NATCHEZ — Leaders from the local business community and administrators from Copiah-Lincoln Community College gathered Thursday, to recognize the importance of their partnerships.

The event, a luncheon sponsored by Co-Lin, is meant to highlight the positive relationships between the school and local businesses.

Guest speaker and President of the Natchez-Adams Chamber of Commerce Debbie Hudson said the 70 percent of the nation’s school districts have some type or partnership with their local business community.

“But we don’t need survey results to tell us about the benefits of the partnership,” Hudson said. “The benefits are clear.”

Co-Lin Natchez Vice President Teresa Busby said when Co-Lin partners with members of the local business community, both benefit.

“It’s a win-win for all of us,” she said.

And nowhere is that win-win situation more clear than with students going into the medical field.

Busby said local doctors and nurses work with the school to keep them abreast of what’s changing in the medical community and what the local medical community is looking for in new employees.

That information is then used to tailor classes at the school and better prepare the future workforce.

“We’re essentially grooming their workforce,” Busby said.

“And when the students graduate, they can know what’s out there. They’re prepared and ready to work.”