Title: Economic and Workforce Development Collaborative Approaches to Address Employer Needs
1Economic and Workforce Development -
Collaborative Approaches to Address Employer Needs
- Judith K. Resnick
- Connecticut Business Industry Association
- July 10, 2002
2Economic and Workforce Development Promoting
Collaborative Approaches
- CTs statewide business association with
10,000 members supporting the states business
community through - Governmental Affairs, Legislative and public
policy support - Economic and business information
- Support Services - HR information, training and
consulting - Products - insurance, energy, recruitment
3Economic and Workforce Development Promoting
Collaborative Approaches
- Education Foundation - helping to promote the
development of CTs workforce through education
and training - K-12 School/Education Reform - STC, skill
standards, technology innovation - Workforce Development - CBTN, Employer Services,
Hitachi, higher education linkages
4Economic and Workforce Development Promoting
Collaborative Approaches
- CBIA Partnerships in Workforce and Economic
Development - U.S. DOL Incumbent/Dislocated Worker Skill
Shortage Demonstration Grant - Hitachi Making Work Work Work Grant
- CT Business Training Networks - DECD
- Capital Region Workforce Development Board -
Employer Services - NAM Retention/Advancement Demonstration Project
5Economic and Workforce Development Promoting
Collaborative Approaches
- Connecting economic and workforce development
the context - Primary goal in economic development practice
create and retain jobs - Traditional Economic Development Tool Kit
location services, tax incentives, permitting,
grants and loans, etc. - Traditional approaches building positive
perceptions through marketing incentives to
offset location and cost disadvantages
6Economic and Workforce Development Promoting
Collaborative Approaches
- The Context (continued)
- CHANGE from 1995 era lingering concerns re
recession - CHANGE to limited site locations and tight
labor market and/or skill shortages - Key concerns - availability, skills and quality
of workforce match needs of business?
7Economic and Workforce Development Promoting
Collaborative Approaches
- Workforce development is now a prominent element
in economic development policy - As site locations become scarce,business costs
become more competitive, and unemployment remains
low, workforce is seen as a key component in
economic development deals - Workforce development now a powerful tool to
attract/retain business a deal maker
8Economic and Workforce Development Promoting
Collaborative Approaches
- U.S. DOL Incumbent/Dislocated Worker
Demonstration Grant - Skill Shortage Grant
- 2.2m - train 500 incumbent workers, 120
dislocated workers - Sectoral Focus Precision Manufacturing and
Photonics/Telecommunications - 22 Company Partners - include PW, JDS Uniphase,
Trumpf, Hamilton Sunstrand
9Economic and Workforce Development Promoting
Collaborative Approaches
- Other Partners
- CRT Manager of One Stop
- Capital Region Workforce Development Board
- Higher Education - 4 community colleges
- CT Tooling and Machining Association
10Economic and Workforce Development Promoting
Collaborative Approaches
- CT Business Training Networks
- 125 contract with CT Depart. of Economic and
Community Development as part of states Industry
Cluster Program - Create industry driven training and education
system - Manage grant program to establish training
networks of 5 or more small/mid size companies - Marketing, development, technical assistance to
training networks and industry clusters
11Economic and Workforce Development Promoting
Collaborative Approaches
- Eleven training networks established
- 5 manufacturing networks (metals, springs, metal
finishing, electronics) - 3 IT networks
- Retail/wholesale (ICIC)
- Automotive
- Bio-Science
12Economic and Workforce Development Promoting
Collaborative Approaches
- Partners
- Economic Development Associations
- Chambers of Commerce
- Colleges and universities
- Workforce Investment Boards
- Trade Associations
13Economic and Workforce Development Promoting
Collaborative Approaches
- Sub-contract with CRT, manager of Capital Region
One-Stop - 208 K contract to link employers to WIA and
state workforce development system - Sector Based Account Representative system
(manufacturing, financial services/IT, health
care) - Outreach to employers in 30 town region
14Economic and Workforce Development Promoting
Collaborative Approaches
- Partners
- Capital Region Workforce Development Board
- Community Renewal Team (CRT)
- Capital Region Education Council (CREC)
- Community Colleges
- CT Department of Labor
- Local economic development organizations
15Economic and Workforce Development Promoting
Collaborative Approaches
- Services Provided
- Account representative system - sector focus
- Facilitation of labor exchange recruitment,
- Rapid Response representation for company
lay-offs - Assistance with identification of training needs
- Brokering of information and services
- Job Profiling
16Economic and Workforce Development Promoting
Collaborative Approaches
- Lessons learned
- Leverage existing relationships
- Develop relationships with local/state ED
organizations (join, show up, invite them in,
educate everyone re mission, roles) - Build alliances with others that have
complimentary/key products and services No one
can do it all! Stick to your knitting! - Employer Associations as intermediaries-
credibility, track record in representing and
meeting the needs of business
17Economic and Workforce Development Promoting
Collaborative Approaches
- Lessons Learned (continued)
- ED/WD Collaborations allow labor market/sectoral
information to be shared - everyone working from
the same page! - Collaboration leverages and influence
- Collaboration is more efficient (messages are
delivered once, extra hands to help) - Be sure that your business processes are user
friendly (run like a business)