Chamber Happenings

How to Develop, Implement and Maintain an Effective Workforce Development Program:

Workforce development generally involves three dimensions: 1. Long-term training; degree or certificate training targeting high wage careers, 2. Short-term training: employability and technical skills for quick entry into employment, and 3. Basic education; literacy, ESL, GED, and other foundation skills. This session will explore all aspects of the workforce development process, from the initial needs analysis to the final delivery of educational programs and training services. Also included in the discussion will be the resources (public and private) as well as how to access relevant government initiatives and incentives (local, state, and federal) that are often essential to initiating and sustaining effective workforce development programs.

Program Deliverables:

• Articulate what constitutes an effective and customized workforce development program.

• Understand the increasingly important role higher education institutions play in promoting workforce development.

• Address the unique needs of lower-skilled, lower-wage workers and job seekers through the provision of specific educational and work-readiness programs.

• Identify and utilize government resources at all levels in order to secure the resources needed to successfully develop and implement workforce development programs.

• Assess the efficacy of workforce development initiatives and keep programs and services responsive to the evolving needs of the communities they serve.