1. THE REGIONAL STRATEGIC PLAN
Webinar for Regional Innovation Grant Grantees March 11, 2009

2. Presentation Slide Area
Attendee List
Presentation Slide Area
Chat Room
Presentation Slide Area
Status Options

3. Submitting Questions
Enter questions into the Chat Room (located in lower left corner of the virtual classroom).
To submit a question, type the question in the text box and click the arrow button.
To send questions to the Presenter only (not to Everyone), select Presenter from the drop- down menu before clicking the arrow button.
Questions will be answered at appropriate times during the presentation.
Chat Room
Arrow Button
Drop-Down Menu
Text Box

4. Submitting Questions
Chat Room
Enter questions into the Chat Room (located in lower left corner of the virtual classroom).
To submit a question or comment, type the question in the text box and click the arrow button.
Your name, the text “(Submitted Question)” and your question will appear in red on your screen, indicating successful submission.
Questions are directly transmitted to presenters – other participants will not see your questions.
Text Box
Arrow Button

5. Practice
In the chat room, please type the name of your organization, your location, and how many people are attending with you today.

6. Scale to Fit
Scroll

7. Webinar Resources:
Recordings available within 2 business days after the event.
All resources are posted under the…

8. Today’s Moderator Greg Hitchcock Program Manager
Division of Worker Dislocation & Special Response, ETA Office of National Response

9. Today’s Presenters
David Auger, Project Manager, North Country RIG / New Hampshire Workforce Opportunity Council
Frank Stluka, Chief, Division of Workforce Investment, DOL/ETA Dallas Regional Office

10. Tell us about yourself: Who is here from:
Economic development
Workforce development
Employers
Education
Other local government
State government
Federal government
Other

11. How far along are you in developing your Regional Strategic Plan?
What is an RSP?
Just starting
About halfway there
Nearly done
Finished!

12. What challenges do you face?
What is the biggest challenge you are facing in developing your RSP?
(Write responses in comments section to the left)

13. Learning Objectives
Understand the context of the Regional Strategic Plan (RSP)
Understand the importance of the plan and ETA’s expectations
Learn the components of the plan
Gain strategies for developing the plan
Learn about some of the tools available to you at RIGS.Workforce3One.Org

14. Importance of the Regional Strategic Plan
Required grant deliverable
RSP is the primary required deliverable
Developed throughout the grant period
Basis for implementation
Roadmap for economic transformation
Guide for implementing strategies after RIG funds end
Members of the leadership group will implement the strategies, using their resources and other leveraged resources
“Business Plan” to use in marketing the partnership to new partners and investors

15. Context
The Regional Strategic Plan documents the process for regional economic transformation
Development of the RSP occurs throughout the grant period
Strategies and tactics should extend beyond common approaches and address transformative activities

16. Context (cont.)
The Regional Strategic Plan is based on six steps of regional strategic planning that provide a path to implementation and sustainability

17. Context (cont.)
The RSP is developed by the leadership group, which includes representatives from many systems and organizations:
Public Workforce System
Economic Development Systems
Business/Industry
Full Spectrum of Academic Institutions (K to Gray)
Research Institutions
State and Local Governments
Community Organizations
Investment Organizations
Philanthropic Organizations

18. Context (cont.) The Leadership Group
Identify and recruit all key stakeholders in region
Continually network and include new stakeholders based on data gathered
Gain stakeholder buy-in and commitment, as they will:
Ultimately implement the strategies
Be the major players in achieving the regional vision

19. Components of the Regional Strategic Plan
Regional Identity and Vision
Goals and Strategies
Governance
Operations
Leveraged Resources
Sustainability

20. Developing Your RSP
Set the context within which the plan was developed
Describe:
Economic shock and new opportunities (background)
Process of identifying the region and conducting a regional assessment (data gathering)
Process of identifying and recruiting members of the leadership group (refer to previous slide on sectors they represent and importance of continued networking and data gathering)

21. COMPONENT 1 Regional Identity & Vision
Sets framework for what to accomplish
Informs goals and strategies
Members of leadership group develop regional vision
Describe/characterize regional identity and vision
Address these questions:
What will our region look like in 5 years, 10 years?
What specific problems are we solving?
What specific opportunities are we going after?
What is our region best at? What does the regional data show?
What systems must be in place to achieve our vision?

22. COMPONENT 1 Regional Identity & Vision (cont.)
Describe process used to characterize regional identify and vision, including use of:
Asset Mapping
SWOT Analysis (Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, Threats)
Labor Market Information (LMI) Data
Leadership Input
Others
See tools and resources described in the attached Resource Guide and at RIGS.Workforce3One.Org

23. Asset Map – Economic Development

24. Asset Map – Workforce Development

25. Workforce Development: Organizations and Opportunities
Asset map - Detail
New Hampshire Workforce Opportunity Council:
The mission of the Council is to promote life-long learning by partnering with businesses, agencies, and organizations to bring the state's education, employment and training programs together into a workforce development system that will provide the means for residents of New Hampshire to gain sufficient skills, education, employment and financial independence. The Workforce Opportunity Council sponsors the NH Works system through use of Workforce Investment Act funds.
NH Works:
The Workforce Opportunity Council sponsors the NH Works system through use of Workforce Investment Acts funds. NH Works role is to serve as a catalyst to establish a secure and sustainable workforce that can meet current and future skilled labor needs and provide a competitive advantage for New Hampshire businesses. North Country office locations are in Berlin, Conway, Laconia, Lebanon, and Littleton. NH Works have career centers throughout the state, they offer education and training resources at no or minimal cost. Centers hold workshops for:
Technical assistance on preparing resumes and cover letters,
Job search workshops,
Employment counseling,
Aptitude and skills testing, and
Career exploration tools

