A rural perspective: A study of the utilization of workforce development in selected small businesses in Huntingdon County, Pennsylvania in 2002

The purpose of this qualitative study of small businesses in Huntingdon County, Pennsylvania was to examine local organizational attitudes and perspectives toward workforce development.; This study was conducted as action research. One proposed outcome of the study was to help local leaders decide how best to use workforce development to aid economic development in Huntingdon County. A second outcome was to begin to educating small business owners and managers about workforce development by “seeding.” In other words, useful information would be obtained through participation in the process, and a desire to obtain more information would accrue. Dissemination by word of mouth from participants and supporters to others was a possible outcome too. The study was to be offered to the Huntingdon County Economic development Task Force in support of their mission of economic development.; The study was conducted using focus groups and individual on-site interviews. Each participant was given a 10-item survey prior to participation in order to establish a baseline for comparison with content analysis of transcripts of the focus groups and the interviews. Focus groups were limited to seven participants. Individual interviews were conducted to capture data from those who were too busy to take time to attend a focus group.; Responses indicated that in order to create job growth and to attract new businesses, the county needs to develop the capacity to offer support for workforce development.; The research uncovered two consistent themes running through the data. The first is that participants possess a broad but shallow understanding of workforce development. The second was that the resources necessary to pursue utilization of workforce development are lacking in smaller organizations.