Colleges win $20 million healthcare grant

September 28, 2011 By

Gov. Jay Nixon announced today that Missouri community colleges will invest $20 million through MoHealthWINS, a statewide effort to educate 4,600 more Missourians for health care jobs and careers. Under Gov. Nixon’s leadership, Missouri’s 12 community colleges and Linn State Technical College collaborated with the Missouri Department of Economic Development and the state’s Workforce Investment Boards to apply for these federal funds to retrain unemployed Missourians for jobs and careers in growing health care fields.

The colleges estimate that MoHealthWINS will provide educational opportunities for approximately 4,600 additional Missourians. The grant specifically targets unemployed adult learners who are seeking new career opportunities.

“From the moment I became Governor, we have worked closely with Missouri’s outstanding community colleges to train more Missourians for the jobs and careers of tomorrow and to get folks back to work,” Gov. Nixon said. “Missouri’s health care industry is growing quickly, and hospitals, clinics and other employers need more nurses, lab techs and other workers with the right education and skills today. By expanding educational opportunities for Missourians in these fields, we’ll open the door for employment for more folks and keep our economy growing. This is a strategic investment in the growth of our economy and the future of our state.”

Individual colleges will use these funds to develop or expand training programs in the health services and health sciences industry, which is a targeted industry under the Missouri Strategic Initiative for Economic Growth. The application focused on this industry because it offers immediate and long-term employment opportunities and relatively high-wage jobs. Training will target specific occupations within this industry, including:

  • Health information technologist
  • Information systems
  • Certified nursing aide
  • Certified medical technician
  • Licensed practical nurse
  • Associate nursing degree
  • Pharmacy technician
  • Hearing instrument technician
  • Medical lab technician
  • Phlebotomist
  • Radiologic technician
  • Maintenance technician
  • Mechanical technician

These competitive funds were made available under the U.S. Department of Labor’s Trade Adjustment Assistance Community College and Career Training Grant Program. When the grant process was announced, Gov. Nixon brought Missouri’s community colleges together to submit a joint, comprehensive application. In the application, the colleges looked for ways to develop collaborative and targeted programs that would capitalize on the unique resources of each college, avoid duplication, and save money. Colleges will share equipment and faculty, emphasize online and distance learning and take other steps to expand access, improve efficiency and reduce redundancy.

Throughout the application process, senior leaders within Gov. Nixon’s administration worked closely with community college and Workforce Investment Board leaders to develop and craft the grant application. In April 2011, Gov. Nixon submitted a strong letter in support of the application, noting that this investment supplemented his “Big Goal” for higher education: Increasing the percentage of Missourians who hold a postsecondary credential from 37 percent to 60 percent by 2020. Gov. Nixon also discussed the importance of this application directly with federal leaders, including Education Secretary Arne Duncan.

“This grant is a major step forward for our community colleges in our efforts to expand opportunities for adult students across this state,” said Zora Mulligan, executive director of the Missouri Community College Association. “Throughout this process, Gov. Nixon has been a steadfast partner, and his leadership was instrumental in making our application so successful. We look forward to continuing to work closely with Gov. Nixon and with the state’s Workforce Investment Boards to turn this grant into real learning opportunities for folks in every corner of Missouri.”

Gov. Nixon will visit several community colleges in the coming days to detail specific programs that will be developed or expanded as a result of this grant.

Filed Under: Featured, Training & Education

Popular summer jobs program returns for 2011

January 7, 2011 By

Gov. Jay Nixon visited Finger Lakes State Park December 30th to provide details for the return in 2011 of the highly successful State Parks Youth Corps (SPYC) program, which the Governor initiated last February. In 2010, the SPYC program, a cooperative partnership between the Division of Workforce Development, local WIBs, and the Division of State Parks, provided employment for young people performing vital maintenance, restoration and research projects to enhance Missouri’s 85 state parks and historic sites.

