Jul162015
InnovationCommunities that Work PartnershipAspen Institute Workforce Strategies Initiative (AspenWSI)Skills for Business
Posted at 5:08 PM
Ensuring a strong and skilled workforce is critical to America’s continued economic competitiveness. For the first time, the Department of Commerce has made skills and workforce development a priority. Through the Department’s “Skills for Business” initiative, Commerce collaborates with private sector, academic, economic development, and government leaders at all levels to prepare workers with the skills needed to fill 21st century jobs.
As part of this effort, Secretary Pritzker joined Aspen Institute President and CEO Walter Isaacson in late April to launch the Communities that Work Partnership. The Partnership, a joint project of the Workforce Strategies Initiative (AspenWSI) of the Economic Opportunities Program at the Aspen Institute, and the Department’s Economic Development Administration (EDA), focuses on accelerating industry-led workforce development and training efforts.
AspenWSI will lead the initiative through a $500,000 grant, which EDA has funded and awarded for the very first time. Through the selection of teams from around the country, the Department will work through the Partnership to provide in-person and virtual technical assistance and leadership development activities by engaging national experts in these fields. This initiative will help strengthen regional skills development strategies that meet both businesses’ and workers’ needs.
Yesterday, Secretary Pritzker announced the selection of seven regional site teams to participate in the Partnership. They are, by Lead Agency:
- Arizona Commerce Authority, Arizona Technology Council, Cox Communications,
- Western Alliance Bank (Greater Phoenix area)
- Bay Area Video Coalition, City and County of San Francisco Office of Economic and Workforce Development, CBS Corporation, Work2Future/Silicon Valley/San Jose Workforce Investment Board (San Francisco area)
- Buffalo Niagara Partnership, Erie County Executive Office, National Grid (Buffalo-Niagara Falls area)
- Greater Houston Partnership, San Jacinto College, United Way of Greater Houston, Gulf Coast Workforce Solutions (Greater Houston area)
- Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments, Greater Washington Board of Trade, Prince George’s County Department of the Environment, Anacostia River Initiative/Federal City Council, Anacostia Waterfront Trust (Greater Washington, DC, area)
- National Domestic Workers Alliance, National Employment Law Project, Hand in Hand (New York City)
- Northwest Georgia Regional Workforce Partnership, J+J Flooring Group, Technical
- College System of Georgia, Greater Dalton Chamber of Commerce (Northwest Georgia)
The seven teams are set to begin a 15-month intensive accelerated learning exchange designed around each region’s pursuit of job-driven talent development strategies to promote economic growth. In the fall of 2016, a number of nationally distributed publications will outline systems-change process and lessons learned among the seven regional site teams to ensure that other communities can also apply best practices.
By learning how networks of local leaders are working in new ways across traditional silos to build more effective regional workforce initiatives, the Department will help to influence and guide similar strategies to keep American businesses competitive in the 21st century economy. To learn more about Commerce’s partnership with AspenWSI on the CTW initiative, visithttp://www.aspenwsi.org/communities-that-work/overview/.
