COLUMBUS, MS – Courtesy of the Dispatch

Melinda Lowe recently retired from an 18-year career as a Columbus school and college administrator to take on a new, much larger role: as the first-ever Executive Director of the FORGE Foundation, a coalition made up of GTR-area construction companies who want to help local students get the training they need for future jobs in the industry. The group also forges links between the companies and area schools, in part, by arranging for special events. “I have experience and connections with educators and school districts all across the state,” Lowe said. “… Working together, we can now approach opportunities in a better manner.”

She went on to say, “Right now, our focus is helping and supporting northeast Mississippi and what that looks like.” She and others are working hard to expand the program’s reach, and they have their sights set on new chapters in cities such as Tupelo.

Please click here for the original article: https://cdispatch.com/news/2023-04-26/first-forge-director-looks-to-expand-workforce-development/