Industry Clusters

At Forward Sheridan, we facilitate the gathering of "like" businesses into "Industry Clusters."  The clustering of businesses offers those businesses opportunities to work as a group to effect the changes needed to help their industry.  Forward Sheridan works with these clusters to expand knowledge of other businesses within the cluster, which can offer more opportunities to outsource to each other and, more importantly, to come together for the common good on issues:

• effect change in local or state government policy that meets the common good of a particular industry cluster
• create websites, blogs, and WIKI's to bring greater attention to the community and to individual businesses within the clusters (locally, regionally, nationally, worldwide)
  
• recruit candidates for employment with commonly needed skill sets by coming together to attend employment fairs, or through outside advertising efforts
• recruit other businesses to the area to meet common needs of existing businesses
  
• create critical mass to support specific employee training programs and/or curriculum needed in the local community colleges or school systems
  
• establish advisory councils, mentorship programs, and opportunities for interaction with students and teachers to support a steady flow of employees into the industry
  

At Forward Sheridan, we are currently working with one cluster and are in the process of developing two additional clusters.

• StartWest - a knowledge-based cluster of approximately 40 businesses began in the fall of 2006.
  
• Energy cluster (formation will begin fall 2007)
• Arts cluster (anticipated spring 2008)

If you are interested in joining any of the industry clusters above, please contact Philippe Chino--click here to email or call (307) 673-8004.