The Opportunities and Limits of Collaboration & Integration Ted Sprague and Lisa Nisenfeld Washington Economic Development Association June 2011
Challenges Duplication of efforts in business outreach Incomplete strategic “tool box” Completion of public ROI for economic development Capturing jobs for local residents
Partners Southwest Washington Workforce Development Council Cowlitz Economic Development Council Columbia River Economic Development Council Cast of thousands
Joint staffing CREDC pays for 45% of SWWDC staff person (Bonnie Moore) who leads the Business Retention & Expansion program SWWDC pays for 30% of CEDC BRE staff person (Mary Brown)….same role. Pinch hitting…
Opportunities Expanded outreach: Business Service Partnership CREDC, SWWDC, Cities, SBDC, Ports, PUD, Clark College, WorkSource Training on all resources Developing relationships between organizations
Additional opportunities WorkSource “Concierge” service for jobs created through economic development No dropped balls Capitalizing on jobs created for local residents Ability to track real results, not just jobs to be created
Opportunities “New Eyes” Industry intelligence – a new platform for skills panels Incumbent worker training: lean Entrepreneurship
Examples: Cowlitz EDC strategic plan connections with SWWDC PR campaign on successful projects Promote investment in target sectors Alignment of workforce and education resources Combined business visitation plan Cowlitz BizNet Future workforce: High Tech U
Limitations WIA funding prohibitions No expenditures to induce relocation if workers are displaced elsewhere in the US No training investments for 120 days if US workers are displaced Potential for shared funding, special grants Possible loss of identity
Contacts Ted Sprague, President Cowlitz Economic Development Council , Lisa Nisenfeld, Executive Director Southwest Washington Workforce Development Council ,