ShovelTalk: An Economic Development Podcast
Jul 9, 2026 · 50 min · 11 segments
The future of workforce development looks bright in east-central Nebraska, where the York County Development Corporation recently completed efforts to raise more than $10 million for a new Regional…
Bethany QuinnHost
And I think ultimately, when it comes to enhancing the skills in our community through unique workforce training programs, that's really what we have to consider is, is how do we get people into a job that is going to provide them a living wage, they can care for their family? And how do we elevate people so they can contribute to our community overall? And very often that comes down to keeping people in the community.
And that's, I think, such an important thing that you're doing is making it possible to stay local.
Well, you might serve on a nonprofit board or volunteer at the Boy Scouts or whatever, right? Like if you're not driving those two hours every day.
You have time to help with the PTO or get involved with the community theater because your kids want to do that or you like to do it.
Now, I know you also made comments in the past that it was really important to you that you made sure that the program was open to everyone.
I know we've talked about technology and things changing and needing to be a lifelong learner.
Is that what inspired you? Or were you looking at the economics and just wanting to try to raise people's wages holistically?
I mean, I've been in a lot of training lately where they say AI is not going to steal your job.
And I think ultimately, when it comes to enhancing the skills in our community through unique workforce training programs, that's really what we have to consider is, is how do we get people into a job that is going to provide them a living wage, they can care for their family? And how do we elevate people so they can contribute to our community overall? And very often that comes down to keeping people in the community.
And that's, I think, such an important thing that you're doing is making it possible to stay local.
Well, you might serve on a nonprofit board or volunteer at the Boy Scouts or whatever, right? Like if you're not driving those two hours every day.
You have time to help with the PTO or get involved with the community theater because your kids want to do that or you like to do it.
Now, I know you also made comments in the past that it was really important to you that you made sure that the program was open to everyone.
I know we've talked about technology and things changing and needing to be a lifelong learner.
Is that what inspired you? Or were you looking at the economics and just wanting to try to raise people's wages holistically?
I mean, I've been in a lot of training lately where they say AI is not going to steal your job.
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