1. Smart Start Executive Directors Forum Presentation September 21, 2009 David Hollars, Executive Director Centralina Workforce Development Board www.centralinaworks.com Developing the Workforce of the Future Begins NOW

2.  Mission Statement: We help Centralina businesses expand and thrive through a globally competitive workforce. Our public and private sector community leaders are regionally focused, locally driven, and dedicated to providing innovative employment and training strategies.  Vision Statement: We ensure every business can compete in the global economy with an exceptional workforce that meets and exceeds the demands of the region’s growth. We build sustainable public and private partnerships and attract ongoing funding to expand and diversify the regional economy.

3. For Workers Seeking to Enter or Those Seeking to Re-Enter the Workforce – the first stop is your local

4.  Certified, universal skill set  Increase two-year degree and trade grads  Sustain prosperity  Communicate the new economy

5. 19th century industrialization supported a model where men engaged in paid work and women took responsibility for unpaid work—most especially caring for young children. The care of children was viewed as a private concern.

6. Working Married Families (with children under 18)  61% - Both parents employed  31% - Father, not mother employed  5% - Mother not Father employed  3 % - Neither Employed

7. Economic development experts are clear: In order to grow the economy, industry needs skilled, educated employees. When employers are surveyed about key challenges facing business and industry, they frequently cite employee skills as one of the most serious challenges.

8. 85% of brain development occurs by the age of 3 but only 4% of educational dollars are spent by then.

9.  The child’s brain is NOT a smaller version of an adult brain.  Neurons are not yet fully insulated.  Neurons are still moving into positions.  Synapse development is exploding. exploding.

10. Research shows that high quality early childhood care and education results in better school readiness – both academically and socially. This foundation results in better long-term outcomes – higher wages, lower crime, healthier families.

11. Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke in 2007 said:  “ Although education and the acquisition of skills is a lifelong process, starting early in life is crucial.”  “Recent research…has documented the high returns that early childhood programs can pay in terms of subsequent educational attainment and in lower rates of social problems, such as teenage pregnancy and welfare dependency.”

12. Bridging the the Skills Gap Skills Gap Workforce Development

13. North Carolina proves that it has the skilled workforce necessary to support new industry and keep existing industry.

14.  It supports regional economies (as an industry that contributes to jobs and income)  It enables parents to work (and therefore increase family earnings & purchasing power)  It helps children succeed (in school & life…so they will be productive, wage- earning, citizens who contribute to the economy)

15. Today’s business leaders see that early childhood education is important to future U.S. economic competitiveness and a worthwhile investment. A December 2005 poll of business leaders shows that more than 80 percent agree that public funding of voluntary prekindergarten programs for all children would improve America’s workforce.

16. Reduce turnover, overtime Reduce turnover, overtime and waste and waste Reduce training time Reduce training time Increase productivity Increase productivity Increase the bottom line Increase the bottom line through skilled employees through skilled employees Employers Want Workforce Boards to Create a “Workforce Ready” North Carolina

17. ADVOCACY – THE NEW PLATEAU To have lasting impact, the Board felt it had an opportunity to prioritize certain actionable problems that the Board could advocate for change over a long period of time. Advocacy has become the new plateau for workforce boards to move towards as they have matured beyond just implementing programs and managing budgets. Not that these are not important, just that mature boards have created organizational efficiencies to manage them as they take on the larger workforce needs of a region. WHAT WE ADVOCATE FOR AND THE STRATEGIES TO MAKE IT HAPPEN Following is a set of prioritized actionable focus areas the Board felt were both important and doable. Groups were tasked to identify an important focus area, develop a statement why it is important, and create a set of strategies to execute on the advocacy.

18. EARLY CHILDHOOD LEARNING  Whereas children arriving at Kindergarten prepared for success will be more successful in school;  Whereas children arriving at Kindergarten prepared for success will eliminate the achievement gap;  Whereas children arriving at Kindergarten prepared for success will stay in school and graduate;  Whereas children arriving at Kindergarten prepared for success will continue their education (and be a lifelong learner);  Whereas children arriving at Kindergarten prepared for success will remain employed;  Whereas children arriving at Kindergarten prepared for success will be more law abiding;  Whereas children arriving at Kindergarten prepared for success will be a home owner;  Whereas children arriving at Kindergarten prepared for success will have a stable family;  Therefore, be it resolved that we will advocate for early childhood education funding in order to build a strong reliable workforce.

19. Strategies:  Create Grass Roots Awareness Through:  Speakers Bureau – civic organizations, breakfast meetings, chamber sponsored events  Focus Groups  Board presentation during Partnership for Children Executive Directors Forum  Data to educate legislators, prisoners, churches, businesses, health departments, etc.  Joint meetings: WDB, Chamber of Commerce, Smart Start Groups, etc  Youth Council

20. Strategies:  Other Approaches include:  Elevating the importance of reading  Promote “adopt a family”  Create “Pay it Forward” neighborhood or daycare reading assignments  Being a vehicle to communicate to our customers the resources available  Educating more businesses (especially small business) on available services/resources  Support Community College Funding  Link Business and Schools  (expand CAFÉ, BICEPS, JobReady, Walk a Day)  Put value on WDB resources  Recruit existing businesses as incubators  Expand CRC in high schools & businesses  Educate everyone on Early College

21.  Understand and promote early childhood education programs and services  Share information with business leaders and emphasize the strong return on investment for the community  Learn how other organizations and groups address early childhood issues  Ensure that economic development, business, and community planning efforts address early childhood education

22. Economic and Workforce Development initiative… ALL POPULATIONS ALL OCCUPATIONS

23.  Contact: David Hollars, Executive Director Centralina Workforce Development Board (704) 348-2717 dhollars@centralina.org www.centralinaworks.com www.agreatworkforce.com