26. COMPONENT 2 Goals & Strategies
Goals for transforming regional economy
Derived from regional vision
Help leadership group focus efforts
Goals must be S-M-A-R-T (Specific, Measurable Achievable, Results-Oriented, and Time-Specific)
Leadership group may organize sub-committees to develop and operationalize goals and strategies

27. COMPONENT 2 Goals & Strategies (cont.)
Specify and describe specific goals to accomplish within a specific timeframe
Describe strategies and activities and how they will lead to transformation

28. COMPONENT 2 Goals & Strategies (cont.)
Address these questions:
What challenges stand in the way of achieving our goals?
How can we overcome these challenges?
Develop Goals Matrix
GOALS MATRIX
Key Strategies
Desired Outcomes
Activities
Responsible Parties
Resources Needed
Timeframe/ Milestones
2.1 Promote Creative Economy/Innovation Initiatives
Strengthen entrepreneurial assistance and financing options in the region
Develop an entrepreneur asset map
Core Team
 &
Transformation Council
Minimal
May 2009
2.1.1 Foster entrepreneurship training for laid-off workers
Clear understanding of available options for entrepreneurial training in the region.
Review the Kauffman FastTrac Entrepreneur Program for Dislocated Workers
Funding – EDA, SBA, Kauffman Foundation??
June 2009

29. Successful collaboration requires:
COMPONENT 3 Governance
Successful collaboration requires:
Clear organizational structure
Clear understanding of partner roles and responsibilities
Process for decision-making
Describe the governance structure:
Organizational structure
Partner agreements
Decision-making processes
Accountability systems
Course corrections/dispute resolutions

30. Communication systems Management tools
COMPONENT 4 Operations
Communication systems
Management tools
Describe the system of operations:
Partner communications
Reporting process
Communicating with broader region, public, media
Measuring progress toward goals
Continuous Improvement loop
Managing timelines

31. COMPONENT 5 Leveraged Resources
Aligned resources
Engaged partners/stakeholders
Describe how resources will be leveraged:
Alignment of Federal, state, and local workforce funds with goals
Alignment and engagement of education, public workforce, business and industry, economic development, infrastructure, etc.

32. COMPONENT 6 Sustainability
Plan for maintaining regional transformation
Resources – human and financial
Describe strategies for sustainability:
Systems and strategies to ensure long-term success
Roles and responsibilities of partners
Social networking
Resources

33. Suggested Plan Format Section Description Executive Summary 1
Present a high-level description of the proposed regional transformation. 1
Regional Identity and Vision
Describe the vision for the region and the process of forming and building a regional identity, addressing each of the following topics:
Defining the Region
Forming the Leadership Group
Defining and Describing the Regional Vision
Building a Regional Identity
Conducting a Regional Assessment

34. Suggested Plan Format (cont.)
Section
Description 2
Goals and Strategies
Specify and describe goals for transforming the regional economy, in line with the stated regional vision.
Address the alignment of the components of the Regional Strategic Plan.
Address the involvement of education, public workforce, business and industry, economic development, and other systems.
Describe strategies and related activities, and how these will lead to regional transformation. For each strategy, include responsible parties (partners), desired outcomes, performance metrics, required resources, and proposed timeframes. 3
Governance
Provide background and detailed information on governance, including organizational charts, roles and responsibilities of partner organizations, internal controls, and decision-making authority and approach. If partnership agreements are made, attach any documentation.

35. Suggested Plan Format (cont.)
Section
Description 4
Operations
Describe stakeholder communication processes, including;
Specific operating plans created or under development, such as communications, reporting, and partner assignments
Website links
Tools that may be used 5
Leveraged Resources
Describe the alignment of Federal, state, and local funds, including private sources.
a) Alignment of state and local funds (WIA Dislocated Worker, Adult and Youth resources, Trade Adjustment Assistance, and National Emergency Grants) with Regional Strategic Plan goals
b) Involvement of education, public workforce, economic development, and other systems

36. Suggested Plan Format (cont.)
Section
Description 6
Sustainability
Describe strategies for the long-term sustainability of regional transformation.
Leveraging resources for long-term sustainability
Ensuring all regional stakeholders are at the discussion table
NOTE:
Include/attach any products developed as part of RIG efforts.

37. Tools and Resources Regional Strategic Planning Resources
Was ed to RIG grantees and federal project officers last week
Self-paced webinar
Grantee plans:
North Country RIG Plan
Central Iowa RIG Plan
Richland County, OH RIG Plan
All available at RIGS.Workforce3One.Org

38. Questions
&
Answers

39. Share Your Ideas with Your Peers!
Simply log on to Workforce3 One and look for the “Share Content” located on the Homepage
Share your demand-driven strategic plans, models, innovations, resources, and ideas!
Submit your content to Workforce3 One at:

40. Webinar Resources:
Recordings available within 2 business days after the event.
All resources are posted under the…

41. Stay Informed, Get Connected!
Workforce3 One:
Communities of practice
Live web-based events
Register for updates!
For more information about the workforce investment system:
Visit
Call US2-JOBS

42. THANKS!