Upper Cumberland TN Path to Becoming an Intermediary

Presented by Lillian HartgroveHighlands Economic Partnership

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Framework

• Highlands Economic Partnership: 4 Counties– Programs of Work: Economic Development, Health

and Wellness, Workforce Development and Education

– WFD & E Goals Established: Preparing citizens for jobs now and in the future

• Evolution: small committee to full program of work – Steering Committee established– Chair and committee members chosen

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Assessment

• Conducted Drop Out and Labor Studies• Identified Goals to Address Studies • Created Sub-committees for each goal• Selected Sub-committee Chair and members– Employers, K-12, higher education– Meeting frequency and dates– Reporting results and challenges to steering

committee, leadership and investors

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Funding Streams• Campaign: every 4 years• Cash and In-kind (Public and Private Sectors)• Workforce Development Funding– Phase 1 Two grants funded studies ($140,000)

and $3,000 in kind – Phase 2 Two grants ($47,500) and $3,000 in kind – Phase 3 A larger grant ($101,850) for 2 years and

$3,000 in kind

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Staffing• First Funding Campaign: 2006-2009– No dedicated staff– 1/8 FTE allocated

• Second Funding Campaign: 2010-2013– Part time fte allocated 3.5 years– 1.5 ftes allocated for .5 years

• Current Funding Campaign: 2014-2017– 1.5 ftes allocated for 1.5 years (grant)– Remaining 2.5 years uncertain– Future revenue streams uncertain

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Employer Engagement• Began with Board Members and Investors

– Business and Industry Leaders– Hospital CEOs– University President

• Grew from Program of Work Goals and Objectives– Committee members– Advisory boards– Associations (Manufacturing, Human Resources, etc.)

• Expanded by Asking/Inviting Participation– Presentations to associations, civic organizations, and elected

officials– Outlining engagement opportunities

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Intermediary Challenges

• Funding – Stakeholders agree its a high priority – Leave no stone unturned!

• Strategic plan implementation – You can be in the hot seat – Get out of it!

• Stakeholder alignment– Keeping it– Move it forward!

• Long Term Commitment– Results not immediate– Keep the passion!

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Intermediary Challenges

• Meetings and attendance– You can build it but will they come?– Do not give up!

• Group dynamics– Ever changing with new players– Work it!

• Commitment to deadlines– Intricate and often a slippery slope– Whose in the hot seat now?

• Analogy of flying the plane while building it

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Collective Rewards

• Success breeds success

• Contagious passion

• Collaboration and team work

• A lasting difference– Children– Economy– Future

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Questions and Answers