What Happened?
Sioux Falls city councilors approved a $500,000 workforce development project to acquire and train young workers to replace those entering retirement. The pilot program will disseminate grants to local organizations, businesses and universities offering training programs in the construction industry.
Goal
South Dakota is experiencing the onset of a construction worker shortage as more workers enter retirement than new ones come on board. Sioux Falls is working collaboratively with organizations, companies and educators to rebuild the dwindling workforce with a pilot grant program, the Argus Leader reported.
The grant program was added as an amendment to the 2015 budget, tapping $500,000 from the city’s reserves to support a one-year pilot. Currently, the city provides $300,000 to Forward Sioux Falls and $275,000 to the Sioux Falls Development Foundation annually to support their programs. The grants from reserves, however, will go toward new education and training programs geared specifically toward workforce development.
Sioux Falls councilmembers expect the grants to help fuel long-term programs with different organizations focused on:
- Worker acquisition
- Worker training
- Worker retention
- Future workforce demands
- Workforce skills development
- Economic growth
- Low unemployment
The government wants to work with these organizations to identify the future workforce needs and skills trends, and then use these projections to build out comprehensive training programs. The grants offered by the city may also be used as a match for state workforce development grants at the end of the year, the Argus Leader reported.
Louisville Workforce Strategy
Greater Louisville Inc. revealed its workforce development plan that centers on recruiting, educating and retaining top talent in key industries to spur economic growth and sustainability. The Advantage Louisville strategy goals include:
- Accelerate and focus momentum on quality economic growth
- Foster innovation and entrepreneurial relationships
- Champion education and workforce development
- Cultivate Greater Louisville’s diverse talent
- Connect Greater Louisville’s places and identity
Greater Louisville wants to gain an economic advantage over its regional peers with a stronger workforce and innovative approach to entrepreneurial development. The plan will start with building community engagement, setting aggressive goals and raising money from the public and private sectors. From there, Louisville will develop education programs to train and cultivate workforce talent and strengthen key industries:
- Advanced manufacturing
- Logistics
- Business services
- Aging care and wellness
- Food and beverage
In collaboration with regional economic development players, Louisville will raise wages, increase investments and improve the quality of life for workers and residents.
Texas Workforce Receives Federal Boost
The U.S. Department of Commerce recently awarded $1 million in grants to the Lee College District in Baytown, Texas. The grant was provided through the department’s Economic Development Administration and will be used to construct a workforce development training center specializing in training workers in the petroleum industry.
The Greater Houston area is expecting significant growth in the petroleum industry, but does not have the workforce to meet demands. Through 2020, the region expects new job openings for 830 welders, 520 pipefitters and 175 pipefitter assistants will need to be filled. The workforce development training center will help attract new talent and offer training programs in welding and pipefitting.
Funding Workers
Gov1 has reported on a variety of funding opportunities for communities launching workforce development programs.