Education and Business Engagement Expanding Opportunities for Students Annie Rorem, Policy Associate Weldon Cooper Center for Public Service at U.Va. December 15, 2015

The key questions What are the skills needed for employment and business growth in your area? Who are the major employers in the area? What jobs do these employers seek to fill? How can you connect with these employers?

What are the skills needed for employment and business growth in your area? County Planning District Commission (“Planning Region”) Local Workforce Investment Area (LWIA, or “Workforce Region”) or Regional Economic Development Marketing Organization Superintendent’s Region State Smaller Larger

What are the skills needed for employment and business growth in your area? To find yours: Planning District Commission

To find yours: Local Workforce Investment Area (LWIA) What are the skills needed for employment and business growth in your area?

To find yours: Regional Economic Development Marketing Organizations What are the skills needed for employment and business growth in your area?

To find yours: Superintendent’s Region What are the skills needed for employment and business growth in your area?

Who are the major employers? Top 15 Local Employers Local Chamber of Commerce Local Workforce Investment Board Virginia Economic Development Partnership Regional Economic Development Organizations

What jobs do employers need to fill? CTE Trailblazers Virginia Workforce Connection Direct conversations with employers

How can you connect with these employers? Curriculum or Advisory Committee membership Professional development opportunities Career fairs Other avenues

Example: Southwest Virginia County Planning District Commission 1 or 2 Local Workforce Investment Area I Virginia’s e-Region Superintendent’s Region 7 State What are the skills needed for employment and business growth in your area?

Example: Southwest Virginia Consult Top 15 Employers for county and the LWIA. Consult Top 15 Employers for county and the LWIA – Educational Services (School Board and University) – Food, Beverage and Merchandise Stores Find other counties in the PDC, and consult their Top 15 Employers memosPDC – Justice, Public Order, and Safety Activities – Hospitals/Nursing Facilities – Universities Expand your scope to the counties in the Superintendent’s Region.Superintendent’s Region Use the Virginia Economic Development Partnership Announcements database to see if there have been any recent local openings or expansions (Virginia’s e-Region)Announcements database Who are the major employers in the area?

Example: Southwest Virginia Initiate direct conversations Examine high growth careers by using Trailblazers dataTrailblazers data Using Virginia Workforce ConnectionVirginia Workforce Connection – Click “Find a Job – Click here” – Filter on Workforce Region – Select “Southwestern Virginia (LWIA I)” – Filter on “Employer” What jobs do these employers seek to fill?

Example: Southwest Virginia How can you connect with these employers? Attend an event held by your local Chamber of Commerce Consider hosting an event for your local Chamber of Commerce Invite speakers from these businesses Ask your local PTO/PTA to identify connections and opportunities

Review: The key questions What are the skills needed for employment and business growth in your area? Who are the major employers in the area? What jobs do these employers seek to fill? How can you connect with these employers?

Education and Business Engagement Expanding Opportunities for Students Evaluation Link:

Education and Business Engagement Expanding Opportunities for Students Annie Rorem, Policy Associate