SOUTHEAST MISSOURI WIRED REGION MOVING INTO THE FUTURE

GENERAL WIRED GOALS Create and implement a regional strategy that will: –Establish and build a regional vision and identity across political jurisdictions –Leverage and align public and private investments –Transform the regional economy through innovative and effective talent development –Enhance business outreach and stimulate entrepreneurial efforts to increase business investment and create skilled jobs

SUBREGIONAL VISIONING RESULTS: BOOTHEEL Create a regional economic development organization for the WIRED region that also reflects sub-regional differences and has significant business participation. Identify the most effective economic development and workforce development practices in the region and develop a process for sharing these programs among the various organizations involved in the region’s development activity. Improve the quality of life of the communities of the region, incorporating the arts and cultural activities. Availability of high speed broadband telecom throughout the region, especially in rural areas. Educational institutions in the region more flexibly respond to the needs of the changing workplace. Develop undergraduate and graduate programs in the region’s higher education institutions that support high growth economic sectors (e.g., engineering, IT).

SUBREGIONAL VISIONING RESULTS: BOOTHEEL Create an R&D hub in the region for alternative energy, bioscience, and agri-business, starting with a unified vision and strategy for it. Work with youth at an early age to help them appreciate career opportunities and the importance of soft skills. Eliminate barriers to regional development action. Develop a system to promote and educate the region’s public on community and economic development (internal outreach). Develop a “green jobs” training center serving the Midwest. Complete a rail spur into the Port at Caruthersville.

SUBREGIONAL VISIONING RESULTS: BOOTHEEL Work toward east-west Interstate Highway connectivity. More talent development in health care, particularly to serve the growing needs for home care. Expand the base of workers with an integrated knowledge of IT and computer science. More business input on the IT curriculum in local educational institution. Assist regional businesses in becoming more competitive in the global marketplace through increased exporting and business improvement training (ISO 9000, lean manufacturing, Six Sigma). Develop systems to measure workforce skills in the region.

SUBREGIONAL VISIONING RESULTS: CAPE AREA Create entrepreneurial opportunities that take advantage of emerging technologies. Prepare the workforce for the knowledge-based economy focusing on information technology and soft skills. High speed broadband telecom available to everyone in the region. A high level of collaboration between government and business across political jurisdictions. Exploit regional tourism opportunities. Broader vision of transportation in the region. Develop a “green” technology training center of excellence within the region.

SUBREGIONAL VISIONING RESULTS: CAPE AREA Create an educational process to improve regional leadership participation among government, business, and education. Promote career education in the education system. The region should overcome a “defeatist” attitude (“no can do!”). Get higher education more effectively involved with business needs. Expand life-long opportunities. Starting with youth and their parents, work toward changing attitudes about technical work and (e.g., job shadowing).

SUBREGIONAL VISIONING RESULTS: NORTH Improved access to quality health care. Incorporate education role models for lower income students. Stretch the mindset of the education community. State investment in high speed broadband telecommunications. Create programs to improve the attitudes of youth toward skilled trades. Develop “stackable” credentials so that workers can move from certification to degree programs. Grow and recruit “green” companies.

SUBREGIONAL VISIONING RESULTS: NORTH Extend Hwy. 67 south to Arkansas. Improve east-west highway access. Basic computer training for the unemployed. Better support systems for entrepreneurs. Retooling small manufacturers for green opportunities. Educate students to better appreciate the combination of aptitude (soft skills and technical skills) and attitude (life skills and work ethic). Clarifying the identity of the region for marketing purposes.

SUBREGIONAL VISIONING RESULTS: NORTH All of the workforce has keyboard skills. A collaborative tourism development effort. Public transit is focused on employment centers. An available engineering undergraduate program in the region. K-12 students are better prepared for technical careers. Students no longer need remedial education when they enter college. Improved access to quality child care.

COMMON ELEMENTS Regional E.D. organization (2 sub-regions) Collaborative regional tourism High speed broadband telecom Improved interaction between education and business to improve response to workplace needs Undergraduate program in engineering Expanded IT education and training R&D hub for alternative energy and agribusiness Work with youth and their parents to change attitudes about skilled trades careers

COMMON ELEMENTS A center of excellence for training in “green” jobs Improve the regional highway system to improve connectivity System to measure workforce skills Expanded entrepreneurial activity to take advantage of technology Improved collaboration among regional leaders in government, business, and education

KEY REGIONAL FUNCTIONS Outreach to recruit new business Assistance to existing businesses Entrepreneurial development Small business development Quality of life improvement Regional transportation improvement Expansion of educational response to workplace needs

KEY REGIONAL FUNCTIONS Improving collaboration among leadership across jurisdictional boundaries Workforce development and training programs Tourism development Focus on alternative energy and agribusiness development in an R&D center High speed broadband access Working with youth and their parents to change attitudes about technical careers and skilled trades

KEY REGIONAL FUNCTIONS Creating a regional economic development organization to improve ability to accomplish goals

Disclaimer “This workforce solution was funded by a grant awarded under the Workforce Innovation in Regional Development (WIRED) as implemented by the U.S. Department of Labor’s Employment and Training Administration. The solution was created by the grantee and does not necessarily reflect the official position of the U.S. Department of Labor. The Department of Labor makes no guarantees, warranties, or assurances of any kind, express or implied, with respect to such information, including any information on linked sites and including, but not limited to, accuracy of the information or its completeness, timeliness, usefulness, adequacy, continued availability, or ownership. This solution is copyrighted by the institution that created it. Internal use by an organization and/or personal use by an individual for non-commercial purposes is permissible. All other uses require the prior authorization of the copyright owner.”