b'ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENTStudents easily drive to Colquitt or Thomas counties to secure good-Regional paying jobs. They need to know those Workforce Pipeline:jobs are here in our A Needs Assessment Approach communities and have the right skills Americas workforce is changing. The emergence of digitization and automation is rapidly altering the job skills needed today and in theto succeed.future.- PAIGE GILCHRISTIdentifying the required future skills was the focus of a recent employer needs assessment survey conducted by the Brooks, Colquitt, Grady, Mitchell, and Thomas Counties Joint Development Authority (JDA). Created in 1998 by the Georgia legislature, the JDA is tasked with identifying and solving economic challenges within the region.The online survey represents the first step in the JDAs Regional Workforce Pipeline Development Project, partially funded through a grant from the U.S. Economic Development Administration. The survey was designed to gather input that identifies future workforce skills needed for businesses within the region to remain competitive. As the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic disrupted normal business operations, the need for a workforce assessment escalated. Paige Gilchrist, president of the Mitchell County Development Authority, says during the pandemic, many businesses continued working, some at a higher level, due to a large number of agricultural/BUSINESS + CULTURE 45'