The State Parks Youth Corps and Gov. Nixon were recognized in September with the President’s Award from the National Association of State Parks Directors for the innovative program. The Governor said the SPYC program carried several benefits, and that its return in 2011 would again be a boost for youth employment and for Missouri state parks and historic sites.

“At a time when it has been particularly difficult for young people to find employment, the SPYC program put money in the pockets of working families and helped further beautify our outstanding system of state parks and historic sites,” Gov. Nixon said. “I look forward to the next group of SPYC workers building on the success of the first year, and encourage anyone interested to apply online, beginning in February.”

At Finger Lakes State Park, the Governor saw examples of the work done by the SPYC team. Last summer they assisted parks staff in building the Kelley Branch Trail, a 2.25-mile loop trail for mountain bikers and hikers that is expected to open in spring 2011. SPYC workers returning next year will enhance and maintain the trail. While mountain biking has been allowed on the off-road vehicle trails throughout Finger Lakes, this will be the first trail open to hikers.

The Governor said that the 2011 State Parks Youth Corps will employ Missourians between ages 17 and 21, and will run between April 1 and Nov. 30. Applications will be accepted online beginning Feb. 1; a link to the application and information about the program will be provided on the state of Missouri website, mo.gov.

“The State Parks Youth Corps was a tremendous benefit for our state parks and historic sites,” said Bill Bryan, director of the Division of State Parks. “They brought a new energy to our state park system and, most importantly, they helped us enhance and improve our facilities for everyone to enjoy.”

In 2010, State Parks Youth Corps members did a variety of tasks from routine maintenance work and trail construction to interpretation and social media efforts. Examples include painting buildings and repairing roofs and windows; planting trees and maintaining landscapes; building and maintaining trails; inventorying historic artifacts and native plant species; assisting in offices and visitor centers and providing seasonal interpretation.

Throughout the year, SPYC workers put in more than 187,500 hours at the parks, including roofing 25 buildings; painting structures using 2,000 gallons of paint; signing and blazing almost 650 miles of trail in 58 parks and sites; and developing 145 videos for the state park website.

The State Parks Youth Corps has been compared to the Civilian Conservation Corps, which developed much of the Missouri state park system in the 1930s. Many of the buildings the State Parks Youth Corps repaired this year were built by the CCC.

“There are many benefits to this program but those who benefit the most are the people who come to visit Missouri state parks,” Gov. Nixon said. “Missouri state parks are truly a treasure, and we must do what we can to preserve and protect them for future generations.”

 

Filed Under: Initiatives, Training & Education

Workforce among top priorities in statewide strategy draft

December 2, 2010 By

Workforce Development is prominent in the strategies drafted statewide to advance the economic development efforts throughout Missouri. Missouri’s initiative to identify the tools and industries that will transform the state’s economy for the 21st Century reached an important milestone today, as the Strategic Initiative for Economic Growth submitted its initial recommendations to Gov. Jay Nixon.

“To compete in the 21st-century economy, Missouri must strategically review where we are investing our resources to create the jobs of tomorrow,” Gov. Nixon said. “Refining our economic-development efforts to ensure the best return on investment is what this strategic initiative is all about. I applaud Director David Kerr and the hundreds of leaders from the private sector, educational institutions and economic-development organizations who are stepping forward to share their insights and expertise through this process. The final result truly will be a roadmap to jobs, economic growth and prosperity for years to come.”

Following recent focus groups held in regional quadrants across Missouri, the project solicited white papers from various channel leaders to help guide the steering committee. The initiative now has 40 white papers across a wide array of economic development categories with two position papers specifically on workforce development and an additional eight on education.

Launched in May, Gov. Nixon established the strategic initiative to develop a five-year economic roadmap for Missouri. Under the leadership of Director of Economic Development David Kerr and an executive advisory board of private-sector leaders, the initiative today submitted its preliminary strategic objectives to Gov. Nixon.

