1. Workforce Education & WIOA: A Successful & Sustainable
Dr. Reginald Gardner
Nashville State Community College
Executive Director, Workforce & Community Development
National Council for Workforce Education – September 2018

2. Essential Partnership Components
Research & Assess Economic Impact
Obtain Statewide Alignment and Support
Solicit Business & Industry Involvement

3. ECONOMIC IMPACT Nashville TN (Davidson County) – Population 684,400(1)
2016 Population 658,000; 2,000 new residents/month!
Surpassed Memphis as the largest city in TN (2017)
Surpassed? (Boston, MA; Washington, DC; Detroit, MI; El Paso TX; Denver, CO; Seattle, WA)
Nashville Metropolitan Area – Population of 1.97 million people (30% of TN) (2)

4. ECONOMIC IMPACT Average Per Capita Income (2016) - $52,540
U.S. Average Per Capita Income - $46,246
Tennessee Average Per Capita Income - $43,246
Education Attainment (> 18 years old)
Less than High School Diploma – 13%
High School Diploma or equivalent – 26%
Associate’s Degree – 7%
Bachelor’s Degree 23%
Graduate or Professional Degree 12%

5. ECONOMIC IMPACT COMPANIES W/ NASHVILLE HEADQUARTERS
Fortune 500/1000 Companies(2) - (2017 Ranking)
Hospital Corp of America (63) Envision Healthcare (538)
Dollar General (128) Iasis Healthcare (628)
Community Health Systems (130) Cracker Barrel (747)
Life Point Health (374) Genesco (751)
Tractor Supply Company (396) Acadia Healthcare (754)
Delek U.S. Holdings Inc. (480) Louisiana-Pacific (878)
Brookdale Senior Living (512) CoreCivic (977)

6. ECONOMIC IMPACT TOP REGIONAL EMPLOYERS
Vanderbilt Med. CTR 20,428
The Kroger Co 3,523
Gaylord Opryland 2,500
Nissan N. America 10,750
Nat’l Health Care Corp 3,250
AT&T 2,250
Hospital Corp America 10,613
Shoney’s Inc. 3,000
Dollar General 2,219
Vanderbilt University 6,912
Electrolux Home Products 2,900
Middle TN State Univ. 2,174
Saint Thomas Health 6,243
Bridgestone Americas 2,897
United Healthcare 2,052
Community Health Sys. 4,700
Lowe’s Co 2,890
Goodwill Industries 2,029
Randstad 4,557
Cracker Barrel 2,600
Verizon Wireless 2,025
Asurion 3,600
Amazon 2,500

7. ECONOMIC IMPACT INDUSTRY
“Home of Country Music” Music Industry $10 Billion
Major Business & Industry in Nashville
Healthcare Management; $38 Billion Industry; 250,000 jobs
Manufacturing; $9.5 Billion Industry; 250,000 jobs
Hospitality & Tourism(3); $5.7 Billion Industry; 87,500 jobs
Unemployment Rate – 3%

8. ECONOMIC IMPACT TRANSPORTATION & ACCESSIBILITY
Proximity – Over 50% of U.S. Population is within 650 Miles
Air - Nashville International Airport served 14 Million passengers in 2017
Road - Only one of six U.S. cities with convergence of three major interstates (I-40; I-65; and I-24)
Rail – CSX Transportation (Division HQ in Nashville – 2 rail yards)
Water – Port of Nashville on Cumberland River – access to Ohio River, Mississippi River

9. STATEWIDE SUPPORT
“DRIVE TO 55” – Governor’s Initiative Increase education levels across TN
Develop educated/talented workforce pipeline to meet industry need
55% of TN residents with academic credentials by 2020
Labor Education Alignment Program (LEAP Grant Funding)
State Legislature support – enacted 2014
Demonstrated business and industry need for talented workforce
Proposed Partnership between High School(s), Community College, Economic Community Development organizations, Business and Industry employers
$20 Million across Tennessee - $2 Million to Nashville State (Information Technology and Advanced Manufacturing Industries)

10. STATEWIDE SUPPORT Tennessee Reconnect (Fall 2018)
Tennessee Promise (Fall 2016)
Provides “Last Dollar” scholarship for high school seniors to enroll in TN College of Applied Technology or Community College upon completion of high school
Ensure Postsecondary education is affordable and accessible
Tennessee Reconnect (Fall 2018)
Provides “Last Dollar” scholarship for adults returning to college who do not already have a degree (22% of TN residents)
Emulates Tennessee Promise
Tennessee Military Veterans Reconnect (State Grant Funding)

11. BUSINESS & INDUSTRY INVOLVEMENT
Workforce Investment Opportunity Act interaction (WIOA)
Nashville State
Serve as a member of the Local Workforce Development Board
Review/approve Education Training Provider List (ETPL)
Collaborate with business leaders on the Workforce Board on needed training
Present academic and career opportunities at American Job Centers
Assist companies in securing WIOA funds for incumbent worker training
Deliver workforce professional development and training to incumbent workers
Introduce new companies in the area to Workforce Development (and Academic Affairs) benefits and features

12. BUSINESS & INDUSTRY INVOLVEMENT
Workforce Investment Opportunity Act interaction (WIOA)
Business & Industry Employers
Deliver presentations on their company and their industry to students
Conduct site visits to their business operations
Provide job opportunities for students (i.e. apprenticeships, co-ops, part-time, full-time)
Inform Workforce Development of current industry trends and practices

13. IMPLICATIONS
Results
Talented pool of credentialed industry professionals
Long-term labor and education relationships
Gainful employment for TN residents
Unemployment under 3%
Continued, sustainable growth for the region

14. REFERENCES
United States Census Bureau Retrieved from wtop
Fortune Retrieved from
Hospitality & Tourism. Nashville Chamber of Commerce. Retrieved from