highlighting successful externships for faculty at major companies like FedEx, AutoZone, and International Paper. This exposure starts as early as junior high, helping students discover their interests and potential career paths before they reach high school. In addition, Bartlett’s partnership with Steve Wozniak’s Woz Ed STEM Pathway District supports this early exposure even in their elementary schools. BARTLETT’S DEVELOPMENT AND INNOVATION Mayor Parsons discusses Bartlett’s approach to development and infrastructure, including one of the town’s most significant mixed-use projects. As he details, this project includes single-family homes, condos, commercial space, and lofts. However, infrastructure challenges like the sewer system have posed difficulties. “We’ve looked at ways and resources to fund those and identify those problems,” he says, expressing optimism about Bartlett’s bright future. The town’s proactive stance is further evidenced by establishing an industrial development park in the 1980s, which now houses numerous job opportunities. With the recent annexation of about 350 acres in the northwest sector, Innovation Park, Bartlett continues to prepare for future growth. With the potential to expand by another 600 acres, this area is poised to attract technical and automotive robotics jobs, diversifying employment opportunities.“We’re trying to prepare for the future to ensure continued job growth in Bartlett,” Mayor Parsons emphasizes. Moreover, Bartlett contributes significantly to Shelby 38 CIVIL AND MUNICIPAL VOLUME 05, ISSUE 08
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