When he announced the planning initiative, Gov. Nixon instructed the steering committee to submit a set of preliminary objectives to spark growth in targeted industries by Dec. 1. Over the next three months, the steering committee will develop detailed tactical plans, which could include legislative and policy proposals, to carry out each of the eight broad objectives identified by the group.

Eight strategic objectives

• Missouri will attract, develop and retain a workforce with the education and skills to succeed in a 21st-Century economy

• Missouri will support its local economic-development organizations in the retention and expansion of existing businesses and employers

• Missouri will optimize its tax, incentive and regulatory policies to best support the growth of high-value target business sectors

• Missouri will invest in technology and innovation to attract, launch and sustain the growth companies of the future

• Missouri will aggressively market the state to domestic and select international audiences

• Missouri will develop a best-in-class foreign trade initiative

• Missouri will develop a culture that encourages small- and minority-business development and entrepreneurship

• Missouri will provide the infrastructure necessary for companies and communities to be successful

Based on the data they have reviewed, the members of the steering committee believe these strategic objectives are important steps to create a business climate conducive for the development of the high-growth industries of the future, including:

• Advanced Manufacturing, including transportation equipment, aerospace and defense

• Energy Solutions

• Bioscience, including plant and agricultural technology; companion- and feed-animal science; and biomedical

• Health Sciences and Services, including health care innovation, services and sciences;

• Information Technology, including software, hardware, systems design and data centers

• Financial and Professional Services

• Transportation and Logistics, including freight haulers, warehousing and wholesalers

The final plan will outline specific steps Missouri should take to create jobs in these industries over the next five years.

“As Governor, my top priority is creating jobs and putting Missourians to work in the high-demand industries of the 21st Century,” Gov. Nixon said. “By focusing on these critical industries, we are laying a granite foundation for economic growth in our state.”

The strategic objectives are the product of three meetings of the statewide steering committee and six regional planning forums, which took place in every region of Missouri in September. The next step in the planning process will involve a second series of regional forums, in which local leaders will be asked to help formulate detailed tactical plans to execute the strategic objectives. Those regional meetings will take place in early January.

After the second round of regional meetings, the statewide steering committee and executive advisory board will finalize the detailed tactical plans. Those plans will be submitted to Gov. Nixon by March 31, 2011.

“From global giants to one-room start-ups, every successful business has a detailed plan for growth and development,” said David Kerr, director of the Missouri Department of Economic Development. “Missouri should not be any different. To compete against other states and foreign countries for the jobs and investments of tomorrow, we need a clear roadmap of where we’re headed and how we’re going to get there. I encourage the local leaders who took part in our first round of regional forums to participate again in January. We need input from leaders in every industry and every corner of Missouri to make sure our plan is as detailed and comprehensive as possible.”

The members of the initiative’s private-sector executive advisory team are: Ann Marie Baker, UMB, Springfield; Paul Combs, Baker Implement, Kennett; Bill Downey, Kansas City Power & Light, Kansas City; and David Steward, World Wide Technology, St. Louis.

 

Filed Under: Initiatives, Public Policy, Research, Training & Education

Workforce systems examined in economic development statewide strategic planning

November 3, 2010 By

The Strategic Initiative for Economic Growth is a framework geared toward identifying a clear path for advancing Missouri’s economy. As part of the project launched by Gov. Nixon, project leaders engaged representatives from business, labor, higher education, and economic development across the Show-Me State. Following recent focus groups held in regional quadrants across Missouri, the project solicited white papers from various channel leaders to help guide the steering committee. The initiative now has 40 white papers across a wide array of economic development categories with two position papers specifically on workforce development and an additional eight on education.

Jasen Jones, Executive Director for the Southwest Missouri WIB in Joplin, was identified by project leaders to provide input on the workforce development system. Jones authored a white paper entitled, High Octane Workforce Development as a Catalyst for Regional Economic Growth. Jones constructed a logic model that promotes four key policy considerations: integration of outreach and service delivery, cohesive and balanced regional frameworks, diversified and value-added resource development, and building of social and political capital.

