, then they’re less likely to [overlook] our submissions and requests for information format,” Crook said. “We’ve just got to make sure they know about us, what we bring to the table, and how we can make them succeed as well as what types of companies we’re looking for.”

Crook emphasized the importance of Tennessee Tech University’s involvement with the Highlands as well as the involvement of area community colleges.

“We’ve got [TTU] at the table at all phases to make sure we’re aligning the needs of the needs of prospective employers and the curriculum at the University and all levels of education are all perfectly aligned,” Crook said.

According to the HEP’s 2018 outlook, the organization will look to market locations in the area that will suit the needs of high-tech companies.