RAISE Randolph County Launches to Strengthen Local Workforce and Career Pathways

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

RAISE Randolph County Launches to Strengthen Local Workforce and Career Pathways

MOBERLY, Mo. - RAISE Randolph County, an initiative focused on expanding registered apprenticeships and work-based learning opportunities for students and adults, officially launched Monday during Moberly Public Schools’ Professional Development Day at the Moberly Area Technical Center (MATC) on February 2, 2026.

RAISE Randolph County, short for Registered Apprenticeships in Skills & Education, brings together educators, employers, and workforce partners to better align classroom learning with in-demand careers across Randolph County. The kickoff session introduced educators to regional labor market trends, skills gaps, and emerging career pathways, with a focus on strengthening connections between education and industry.

“It was encouraging to see so many community stakeholders come together to discuss current workforce needs and be open to exploring Registered Youth Apprenticeship and work-based learning strategies that can benefit our local students and employers. I look forward to seeing where these conversations lead,” said Angie Fadness, Registered Youth Apprenticeship Consultant with the Heart of Missouri Regional Professional Development Center.

The initiative is informed by local workforce data showing a tightening labor market, an aging population, and growing demand for skilled workers in sectors such as manufacturing, health care, education, and transportation. RAISE Randolph County seeks to address these challenges by expanding access to registered youth apprenticeships, internships, and other hands-on learning models that allow students to gain experience while building job-ready skills.

“Registered Youth Apprenticeships are a wonderful opportunity to ‘grow’ students and prepare them for the workforce. Most importantly, collaboration among local employers, educators, and students is essential to the success of this initiative. Randolph County has so much to offer our students in the competitive workforce, and I look forward to assisting students as they explore these career options,” said Julie Wood, Career Resource Coordinator, Transition Coordinator, EL Implementer, and Registered Youth Apprenticeship Coordinator at the Moberly Area Technical Center.

The kickoff event also included discussions on Gen Z workforce engagement, skills alignment, and employer perspectives on work-based learning, highlighting successful local models already in use. These conversations will help guide future programming and employer participation as the initiative continues to grow.

“For RAISE Randolph County to be successful, it’s important that we first understand our baseline workforce and the skills already present in our community. From there, we can be intentional about how we help students and adults grow, upskill, and advance in their careers. Our goal with RAISE is not to create unnecessary jobs, but to strengthen our existing workforce by filling critical open positions, especially as many skilled workers are aging out and retiring. RAISE creates accessible pathways for residents of all backgrounds to learn a trade, gain experience, and build a sustainable career right here in Randolph County,” said Kaylee Paffrath, president and CEO of the Moberly Area Economic Development Corporation.

RAISE Randolph County is a collaborative effort involving the Moberly Area Economic Development Corporation, Moberly Area Technical Center, Moberly Public Schools, the Heart of Missouri Regional Professional Development Center, and regional employers. The initiative will continue throughout the year with additional employer engagement, student opportunities, and community partnerships.

For more information about RAISE Randolph County or how to participate, contact the Moberly Area Economic Development Corporation.