Promoting Regional Economies Virtual Policy Academy Webinar 2 of 3

Presenters Lindsey Woolsey and Tammy Coxen Corporation for a Skilled Workforce Jim Torrens National Network of Sector Partners Martin Simon and Erin Andrew NGA Center for Best Practices Danielle Calabrese Pennsylvania Workforce Investment Board Laura Spivey North Carolina Department of Commerce

Virtual Policy Academy States CA DE ID LA MO MT NM UT VI WY

US Virgin Islands

Remaining Webinar Sustainability and Impact Thursday, August 27, 2:00 – 3:30 PM Eastern

Todays Focus Promoting Regional EconomiesFunding Strategies & SustainabilityData-Driven Decision-MakingAligning Resources and Strategies

Promoting Regional EconomiesFunding Strategies & SustainabilityData-Driven Decision-MakingAligning Resources and Strategies Focus:

Economies Are Regional CC photo credit: cmarshall726cmarshall726

Where the Rubber Hits the Road

The state should set the vision and framework and provide tools and technical assistance to the regions; then the state should get out of the way and let the regions implement their initiatives.

State Roles Distribute funds to regionsSupport definition of regionsProvide regionalized dataIdentify and remove barriers

PA: Industry Partnerships Industry Partnerships in Pennsylvania, Pennsylvania Workforce Development

State Roles Distribute funds to regionsSupport definition of regionsProvide regionalized dataIdentify and remove barriers

State Roles Distribute funds to regionsSupport definition of regionsProvide regionalized dataIdentify and remove barriers

State Roles Distribute funds to regionsSupport definition of regionsProvide regionalized dataIdentify and remove barriers

MN

MI: Regional Skills Alliances

PA: Industry Partnerships Industry Partnerships in Pennsylvania, Pennsylvania Workforce Development

What you told us…

Promoting Regional EconomiesFunding Strategies & SustainabilityData-Driven Decision-MakingAligning Resources and Strategies Focus:

CC photo credit: marettesyndromemarettesyndrome Funding

Building Capacity CC photo credit: gsussekgsussek

State Roles Distribute funds to regionsRequire matchesRealign state resourcesSecure general funds

State Roles Distribute funds to regionsRequire matchesRealign state resourcesSecure general funds

State Roles Distribute funds to regionsRequire matchesRealign state resourcesSecure general funds

WIA cannot and should not design, fund, and implement sector strategies by itself.

State Roles Distribute funds to regionsRequire matchesRealign state resourcesSecure general funds

How do we ensure consistency in performance across regions and how do we coordinate regional efforts and statewide efforts?

Can you tell us more about skill sector panels as a component of a state sector strategy?

WA: Industry Skill Panels Washington States Industry Sector Initiative: Industry Skill Panels, Washington Training and Education Coordinating Board

WA: Industry Skill Panels From Evaluating Industry Skill Panels: A Model Framework, by PAROS Group and Corporation for a Skilled Workforce

Leveraging State Investments: Four Skill Panels (Washington State)

What you told us….

Promoting Regional EconomiesFunding Strategies & SustainabilityData-Driven Decision-MakingAligning Resources and Strategies Focus:

Using Data to Drive Decision-Making CC photo credit: fragmentedfragmented

Data-Driven Decision Making Sector initiatives need a deep understanding of industries, occupations, workers, and regional labor markets States play a key part in collecting and providing data to regions, and establishing guidelines for data use

State Roles States are both data users and data producers As data users, states use may data to: – identify target industries or occupations for the state, – determine funding regions – evaluate regional applications for funding The states role as data producer is critical to regional sector initiatives both pre- and post- funding, as they seek to better understand and engage with their target industries

State Roles Using data to specify target industries and occupations for the state as a whole – PA identified nine sectors and priority occupations within them – NC targeted allied health care as the states initial sector of focus Providing data and analysis on specific industries statewide – OK produced detailed reports about the Aerospace and Health Care industries – CO produced guidebooks to five of the states key industries to be used by sector intermediaries

State Roles Providing data to regions to identify target industries and occupations – MI provided each workforce investment area with a regional profile for industry targeting to aid the regions in identifying their target industries – CO produced an industry targeting report for each MSA in the state and a guide on how to access and use the states LMI website to obtain data for industry targeting

