Community Workforce Initiative Greater New Bedford Metropolitan Area

"Community Workforce Initiative” The primary vision for this project is the alignment of stakeholders and area wide resources for the purpose of creating a workforce that is responsive to the needs of the private sector and at the same time supports the growth of a regional economy. It is also focused on enhancing the ability of local businesses to compete on multiple levels. The drivers for this will be the key community stakeholders. The actual process itself will consist of four parts. 1. Assessment, signed off on by all critical stakeholders of the community. 2. How did we get here or in other words what are we doing right and what could we be doing better? 3. Definition of Best possible outcomes. Establish metrics and identify what success looks like. 4. What resources do we have to reach best possible outcomes and which resources do we still need.

It is critical that in all four phases above the regional stakeholders agree on the course of action. The initiative should be owned by the community not by any one organization or entity. The expected outcomes are many and conducive to the support of our overall economy. This program can be continued indefinitely and enhanced as experience dictates. The bottom line is that this paradigm supports a greater employment plan that can be more responsive to the needs of the community because it is supported by the entire community. It can be for all practical purposes our best effort to meet the workforce needs of our public and private sectors in order to support our economy and quality of life as we move forward into this century."

There will be four interns each assigned to one of the operational areas. Their job will be to handle coordination and logistics as well as all communication between the parties when necessary. Each of the four operational parts will be further broken down into several categories: Women Working Not working outside the home Youth In school Out of school Minorities (includes men and women and youth)

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The initiative should be owned by the community not by any one organization or entity. The expected outcomes are many and conducive to the support of our overall economy. This program can be continued indefinitely and enhanced as experience dictates.

The bottom line is that this paradigm supports a greater employment plan that can be more responsive to the needs of the community because it is supported by the entire community. It can be for all practical purposes our best effort to meet the workforce needs of our public and private sectors in order to support our economy and quality of life as we move forward into this century."

Expected outcomes of New Bedford Workforce Task Group Mission Statement embraced by Community Stakeholders “Greater Employment Plan” recognized and validated by Community Stakeholders. Create a regional clearinghouse and database to identify local populations, their skill sets, local companies and their resources. Significant participation by key Community Participants

Public perception that action is being taken by the city administration and other key stakeholders to address the issue of local and historically underutilized workers and businesses Set a precedent for the community that focuses on specific and local populations targeted for greater employment opportunities Identify and increase training opportunities for the public as well as contracts for local businesses Takes a system’s approach to the issue of underemployment for our workforce populations

Improves the current system for matching our workforce populations with jobs and training by creating a process for job/company matching that is more “stakeholder focused” and has accountability for a “community wide group” rather than a single entity. This paradigm promotes greater ownership and investment by the key partners and therefore higher probability of success as defined by the group itself. This workgroup and initiative can also be continued indefinitely. This is a WIN….WIN……WIN….initiative

I’ve learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel. – Maya Angelou

There is only one way to avoid criticism: do nothing, say nothing, and be nothing. –Aristotle