The impact Central Lakes College has on the Brainerd lakes area was evident at the Brainerd Lakes Chamber Commerce and Industry Show over the weekend.
Four of every five businesses exhibiting at the show, sponsored by CLC, had a connection of some kind with CLC.
Jeff Wig, CLC dean of enrollment management, said one of its goals was to see how many connections people had with the college, whether they were a student or they used the Small Business Development Center.
The college surveyed businesses that had an exhibit at the show Friday and found that 224 of them utilized services at the college. The college thanked these businesses by delivering special floral arrangements made by its landscape and horticulture students.
"Sometimes we don't realize the impact a community college has in an area," Wig said. "It was rewarding for our college staff and alumni to walk through the Commerce and Industry Show and see all of our CLC connections in the booths with the flowers.
"The direct connections to the college we saw were amazing."
Wig said the biggest connection was from owners, managers or employees who were CLC alumni. Wig said some businesses were unable to estimate the number of CLC graduates they employ because they have so many.
Wig said many businesses reported that they regularly send employees to customized training classes at the college. Others reported getting business planning and financing help at the Small Business Development Center. The Army and Veterans' booths reported on how their people use the college's Veteran's Center.
JENNIFER STOCKINGER may be reached at jennifer.stockinger@ brainerddispatch.com or 855-5851.
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