September 08, 2006
by Joe Taylor
Local Education Columnist
In the years following World War Two, Fenton, Missouri expanded dramatically. Residents of Fenton returned from Europe to start families and to work in the area's booming manufacturing industry. Today, this suburb of St. Louis produces cars for both Ford and Toyota. Like many similar towns, Fenton faces some dramatic challenges as the baby boomer generation ages. Town leaders believe that medical degrees and EMT jobs will play critical roles in the city's future.
First, Fenton's hospitals and medical community must provide sufficient services to the city's aging population. The number of available EMT jobs has risen as more Fenton residents require emergency medical treatment and transport. While some EMT jobs are filled by residents of nearby St. Louis, city leaders are working hard to convince EMT's and other professionals to purchase inexpensive homes in Fenton.
Medical Degrees Help Fenton's Revitalization
Second, Fenton's future growth requires revitalization of older housing stock and the attraction of a new wave of residents. City leaders hope that luring students to long-term education programs, such as medical degrees, will lead to a surge in highly educated, permanent residents. With tax breaks and other incentives for restoring older homes, city planners hope to make attractive offers to potential residents with medical degrees.
Half a dozen accredited colleges and universities offer medical degrees within a short drive of Fenton. Younger residents of Fenton looking for compelling jobs close to home can qualify for EMT jobs by completing accredited vocational training programs. A growing number of students even use earnings from EMT jobs to pay for their expensive medical degrees. By combining income from EMT jobs with substantial financial aid packages, Fenton residents can ensure solid salaries for themselves while strengthening their city's future.
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About the Author
Author and business coach, Joe Taylor Jr. helps professionals change careers. He holds a Bachelor of Science in Communications from Ithaca College.
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