Workforce Development

Programs designed to build capacity of regions or communities by focusing on creating, sustaining, and retaining a viable workforce that can support current and future business and industry. As an essential part of economic development, programs are focused on identifying needs of employers and workers, building capacity of communities, identifying education gaps, and opportunities.

Audiences include business owners, managers, unemployed or under employed, local elected officials, economic development professionals, business organizations, local post-secondary, adult and private vocational schools, and apprenticeship programs.

Example program topics: career exploration and planning; job readiness instruction; industry-driven education, occupational skill development, vocational technical training, and job placement and retention services.

 

FORWARD Curriculum

Topic: Business Development, Workforce Development | Phase: Initiating & Scoping, Organizing, Assessing, Visioning & Planning, Implementing, Evaluating & Reflecting | Resource Use: , | Resource Format: Presentation, Process Guide, Program

Future Opportunities for Rural Workforce and Rural Development (FORWARD) Sponsored by Ascendium Education Group, the FORWARD curriculum is designed to support Cooperative Extension Professionals (CEPs) working to address workforce development issues in rural communities. This project expands upon Cooperative Extension’s experience with youth engagement and career development to target non-traditional…