connected back to school-based classes, pathways, and clubs that can build on those interests. The city also supports Leadership Lakeville, a program designed to connect employees and residents more deeply to the community and encourage longterm retention by increasing civic awareness and engagement. Lakeville maintains additional workforce connections through Dakota County Technical College, which provides customized training support for employers, effort that included gift basket delivery with chamber support—small gestures that reinforce a businessfriendly culture and long-term relationship-building. Bachmayer adds that Lakeville Works, a chamberled initiative focused on career exposure and STEM pathways, has become an important workforce development program. One highlight is a hands-on career exploration event for eighth graders called Stepping Into Your Future, hosted at a local airport hangar. Students rotate through practical activities aligned to different career categories and are then 130 CIVIL AND MUNICIPAL VOLUME 07, ISSUE 02
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