LEARNING ABOUT STATE SECTOR STRATEGIES
| On October 29, EDGE co-sponsored a Learning Session on Sector Strategies with the California Workforce Investment Board (CWIB) in Sacramento. More than 80 leaders participated in the day-long session - including CWIB members, state officials, legislative staff, and local workforce board members - to learn about how states can support focused, comprehensive initiatives at the regional level. |  |
Many in California have become quite familiar with industry sector strategies - initiatives that address the workforce needs of specific industries (rather than a single company) that are important to regional economies, while at the same time develop strategies to help lower-skilled workers access career pathways in those industries. This “dual customer” approach has been adopted by many states as meaningful way to unite their economic and workforce development goals at the statewide level. Most importantly, these state initiatives are a way that states can support regions in bringing together the different parts of their education and training systems to address industry needs.
While many WIBs, community colleges, labor/management partnerships and community organizations in California have effectively worked in industry sectors for years, there is little state funding or policy in California to encourage and support this kind of collaboration at the regional level. The California Workforce Investment Board is actively realigning its work to better support sector-based workforce development, including the formation of a Green Jobs Council under recently approved legislation. EDGE was invited to help the CWIB convene a learning session about how other states are successfully supporting sector work.
The session featured three experts on statewide sector strategies. Larry Good, Chairman of the Corporation for a Skilled Workforce, reviewed how more than a dozen other states are supporting regional sector work. Eleni Papadakis, Executive Director of the Washington Workforce Training and Education Coordinating Board, and Kris Stadelman, CEO of the Workforce Development Council of Seattle-King County, gave their on-the-ground perspective based on their experience implementing Industry Skill Panels in Washington State. Participants then reflected on the information provided and identified top priorities for capacity-building in table discussions.
Evaluations after the event revealed that participants found the learning session to be very valuable and particularly appreciated hearing about lessons learned from other states and regions and are eager to see more state-level support for sector strategies. EDGE will continue to work with the CWIB, local leaders, and others to develop more awareness of the effectiveness of state-level support for regional sector strategies.
Additional documents:
- Learning Session Agenda [PDF]
- Presentation: Sector Strategy Implementation in Other States, Larry Good [PDF]
- Presentation: “Washington’s Sector Cluster Strategy,” Eleni Papadakis [PDF]
- Presentation: “Sector Panels at the Local Level,” Kris Stadelman [PowerPoint Show]
- “Skills for the Next Washington: A Statewide Strategy for Industry Cluster Development,” Washington Workforce Training and Education Coordinating Board, October 2008 [PDF]
- “Industry Clusters of Opportunity User Guide,” California Economic Strategy Panel, September 2008 [PDF]
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With thanks to the following funders: |