COMMUNITY AUDIT & MAPPING OF ASSETS FOR KIMBLE COUNTY “WHAT WILL IT DO?”

 Collect and interpret local labor market information  Build consensus and partnerships to implement skills enhancement/training services  Provide individuals with up-to-date information on good job/career opportunities  Provide employers with assistance in finding employees with the right sets of skills  Assist service/training providers with information to design appropriate workforce development interventions  Identify business trends that respond to the supply and demand sides of the labor market  Identify existing community assets and needs that will support the workforce development system

AREA PROFILE  2000 Population of 4,468 – an 8.4% increase from 1990 to 2000  A June 2001 unemployment rate of 1.9% compared to 2.8% unemployment rate for the whole Concho Valley and 5.4% for the State as a whole  Average weekly wage in 2000 was $357, compared to $657 for all of Texas  Per Capita Income of $17,618 in 1999 compared to State Per Capita Income of $26,834

WHY??? Can’t be answered without gathering additional information – we can only make assumptions based on the information at hand

Community leaders, partners and business keep Kimble County:  VIABLE  VIBRANT  AND VITAL

HOW DO COMMUNITY AUDITS AND MAPPING OF COMMUNITY ASSETS HELP?  A community needs assessment is conducted which assists in identifying existing resources, education, and training programs within the civic/business community  Identifies duplication and gaps among existing programs where leveraging of resources would be beneficial  Involves business, business associations, economic development, workers, community-based organizations and faith-based organizations

HOW ARE THESE ASSESSMENTS ACCOMPLISHED?  Outreaching community and faith-based organizations and gathering pertinent service and eligibility information  Outreaching employers through a direct mail survey to gather information on the supply and demand side of the labor market  Outreaching current workers through personal interviews to gather information on the supply and demand side of the labor market  Outreaching community leaders, partners, the private sector, the public sector and the population as a whole

WHAT ARE THE EXPECTED OUTCOMES AND BENEFITS TO THE COMMUNITY?  A business-driven service delivery plan  Increased job/career opportunities  A community strategic plan  A community assessment resource directory  Integrated programs, services and partnerships that lead to meeting both workforce development and community goals  Increased on-the-job and customized training  Increase in certified training providers  Enhanced consumer reports

SHORT-TERM GOALS:  Identify and respond to skill shortages  Identify and respond to technological changes  Proactively respond to a tight labor market LONG-TERM GOALS:  Retain business and jobs in Kimble County  Promote career planning that allows workers to move from lower level jobs to higher level jobs and across industries  Adopt skill standards that allow workers to create career paths and provide employers methods for assessing the skills of workers