Memphis, TN, August 23, 2012, Courtesy of FOX13/WHBQ-TV –

People gathered at the Benjamin L.Hooks Library Thursday to launch a program that could have a major impact on the Mid-South.

It is called the Memphis Talent Dividend and its goal is to increase college attainment by 1% over the next five years.

The project is under the direction of Leadership Memphis and a partnership with the City of Memphis/Memphis Public Central Library and is funded by a grant from the Plough Foundation.

Since opening in July, the Graduate Memphis initiative has reached more than 350 potential students, with 19 participants currently enrolled in a local college.

The College Resource Center is designed to not only get people to go to college but to entice other people that have some college to go back.

“It’s important that they go back and finish and get a job and the more college grads we have. Those are the stats that a business looks at before they bring in industry. We need more people like Electrolux and others that have been recruited. They look at your education attainment before they decide to come,” Congressman Steve Cohen.

If college graduates increase by just one percent over the next five years it would produce a $1 billion dollar annual economic impact on the Mid-South.

John Koski, general manager of FOX13, knows all too well what it takes to run a business.

“You have to have a good work force in order to have a thriving community. So we felt it was important to make sure that the message gets out there that the College Resource Center is available and work is being done to help people get back in college. Sometimes all they need is a nudge,” Koski said.
Read more: http://www.myfoxmemphis.com/story/19353740/college-resource-center-helps-achieve-college-dream#ixzz24kUxWvyV