How the Partnership was Formed
With the support of the business and education communities, the Tyler Area Chamber of Commerce and City of Tyler established the Tyler Area Business Education Council in 2012. Since its inception, the Business Education Council has worked with partners in all sectors to elevate education as one of the region’s most critical issues. The Council has served as an organizer of stakeholders and as a partner to businesses, schools, and colleges or universities in developing new programs, facilities, and events to assist area students and families and to ensure that local workforce needs are properly aligned with available educational programs and skills training.
Across the country, a new way of solving complex community issues, Collective Impact, was being embraced by communities also working to drive student success and economic prosperity. The Business Education Council took note of this new way of doing business and the successes being realized across our state and country. In 2014, the Council decided to embark on a similar effort for Smith County by agreeing to serve as the backbone organization for a new education partnership, the Tyler Area Partnership 4 Education. As a result, over 40 organizations from across the community have come together to work collectively to improve the lives of Smith County residents.