Highlights of the Workforce Development Forum
“Strategic Partnerships for a Competitive Workforce”
Co-Sponsored by the Grand Rapids Area Chamber of Commerce and the
Itasca Economic Development Corporation

Itasca Economic Development Corporation
October 17th, 2006

In June 2006, ten delegates from the greater Itasca County area traveled to Arlington, Texas to examine a national best-practice model for workforce development.  The model integrates the philosophy of strategic partnering through an employer intermediary (such as a Chamber of Commerce) to ensure a quality workforce for the future.  

To advance workforce development in our Greater Minnesota area, Mr. Wes Jurey, President of the Arlington Chamber of Commerce and founder of the model, and Ms. Karen Elzey, Senior Director of the United States Chamber’s Institute for Workforce Preparation, came to Grand Rapids to share information about the model as the Itasca area community embarks on the grassroots development of a state and national model for workforce development in a rural setting.  

Approximately 120 people attended the forum to learn how to become engaged as a strategic partner in this model. 

Key talking points of the forum presentation:

• The changing structure of the economy and its effect on workforce
• Understanding that education equals economic development
• Engaging employers through the organizations that represent them
• Developing strategic partnerships

Highlights of Wes Jurey’s presentation:

• Global competition demands strategic and organizational change
• A quality workforce developed through education and training will define area’s competitiveness
• Strategic partnerships developed to educate, train, attract, and retain a competitive workforce are critical
• Demand for skilled workers will intensify; 42% of U.S. jobs in 2012 will require technical or academic degrees, up from 29% in 2000
• Within two years, the state will have more people older than age 65 than people who are under 65
• Service sectors have the fastest employment growth in nine out of the top ten business sectors
• Jobs in technical fields are growing 5 times faster than other jobs
• Globalization has had major impact: 3 billion new competitors for world’s markets and resources; the U.S. is 5% of the world’s market and currently consumes 26% of the world’s resources
• Most natural resources, people and capital are not in the U.S.
• The internet is the single greatest factor driving and enabling global competition
• Sustainable partnerships must be formed and relationships built at all levels: Employer engagement – integration of employers with public, higher education, adult education, publicly funded workforce investment, voc-tech and post secondary
• Systematic change: organizations must learn to become interdependent upon each other

Who should be engaged?

Employer intermediaries:

• Chamber of Commerce
• Economic Development Corporations
• Trade Associations
• Business Roundtables

      Education/Workforce Investment Systems:

• K-12 Independent School Districts
• Adult Education
• Community College Systems
• Public & Private Universities
• Workforce Investment Boards

What should be done when you engage?

• Plan (collaborate)
• Organize (collaborate)
• Staff (collaborate)
• Direct (collaborate)
• Evaluate (collaborate)

Six things to do:

• Identify and define the stakeholders – they are potential partners
• Define expectations of them and what they can expect from you
• Educate your members, funders, investors, constituents
• Employer organizations provide a structure, organized framework for employer engagement and involvement – use them
• Discuss the money word openly to determine how partnership will be financed
• Get started  

Wes Jurey reviewed suggested next steps for the Grand Rapids community and provided detailed notes to the Grand Rapids Area Chamber of Commerce for the local community to consider.  

Peter McDermott, President of IEDC, reminded the audience participants that Itasca County’s economy is flat and residents made an average of $10,000 less per job than the state of Minnesota in 2004.  Bud Stone, Chamber President, said the Chamber and IEDC want to attract people back to the area who left the area to find work.  Many of these workers would like to return to the area to live and work if the jobs were available.  

Wes Jurey concluded his remarks with a quote from Tom Peters, Author, who said “The successful organizations of the next decade will be those who learn to collaborate and build partnerships.”