State Roles Customizing data offerings to accommodate unusual geographic or industry clusters – KS & MO collaborated on an industry profile for a joint WIRED region – OR built a custom website for its WIRED region which includes data reports for each targeted industry cluster Providing regional labor market analysts to assist regions – MN has funded six regional labor market analyst positions to provide regions with accessible expertise, analysis services, training, and presentations on LMI

Tips Package data and analysis for laymenAccommodate real labor market regionsReview data regularlyUse data for credibility and buy-in

Tips Package data and analysis for laymenAccommodate real labor market regionsReview data regularlyUse data for credibility and buy-in

Tips for Effective Data-Driven Decision Making Package data and analysis for laymenAccommodate real labor market regionsReview data regularlyUse data for credibility and buy-in

Tips for Effective Data-Driven Decision Making Package data and analysis for laymenAccommodate real labor market regionsReview data regularlyUse data for credibility and buy-in

What about data-driven decisions with regards to promoting sector solutions to the state legislature for future funding resources?

What you told us….

Promoting Regional EconomiesFunding Strategies & SustainabilityData-Driven Decision-MakingAligning Resources and Strategies Focus:

Aligning Resources CC photo credit: scottamusscottamus

Alignment: What does it mean? It does not mean policy integration It means finding common ground and common goals across state systems It means recognizing where policies, protocols, processes and service delivery can be coordinated toward common goals

Alignment: Why it Matters If you expect your regions to do it, shouldnt state systems too? When state systems coordinate, local service providers have it a lot easier Because industry and worker success is too big of a task for one system to do alone Because end-users (jobseekers and businesses) dont care which system serves them, just as long as they get what they need

Reality Check Anecdotal evidence suggests that alignment too often does not happen at state and local (and lets not forget national!) levels It means stepping out of your day-to-day work Its hard work and takes time It also takes dedicated staff and leadership from the Governor or Cabinet-level administrators

So How do States Align across Systems? Some Basic tools: – Reach out and talk – Start with a specific initiative or set of naturally aligned policy priorities – Use Leadership to get folks to the table The Power Tools: – Use your Labor Market Information Data – Use your $: blend, braid, leverage – Common Performance Measures*

The Power Tools for Alignment CC photo credit: MNilgen

The Power Tools for Alignment LMI Data Economic and workforce data – use to reach common ground Imagine: Economic Development, Workforce, and Education all using the same LMI and asking same questions – what are our critical industries that offer good jobs? What skills level is our population currently at? Where are the gaps? Powerful way to coordinate how multiple public resources are focused and spent Effective way to identify common goals that diverse systems and programs can jointly work toward Funding Name any funding source, and well find a sector partnership using it.* Here are Sources that Some States Use WIA Discretionary Funds State Appropriations/General Revenue Incumbent worker training Adult education WIA Incentive funds WIRED grants, other DOL grants Post-secondary education TANF Philanthropic Foundations Partnership Contributions Wagner Peyser

The Big Tent CC photo credit: Brian Finifter

The Big Tent Sector Strategies provide a focus so that various policies, programs, resources and strategies can be leveraged and aligned. Demand-Side StrategiesSupply-Side Strategies Economic Development agencies Small Business Development Business Services in many places! Workforce Boards Workforce Departments Community/technical colleges Career technical programs Adult education One-stops Community college programs Career Technical programs Private training programs Community based organizations Career pathway programs Apprenticeships How do workers and businesses know where to go for what?

Some Examples Aligning Big Initiatives Minnesota is aligning its sector strategy approach with its Shifting Gears initiative Michigan similarly is integrating its sector strategies with its No Worker Left Behind Initiative Georgia is using its sector strategy approach to also build its Work Ready Regions Integrating Strategies Oregon connects its sector strategies to its industry cluster strategy Kentucky aligns its sector partnerships with its strong focus on demand-driven career pathway approaches and focus on TANF clients Washington aligns its Skill Panels with Community College Centers of Excellence, I-BEST programs, and industry clusters

What you told us….

Next Webinar Sustainability and Impact Thursday, August 27 2:00 – 3:30 PM Eastern Look for your webinar invitation soon!