The future of economic development in the heartland depends on future generations securing dynamic careers. As the demand in skilled workforce has grown, heartland economic development organizations have a greater responsibility to illuminate career pathways in skilled workforce for the next generation of the workforce. For this reason, Heartland Forward recently leveraged its regional convening power to connect rural students to skilled professionals and introduce career pathways in events called Demo Days.
What are Demo Days?
On March 31st and April 1st, Heartland Forward hosted Demo Days in both Harrison and Pottsville, Arkansas. The goal of these events was to give high school juniors and seniors exposure to careers in the skilled workforce through hands-on interactive sessions in plumbing, electrical, HVAC and welding.
Participating professionals discussed the everyday operations of the company, delivered demonstrations of their tools and tasks and walked through the certifications, training programs and relevant apprenticeships that are key to building a career.
During each event, students rotated through stations staffed by participating local businesses. The participating businesses included:
- Kimbel Mechanical Systems
- Villines Electric
- Curtis Heating & Cooling
- Robinette Metal Works
- Northwest Technical Institute
- Mooney Electrical Services
Demo Days accomplishes two key needs for those considering a career in the skilled workforce. It allows for hands-on demonstrations that offer insight into the day-to-day work of each profession, while additionally detailing the process behind developing a career, such as certification acquisition and required training. For the attending juniors and seniors who had already expressed interest in the skilled workforce to their teachers and advisors, the clearly defined steps towards entering those fields can prove vital to their future career development.
In combining hands-on demonstration with a breakdown of the process of entry, students received a clear window into potential career paths. To strengthen the heartland’s talent pipeline to include a dynamic illuminating these pathways will be crucial. Key stakeholders from the event assert the same point:
- Abby Smith, Manager of Strategic Economic Partnerships, Heartland Forward: “Demo Days empower students by revealing the wide-ranging, rewarding career paths available in the skilled workforce within their own communities. When they can engage directly with local employers and experience these careers firsthand, it builds both awareness and confidence in the paths available to them. We’re grateful to the employers who showed up to invest in these students and help strengthen the future workforce.”
- Cody Waits, Executive Director, Arkansas Workforce Connections: “Demo Days are all about building confidence for our students, showing them they have strong options in the skilled trades, and giving them a clear picture of what it takes to pursue that path. When they can see those opportunities up close and get the right support, they are in a much better position to make decisions that work for them and their families. We appreciate the local employers who took the time to show up and connect with these students, many of whom we know are part of the next generation of skilled trades professionals.”
- Jackson Villines, Owner at Villines Electric Company: “We can’t expect young people to choose careers they’ve never had a chance to see. We need more students choosing high-demand, skilled careers and partnerships with more schools helping show the way. The trades offer real careers with good pay, room to grow and a chance to stay in your own community. I’m glad to support this event because it connects students with local businesses like ours that need skilled workers. That’s a win for students, schools and our local economy.”
- Hayden Savage, rootEd advisor with Mammoth Spring High School: “Demo Day was an amazing opportunity for our students to step outside of the classroom and experience what these careers actually look like day-to-day. Getting hands-on learning with professionals in blue-collar industries helps our students to see that these career paths are attainable.”
Heartland Forward manages similar initiatives to promote workforce development and opportunities in the skilled workforce for heartland residents.
- This work is further supported through strategic investments, including a partnership with the BlackRock Foundation to expand access to career pathways and strengthen the talent pipeline across the heartland.
- Through rootEd Arkansas, dedicated rootEd advisors ensure that participating rural students graduate high school with a plan for postsecondary careers or education, and in many cases, this includes skilled trades.
- Using the Connecting the Heartland Jobs Board, professionals from all stages of their careers can connect with training providers and employers for opportunities installing high-speed internet infrastructure.
Efforts like Demo Days reflect a broader shift taking place across the heartland—one that prioritizes exposure, access and real-world connection for the next generation of workers. As demand for skilled trades continues to grow, ensuring students understand both the opportunities and the pathways into these careers will be critical to building a stronger, more resilient regional economy.