Workforce leaders from Missouri’s community colleges jointly submitted a piece titled, A Focused Response to Workforce Training to Support Economic Development and Job Creation. The five recommendations from this white paper included targeted industry strategies, common visioning and plan priorities within regions, additional collaboration among community colleges, Centers of Excellence based on industry sectors and other key disciplines, and established quality standards at community colleges.

The website gateway for the Strategic Initiative for Economic Growth includes links for all 40 of the white papers. Summaries of the strategic planning regional focus groups and lists of committee volunteers may be found online as well in the right hand sidebar of the homepage.

Filed Under: Initiatives, Public Policy, Research, Training & Education

New book proposes disruptive innovation in workforce and business development for sustainable economic recovery

October 6, 2010 By

Reinventing the Workforce & Business Development Center

New Book Proposes A Disruptive Innovation for Sustainable Economic Recovery

In the spring of 2010 over 17% of American Workers were unemployed. To that 17% add the countless others that do not have the needed technical skills to reenter the job market or have lost hope and are no longer actively searching and the actual figure rises to well above 20%. Other workers are underemployed or trying to enter the job market for the first time or to re-enter after several years of separation.

At the same time, the American Entrepreneur is facing a highly unfriendly business environment and wrestling with whether or not their business idea has any staying power. Can their idea make money for them and if so, what is the best way to make it happen? If they think they are putting themselves in harm’s way and at risk of their idea being replicated by an off-shore company, what should they do? What can they do?

For both the American Worker and Entrepreneur, their concern is for their long-term survival in this volatile and unpredictable economy. There are bewildering arrays of career directions to choose from but which ones will still be viable in two, three, or five years? Even though the economy may be rebounding there is a continuing concern for choosing a career path that offers some protection against another weak job market following upon the heels of a repeat of the economic disaster.

This book introduces a disruptive innovation that integrates the career and professional development needs of the American Worker and the business development needs of the American Entrepreneur utilizing a customized Business Incubation Center (BIC) to help them take charge and create sustainable careers and businesses. It is offered as a solution for the worker and entrepreneur to help them develop and execute a strategy to get back in the mainstream of the economy with a sustainable plan.

The target audience for this book includes educators, trainers, human resource managers, career counselors, corporate university program managers, continuing education and workforce development directors and anyone who has a need to design and implement a practical and comprehensive program for career and professional development of the entire workforce so that they are positioned to compete successfully in a technology-based world of work.

Publication information:

  • Workforce & Business Development Center: A Disruptive Innovation for Sustainable Economic Recovery
  • Author: Wysocki, Robert K. (c) 2010
  • Available for purchase online at amazon.com
  • Worcester, MA: EII Publications, ISBN 978-1-933788-36-4
Filed Under: Public Policy, Research, Training & Education

WIBs serve important role in federal policy for innovation

September 13, 2010 By

The Workforce Innovators Network through the Corporation for a Skilled Workforce (CSW) published a report promoting the role of WIBs as conveners for talent development to meet community needs and economic prosperity. The report spotlights examples of high-performing WIBs to make the case for better federal legislation that funds local WIBs to expand the positive impact.

“CSW is not new to the field of promoting excellence in local workforce boards,” noted Jasen Jones, Executive Director of the Southwest Missouri WIB. ”The WIB Quality Benchmarking national body of research published by CSW in 2006 helped set a baseline and chart the progress of our WIB and dozens of others across the country.”

Jones anticipates using the new CSW report as a tool to engage stakeholders in the growing work of the local WIB and the opportunities emerging for federal workforce policy reform. As one of two Missouri representatives in CSW’s Workforce Innovators Network and the current Secretary/Treasurer for Training and Employment Administrators of Missouri, Jones is eager to expand the scope of influence for local WIBs in state and national workforce legislation and resources.

 

Filed Under: Initiatives, Public Policy, Research, Training & Education
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