Workforce Development

These programs and projects focus on labor force analysis, providing workforce services to isolated communities, dislocated workers and upgrading job training facilities. The resulting studies and services give communities labor information for attracting business relocation and expansions.

Northeast Georgia Regional Development Center and the region’s 12-county workforce investment board expanded access to one-stop centers when they dispatched the Northeast Georgia Workforce Development Mobile Labs. The two mobile labs, large camper-like vehicles, contain computer workstations, copier/fax machines, cell phones, VCR/TVs and counseling areas for customer interviews. The labs are loaded with workforce related software. The labs have provided on-site assistance at more than 15 plant closures and summer youth employment worksites.

Northeast Georgia RDC Mobile Workforce Lab.

The Northern Kentucky Area Development District made a workforce investment for the future when it created the Northern Kentucky Executive Search Service. The service assists cities, counties, nonprofit agencies and special districts with recruitment of highly qualified persons to serve in key organizational roles. Funding comes from service fees (averaging $3,500) and is subsidized by the development district. Placements already made include police chiefs and public safety center directors.

The magnitude of South Delta Planning and Development District, Inc.’s Model Workforce Investment Network in Mississippi continues to grow. Construction of a $1,000,000 job center building in Tunica County led to construction of its two computer classrooms containing 60 computers with funds from the Delta Workforce Investment Area and a governor’s workforce innovation award. In addition, the workforce investment network is renovating a building to house a full-service dislocated workers center for the entire district.

Missouri’s Meramec Regional Partnership 20-County Labor Study was led by Meramec Regional Planning Commission with support from U.S. Department of Agriculture and U.S. Economic Development Administration grants and local matches from 24 partnering entities. A consultant was hired to conduct wage/benefit, employer, workforce and education/training surveys and provide demographic analysis. Fifty-six reports were generated. Some results revealed ample workforce availability, wages were reasonable or competitive and employers rated worker attitudes and productivity very high.

The North Country Council, in rural New Hampshire, conducted the North Country Labor Utilization Study to develop a labor supply-side strategy and reevaluate the region’s (51 towns) labor force status. The study identified labor shortages and explored the level of underemployment and volume of non-livable wage jobs, according to worker satisfaction, labor skills and education. Results of the study have been quoted in the governor’s economic development strategy.

Northeast Georgia Regional Development Center, Northeast Georgia Workforce Development Mobile Labs. Contact: James Dove, 305 Research Dr., Athens, GA 30605-2795; 706/369-5650; fax 706/369-5792; email jimdove@negrdc.org;
web www.negrdc.org