By Kitsey Burns Harrison [email protected] A new program is launching this year to connect students with businesses and industries in hopes of retaining talented young people in the local economy. The Surry Yadkin WORKS internship program is a partnership between Surry Community College, Yadkin County Schools as well as Elkin City, Mt. Airy City and Surry County Schools. At the December meeting of the Elkin City School Board, Superintendent Dr. Myra Cox called it a “three-pronged approach” connecting government, businesses and education. “Communities need a strong pool of local workers to choose from and this partnership, we think, will help close the gap between education and industry creating a stable local economy,” said Cox.