CT-NY Talent for Growth WIRED and Workforce Development

Transformation

June 11, 2008

Presenters: Donnovan Beckford Charlie Bruno Diana Napier

What is WIRED?

• Workforce Innovation in Regional Economic Development is an initiative of the U.S. Department of Labor to address the challenges of global competition.

• $325 million committed to 39 regions across the nation.

What is WIRED

U. S. Department of Labor considers WIRED a “Force” -- an “Investment”

to Address the challenges of global

competition by preparing America’s workforce for high-skilled, high-level job opportunities.

Making The Case for WIRED

1.1. MISMATCH BETWEEN DEMAND AND SUPPLYMISMATCH BETWEEN DEMAND AND SUPPLY• Knowledge economy requires more education and

skills

• Low unemployment means tapping new populations

• Boomers due to exit in large numbers in next few years

• Overall and ongoing skilled worker shortage

• Lack of STEM foundation

2. WORKFORCE SYSTEM NEEDS TO ADAPTWORKFORCE SYSTEM NEEDS TO ADAPT• New constituents need workforce services

• Immigrants can’t participate without English fluency

• Educational Achievement Gap

UNSUSTAINABLE!UNSUSTAINABLE!

Solution

• Regionalization• Collaboration• Social Networking

Solution

Regionalization• A regional effort that includes surrounding

communities that share common characteristics, looking beyond traditional political boundaries.

• Where companies, workers, researchers, entrepreneurs and governments join together to create a local competitive advantage.

Solution

Collaboration• Business, education, economic

development, workforce development, government and other community organizations and leaders to develop innovative, transformational changes in the workforce system

Solution

• Social NetworksBreaks down silosWorking in partnership with strong

networks will be more competitive in the global economy.

WIREDCT-NY Talent for Growth

4 Counties

3 WIBs

2 States

1 Region

Defining the Region

labor market (commuting/ recruiting)

common industries

common challenges

Goal = Enhance Regional CompetitivenessGoal = Enhance Regional Competitiveness

Seed money = $5 million WIRED

Southwestern CT Westchester-Putnam NY

768,037 1,050,814

WIA $4.6M WIA $5.2MWorkforce System

Population (’07 est.)

% Foreign Born 19% 25%

Workers Commuting In 25% 33%

Funding

WIBs 1 2

People Served 22,000 19,000

Demographics

InnovationVenture CapitalInternet Specific VC

$2 billion $2 billion

33% 29%

Key ChallengesKey Challenges Shortage of Skilled Workers Shortage of Skilled Workers Dual EconomyDual Economy

Similarities

Benefits of Economic Linkage

SW-CTWestchester/Putnam-NY

Total Region

Financial Services

Information Technology

Biomedical

Advanced Mfg.

Health Care

Hospitality & Retail

Larger Portfolio of Companies

Larger Talent Pool

Focused Pipeline Development

Focus on talent needs of high-growth industries

High Growth Industries in Region and Required Skills

• Core SkillsLarge, well-establishedNeed an immediate and ongoing pipeline of workers to survive & compete– Advanced Manufacturing– Hospitality & Retail – Health Care

• Innovation-Intensive SkillsFocus on higher-level, more specialized occupations where both

technical & creative skills are neededRequire long-term talent development– Financial Services– Information Technology– Biomedical

Creating a Plan

Planning Phase completed by a 70-member Leadership Group

• SponsorsJoe Carbone, The WorkPlace, Inc.Joseph Hankin, Westchester Community College

• Co-chairsChris Bruhl, The Business Council of Fairfield County

Marsha Gordon, The Business Council of WestchesterWilliam Mooney, Westchester County Association

• A balanced group of leaders in their field representing business and business organizations, education, workforce development, economic development, and community organizations.

Goals and Key Strategies

• Goal 1: Create an integrated, regionally-based talent development system linking education, workforce and economic development system partners in a seamless collaboration with regional employers.– Enhance the region’s workforce service delivery systems with coordinated

decision making, and programming.– Provide information on projected workforce gaps in high growth industries.– Create awareness of the WIRED Talent for Growth CT-NY initiative

throughout the region.– Increase business participation and support of education and training

initiatives for careers in high growth industries.– Build a regional value proposition for the continued generation of

resources that support innovation, entrepreneurship, and job creation, and retention.

– Position the Talent for Growth CT-NY initiative for sustainability after the grant period.

Goals and Key Strategies (cont.)

• Goal 2: Prepare a pipeline of skilled workers to support both core and innovation-intensive industry sectors targeted by the region.

– Collaborate with Education Systems on efforts to prepare students for careers in both core and innovation intensive industries.

– Create skills training programs in targeted industries for unemployed, incumbent, at risk, disadvantaged, and youth and adults.

Goals and Key Strategies (cont.)

• Goal 3: Connect to and leverage existing infrastructure initiatives to enhance regional productivity, increasing mobility and connectivity for workers and employers throughout the region.

– Create a positive impact on regional mobility.– Seek and identify ways to enhance employer use of

transportation demand management as a means of improving mobility and workforce productivity.

– Quantify and understand our current Information and Communications Technology Infrastructure.

Goals and Key Strategies (cont.)

• Goal 4: Develop a culture of innovation and entrepreneurship throughout our partnership and our broader Region.

– Identify and support the development of critical skills that will allow both business and individuals in the region to be increasingly innovative, especially in the targeted innovation intensive industries of Financial Services, IT and Biomedical.

– Create a system that supports entrepreneurial activity and small business growth.

– Develop programs to engage in-school and out-of-school youth, in innovation and entrepreneurship.

– Develop processes to support innovation in the local economy.– Support the strengthening of technology transfer and

commercialization in the region.– Coordinate regional technology councils initiatives to align strategically

with the region on opportunities for economic growth.

