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“WORKFORCE BOARD RECEIVES INDUSTRY GRANTS”
Eastern Workforce Investment Board, Inc. (EWIB) has
received two grants totaling $246,855.00 from the Oklahoma Department of
Commerce to support workforce and economic development. While both
projects focus on the manufacturing industry in the eastern region, they
address different facets of industry-led workforce development.
The first project takes the regional concept started at the
recent Economic and Workforce Development Summit to the next level by
focusing on the manufacturing industry. Again, EWIB is collaborating
with Northeast Workforce Investment Board and Southeast Workforce
Investment Board to develop an industry-led regional initiative that is
responsive to regional manufacturing needs for talent development of the
incoming and incumbent workforces. Manufacturing is one of the top
demand occupation clusters in eastern Oklahoma. The project engages
manufacturing employers to focus on what their workforce needs are for
their facilities to remain competitive in today’s changing economy. The
three WIB partners will host local focus groups coordinated through the
business services teams. The focus groups will consist of only
manufacturers voicing their needs and concerns. The data collected
during the focus groups will be the basis for a regional manufacturing
summit to be held mid 2008. As with the summit held in March 2007, the
WIBs will bring together professionals from area manufacturers,
workforce development, economic development and education. The goal of
the summit is to develop an industry-led strategic plan that addresses
talent development and workforce skill gaps.
Eastern Workforce Investment Board’s second project focuses
on manufacturers in the Eastern Workforce Investment Area which
includes: Adair, Cherokee, McIntosh, Muskogee, Okmulgee, Sequoyah and
Wagoner counties. The project contains an approach to avert facility
closure by aligning workforce development and educational entities along
with employers to take proactive steps to determine through assessment
what the regional workforce skill levels currently are, what skill
levels are needed to remain industrially competitive and how to address
skill level gaps before facility closure becomes a consideration.
The project is an innovative approach to measuring
incumbent worker skill gaps by using Work Keys assessment tools on-site
at the facility so employers can maintain productivity while their
employees are being assessed. EWIB will share the skill gap reports
with regional educational institutions in order to encourage a review in
curriculum that will result in business-driven changes. “By creating a
pipeline of certified workers that address the skills sets needed by
manufacturing, regional economic development entities will be able to
recruit manufacturers and retain existing industries to the region
because of the existing skilled workforce.”
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GOVERNOR’S COUNCIL
RECOGNIZES AREA WORKFORCE REGION FOR BEST PRACTICES
Event
Focuses on Workforce and Economic Development for Region
OKLAHOMA
CITY, OK – On Tuesday, October 11th the Regional Business
Services Team of Eastern Workforce Investment Board (EWIB) was
recognized by the Governor’s Council for Workforce and Economic
Development as setting the highest standard of excellence for Business
Services for their seven-county region. The Best Practices Award was
accompanied by a $2,500 check and accepted by Nanette Robertson,
Executive Director, during the 2nd annual Governor’s Economic
Development Summit. The service area includes Adair, Cherokee, McIntosh,
Muskogee, Okmulgee, Sequoyah and Wagoner counties.
Efforts from this regional partnership
have produced resource tools beneficial to area employers and focused on
sound business practices for workforce and economic development.
Committee work resulted in the design and development of the “Employers’
Hiring Guide” to assist small to mid-sized employers in developing sound
human resource practices and an employee poster entitled “What Do
Employers Expect of Me as an Employee”. Other resources include
customized employee handbooks and application forms, employer workshops
and seminars, and economic development collaboration for recruitment and
expansion projects. These resources were adopted as statewide assets to
be shared with other regions of Oklahoma. “Assisting the business
community enables local employers to be more productive within their own
industries. Ultimately, this facilitates the growth of local economies”
said Debi Busch, Regional Business Services Coordinator.
The Regional Business Services Team was
formed in 2003 and includes partner representatives from Indian Capital
Technology Center, Oklahoma Employment Security Commission, NSU-Small
Business Development Center, NSU Center for Rural Development, Greater
Muskogee Development Corporation, Oklahoma Alliance for Manufacturing
Excellence, Bacone College, Connors College, OSU-Okmulgee, Cherokee
Nation Job Corp., area Chambers and local labor market contractors
affiliated with the Workforce Investment Act.
Two other recognitions were given for
similar efforts in other parts of the state with the Southern region
receiving 2nd place with a $1,500 recognition and South
Central region receiving 3rd place and a $1,000 recognition.
For more information on ways this
regional team can assist your company contact Debi Busch, Regional
Coordinator for the Business Services Team @ 918-683-8553.
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FOR
IMMEDIATE RELEASE -- 4/20/2005
Gov. Henry cites changing demands of global
economy,
Seeks workforce partnership between business and education
Oklahoma City – Citing the need to do a better job of preparing
workers for the demands of today’s global economy, a state panel of
private and public sector leaders Wednesday released recommendations
emphasizing a more collaborative relationship between business and
education in the development of Oklahoma’s workforce.
Gov. Brad Henry appointed the Governor’s Council for
Workforce and Economic Development last year, charging it with
bringing business and education leaders together to determine how
the state could best meet the employment demands of the future. The
governor received the report at a State Capitol news conference.
“To compete effectively in the global economy, Oklahoma must do
a better job of preparing workers for the demands of today’s
businesses and industries,” said Gov. Henry. “If the state’s
workforce does not have the skills that are being sought, the good
jobs of tomorrow will go to other states and countries where workers
have the tools companies are seeking, and Oklahoma’s economy will
suffer. In short, Oklahomans must have the right skills for the
right industries at the right time.”
