Workforce Development

These projects found solutions to the problems of workforce training and growth among a region’s youth, dislocated workers and underemployed. Drawing on partnerships, these project leaders are stemming outmigration and training a workforce for the future.

As part of a collaborative partnership among education, community and business leaders, Kentucky’s Cumberland Valley Area Development District established the Jackson County Urban and Rural Opportunities Grant (UROG)/ School-to-Work Program to serve all students in career training and guidance. Business partners contribute to making the curriculum an active learning experience by offering employment opportunities for work experience and giving guidance to school-based enterprises for entrepreneurial experience. Career talks, job shadowing and industry tours are among the many activities offered through the cooperating partners.

The Lincoln Trail Area Development District in rural Kentucky and partners started the Nelson County Training Consortium (NELCO) Bluegrass Skills Grant project in response to the closure of two long-time companies and the realization that re-entry into the workforce for many of the 300 dislocated workers would require them to go through retraining. NELCO received state and local funding to assist with short-term training, college tuition reimbursement and on-the-job training for some 120 workers. NELCO is expected to remain an active collaboration as a preventive measure for future dislocated worker incidents.

The Make It “Home” Resume Database project, coordinated by northeastern Minnesota’s Iron Range Resources and Rehabilitation Board, was founded on the principles of stopping the region’s outmigration and allowing job seekers to easily find work in the region and remain at “home.” The project links the region’s employers with resident job seekers and former residents wanting to return to the region. Job seekers list their resumes at Iron Range’s website. Employers can browse the resume listings and make requests for contact information. In one year, over 780 individuals registered resumes and over 70 businesses requested resumes.

The Brazos Valley Development Council of Governments in Texas took a high-tech approach to offering accurate workforce service information when they co-sponsored TexasOne - Online Social Services for Workforce Development. The project developed a website, www.texasone.com, giving individuals an online opportunity to search and apply for employment services. Online applications are offered. Program staff can log on to the “program” side of TexasOne and consult with applicants about forwarding their application to other programs for additional services.

Award Winners Jackson County UROG/ School-to-Work Program, Cumberland Valley ADD. Contact: Betty W. Calhoun, PO Box 1740, London, KY 40743; (606) 864-7391; fax (606) 878-7361; email bettyc@cvadd.org; web www.cvadd.org NELCO Bluegrass Skills Grant - Dislocated Worker Retraining Workforce Development, Lincoln Trail ADD. Contact: John L. Horton, 1060 Bloomfield Rd., Bardstown, KY 40004; (502) 348-9096; fax (502) 348-9097; email johnl.Horton@mail.state.ky.us

Make It Home Resume Database, Iron Range Resources and Rehabilitation Board. Contact: Lori Spielman, PO Box 441, Hwy. 53, Eveleth, MN 55734; (218) 744-7400; fax (218) 744-7402; email lori.spielman@irrrb.org; web www.irrrb.org TexasOne - Online Social Services for Workforce Development, Brazos Valley Development COG. Contact: Angie Alaniz, PO Drawer 4128, Bryan, TX 77805-4128; (979) 775-4244; fax (979) 775-3466; email aalaniz@bvcog.org; web www.bvcog.org

August Index | Back Page | Next Page