Seeking Out and Working with Individual Employers Joseph Frederickson Kansas Department of Commerce Workforce Services Division Kansas State Energy Sector Partnership and Training Grant

Grant Administration Model Project teams – industry focus LWIB partnership – statewide Demonstrated employer demand –Forging new relationships Five focus sectors: –Renewable Energy Operations and Construction –Renewable Energy Manufacturing and Supply Chain –Biomass –Green Construction and Manufacturing Processes –Energy Transmission (natural gas and electricity)

Employer Engagement Strategies Employer-driven – what does it mean? –Direct communication of need through project application process – project teams review applications and provide recommendations to the Kansas SESP team –Enhanced relationship between employers and the statewide workforce system Approximately 50 completed, ongoing or planned training projects –Range in size from projects serving one participant to projects serving hundreds KANSASWORKS Workforce Centers recruit, enroll, screen and provide supportive services to project participants

Business Executive and Industry Liaisons (BEILs) Three BEILs working throughout the state to promote workforce initiatives Assignments based both on location and industry –Industry champions – fabric of industry within the state –Geographic coverage Work of the BEILs –Strengthen and develop relationships with employers throughout the state – both large and small –Explain various workforce initiatives including special grants, training opportunities and models, Workforce Investment Act, apprenticeship, state training programs, etc. –Refer employers to appropriate staff member or partners as needed

Outreach BEILs maintain a strong presence at industry events and trade shows both in and out of state Event sponsorship - associate grant initiatives with the growth of a specific industry or industries –Helps us to understand what employers need to better serve grant participants

Examples of Employer-Driven Training Approximately 50 approved projects to date –Wind/Blade Internships – unique partnerships with employers, educational institution and local workforce investment areas. –Electric power transmission internships with Investor Owned Utilities (IOUs), Rural Electric Cooperatives (RECs) and Municipal Utilities –Registered Apprenticeship Related Technical Instruction supported with IOUs and RECs –Customized and classroom training

Right Training Right Now Right Training, Right Now may help fund training at non-traditional times and locations –Acquisition of equipment to green-up programs at the Wichita, Topeka, and Hutchinson Electrical Joint Apprenticeship Training Councils

Mindset – Challenges and Opportunities Flexibility – green jobs include a broad range of employment opportunities Travel – rural and urban employers Variety – employers in unexpected industries have a need to either reskill incumbent workers or hire new workers in green technologies and practices –Unknown opportunities will frequently present themselves Patience – a tremendous effort, but is almost wholly dependent upon coordination with outside employer partners –Employers may not fully appreciate your goals or fulfill expectations, but it is important to establish and maintain that relationship as unknown opportunities will arise

Contact Information Check out our YouTube outreach video Grant website: Contacts: Joey Frederickson, Special Projects Coordinator Kansas Department of Commerce (785)