Among other things, the council is recommending the state
analyze industry clusters that are critical to the Oklahoma economy,
conduct research to identify areas where new employment skills are
needed and develop a seamless education system that focuses on
career paths emphasizing high-priority, high-demand jobs. Panel
members also want to develop an assessment system that certifies
skill levels of prospective employees to help them and the state
market themselves to business prospects.
The panel is also calling for better job training
coordination between the public and private sectors and improved
collaboration among critical state agencies, including the State
Regents for Higher Education, the State Department of Education and
the Department of Career Technology Education.
Steve Hendrickson, director of strategic planning and
communications at the Boeing Company in Tulsa, served as the
council’s chairman. He said the panel is moving forward with a
comprehensive set of actions that will create a unique workforce
development system in Oklahoma.
“The aerospace industry in Oklahoma has an increasing demand
for highly skilled employees,” said Hendrickson. “I hear the same
from employers in other industries throughout Oklahoma - the
quantity of skilled employees is the critical factor in deciding
whether to expand existing operations or to
locate new operations in our state. The system advocated by the
council is driven by employers, supported by multiple State agencies
and programs, and has the momentum required to establish Oklahoma as
a national leader in Workforce and Economic Development.”
In the weeks to come, the council will seek to bring
community leaders together to discuss workforce development
strategies at the Oklahoma Department of Commerce’s Rural
Development Summits. The first will be held in Chickasha on April
28. Additional summits are scheduled for May 13 in
Okmulgee, May 19 in Wilburton and May 20 in Alva.
At the Governor’s request, approximately 50 public and
private sector leaders spent the last year researching Oklahoma’s
workforce development needs, particularly the cooperative roles that
the business and education
sectors could play in meeting those needs. The effort launched
by Governor Henry was recently recognized as one of the top 10
economic development initiatives in the region by Southern Business
and Development, a national business trade publication.
“Oklahoma is already blessed with a talented workforce. Our
job is to make sure it adapts to changing economic conditions and
remains competitive in the years to come,” said the governor.
For more information, click: www.okcommerce.gov/council
PHOTO OUTLINE:
Gov. Henry, state officials and business leaders announce efforts
to better position Oklahoma's workforce to meet the needs of
business and industry.
Photo: (L-R) Phyllis
Asbill and Robin Ross
The Checotah Main
Street’s “Business of the Week” for January 20th –
January 26th is Workforce Oklahoma, located at 137 S.
Broadway.
Workforce Oklahoma opened its Checotah location on
January 1, 2004.
They
offer adult and youth programs. They offer job listings throughout
Oklahoma that are listed with the Oklahoma Employment offices. You
can also file for your unemployment at the Checotah office.
Instruction is offered to both youth and adults on how to write a
resume. There are School Sponsorship Programs for qualified
applicants. Those looking for jobs have access to a computer, a fax
machine and a copy machine. The office is also equipped with a
handicap computer for blind and deaf clients to use. Occupational
Skills Training is offered for both adults and youth.
Employers can contact
Workforce Oklahoma and place a Job Order for positions they have
available. They give information on the position available, type of
individual they are looking for, educational needs for the position
and then Workforce checks their client base to see if they have
anyone they can send to the prospective employer for an interview.
For
qualified youth applicants, there is a youth Work Experience
Program; Youth Career Planning and there are monthly activities for
the youth that vary from month to month. Ms. Asbill is currently
recruiting youth clients between the ages of 14 and 21. Youth
clients can be in school or out of school.
The
Workforce Oklahoma office is open Monday through Friday from 8 AM
until 5 PM. The Checotah office of Workforce Oklahoma employs two,
Robin Ross who is the Adult Case Manager and Phyllis Asbill who is
the Youth Case Manager.
“I
am pleased that the Checotah branch of Workforce Oklahoma was
selected as the Main Street “Business of the Week” stated Ms. Ross.
“I feel that what we do is very important to the community and the
surrounding area.”
NEWS RELEASE: Muskogee Phoenix
AREA
EMPLOYERS RECEIVE STATE TRAINING FUNDS
Four area employers received employee training funds for incumbent
worker training from the 32 companies selected. $1 Million in Training
Dollars was awarded by the state of Oklahoma through a request for
proposal process. Henderson Coffee Company located in Muskogee was
awarded $17,875; Georgia Pacific of Muskogee will receive $50,000 to
continue an on-going training of its existing workforce; Schwan’s Bakery
of Stilwell was awarded $50,000 to aid in employee’ certification
training required by the food industry while Anchor Glass Container
Corporation located in Henryetta will receive $35,455 for training their
workers.
The state received 130 proposals compared to 14 requests in 2003 with
the requests totaling an excess of $4 Million dollars. “Employers often
ask for financial assistance in training of their existing workforce”
says Eddie Foreman, Executive Director for Eastern Workforce Investment
Board (EWIB) adding “that historically training monies are geared at
dislocated workers. This year’s grant did not require matching dollars
and naturally increased the number of requests from prior years.”
Eastern Workforce Investment Board (EWIB) governs a seven county area
which includes Adair, Cherokee, McIntosh, Muskogee, Okmulgee, Sequoyah
and Wagoner counties. Debi Busch, Business Services Coordinator for
Eastern WIB, assisted 32 area companies with their applications. “Each
business had valid needs. In many cases training of their workers is
the key to staying competitive in today’s global market.” Oklahoma
Employment Security Commission acted as the funding stream for this
year’s incumbent worker grants with each company limited to $50,000.
These training dollars were in keeping with the focus on business
announced earlier by the Governor’s Council for Workforce and Economic
Development to compliment the overall goals on education, economic
development and employment.
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