Talent DevelopmentEducational Preparation– Career Fairs– Expand School-to-Career Programs– STEM initiatives to address

Science, Technology, Engineering and Math skill development

Adult and Youth Training Programs

– Basic Skills– Apprenticeships– Career AcademiesEntrepreneurship training and

support programs

Innovation An established system for developing

and sustaining a culture of innovation and entrepreneurship

Infrastructure for a stronger workforce development system– Regional Workforce Investment

Board collaborative – Regional Workforce Plan with

asset map and gap analysis– Pipeline of skilled workers to

support talent needs of core and innovative-intensive industries

– Initiatives for improving the current Information and Communications Infrastructure

Regional Data Portal providing timely and accurate information on industry, career opportunities, workforce gaps, entrepreneurship support and economic development

Planned Initiatives

Network of leaders build relationships, create platform for collaboration (workforce +++)

Youth Project

• Combining proven programs/strategies• Building on CareerConnections-CT• Utilizing NY CareerZone• Collaborate with regional K-16 entities• Adding e-mentoring, financial literacy,

IDAs, internet tools, credentials• Bridgeport/Yonkers initiative

Implementation Plan Focused On:

• Lack of skilled workforce to replace retiring workers

• Skill development needs of a large immigrant, minority and underemployed population

• Create a culture for innovation and provide opportunity for higher-skilled workers

• Breakdown the silos of business, education, and economic development – create an environment for these three institutions to work together and address common issues

Progress To Date

• Implementation Plan Approved by U. S. DOL• Governance Structure defined and activated• Communications Plan created and implemented• Regional WIB Collaborative established• Training and Regional Work Plan proposals being

reviewed

Worth Noting

• Endorsements– U. S. Senators Christopher J. Dodd and Joseph I.

Lieberman– U. S. Senators Hillary Rodham Clinton and Charles E.

Schumer– Westchester County Executive Andrew J. Spano

• On-line data tools for workforce & economic analysis– WITS, Innovation Economy 360, EMSI

• JPMorgan Chase Foundation Grant– $100K for regional School-to-Career program

• Disability Services Research Grant – $400K for regional assessment of needs & resources

Spreading the Word

• 5 Town Hall Meetings– 3 in Connecticut, 2 in New York– Informed community– Attended by more than 100 people

• 2 Collaboration Workshops for Providers– Assist potential training program bidders to

establish collaborative– Attended by more than 150 people

Building a Network

• 800 individuals on distribution list.• Business Council of Westchester,

Westchester County Association, and Business Council of Fairfield County are distributing information to their lists and covering initiative in their publications

• E-Newsletters to stakeholders

Governance

Objectives• Fiscal Management• Broad involvement and support by

regional partners • Collaboration between the three

Workforce Investment Boards • Continued cultivation of a dynamic social

network of regional leaders

Governance (cont.)

The WorkPlace Inc., Board of Directors• Fiscal agent • Administration and Reporting- Quarterly to U.S.DOL• Approve funding

Talent for Growth Steering CommitteeSubcommittee of The WorkPlace, Inc. Board of Directors

• Oversee transformational vision• Review and recommend projects for funding• Ensure activities are aligned with the Implementation Plan• Recommend project initiatives

Governance (cont.)

Leadership Advisory CouncilFoundation for action through social networking

• Provide supply-side resources including serving on working committees critical to carrying out the Plan goals and strategies

• Identify opportunities for leveraging project resources and retaining assets from the broader community.

• Recommend WIRED/T4G program opportunities to the Steering Committee

• Provide transformational vision• Promote regional collaboration through leadership

and advocacy

Governance (cont.)

Regional WIB Collaborative

Made up of the 3 regional Workforce Investment Boards- Southwestern CT, Westchester/Putnam County and the City of Yonkers.

• Operate under a common platform for services• Coordinate regional workforce research and studies• Share industry and occupational projections• Share best practices• Develop responses to workforce gaps in the targeted industry

clusters.• Provide support• Apply for grants to support initiatives.

US DOL

CT DOL

WorkPlace Board of Directors

WIRED Leadership Advisory Group

WIRED Steering Committee

WIB Organization

SW ConnecticutPutnam County

Westchester CountyYonkers

Subcommittee Subcommittee Subcommittee

WorkPlace Executive Committee

Talent for GrowthOrganization Chart

The WorkPlace, Inc.

OperationsFunding

Next Steps - Timeline

June 2008

Up to $900,000 in training grants to be awarded Contract for Regional Work Plan to be awarded

July 2008Training BeginsWorking Committees Meet

September 2008 Next training RFP released

Fall 2008Youth Summit to be held/Youth programs to beginSchool-to-Career program beginsRegional Business Summit to be heldAdditional training grants to be awarded

To be completed within 3 years:

Innovative community based programs to support Innovative community based programs to support talent development.talent development.

Educational institutions and businesses working Educational institutions and businesses working together to build programs to meet employment together to build programs to meet employment needs. needs.

A regional WIB organization to address the needs of A regional WIB organization to address the needs of job seekers and businesses.job seekers and businesses.

A social network of business, economic development, A social network of business, economic development, workforce, and education partners workingworkforce, and education partners working

together together to provide an ongoing supply of skilled to provide an ongoing supply of skilled workers.workers.

Keys To Success

• Research-based, knowledge of other programs• Build on the best of the best and build to last• Design with participants and partners• Internet and technology focus• Use of www.workforce3one and other resources• Emphasize collaboration, innovation,

transformation• Commitment to continuous improvement• Stakeholders and elected officials support• Become leader• Document and share outcomes

Questions & Comments

Donnovan Beckford- dpb1@westchestergov.com

Charlie Bruno- cbrunowib@yahoo.comDiana Napier- dnapier@workplace.org