Executive Summary

The area's future depends on increasing the skill levels of all workers across the board, as well as broadening the area's economic base. The WIB has developed strategic initiatives that we believe will assist in this endeavor. Our key areas of focus will be to become more responsive to business needs for a skilled workforce. We will work with specific industry sectors to assist with increasing their productivity and competitiveness. And we will position the workforce development system to become part of the economic and community development initiatives for the Region.

Vision:

A community that works.

Mission:

Our mission is linking resources to meet employment needs.

Customers:

Our primary external customers are current and prospective employers and potential and current employees.

Role:

The WIB will play several roles in furtherance of our vision and mission:

• We endeavor to catalyze change in the education and business community to build effective partnerships.
• We will be a community facilitator and convener to identify issues and act collectively with business and education partners to address them.
• We will act as an intermediary/broker between businesses and schools, to ensure mutually beneficial relationships and outcomes.
• We will strategically invest in program innovation.

Strategic Goals

The PWN has identified five strategic goals to guide our work over the next year. We believe that these five goals will help the PWN become more focused on our core work, more stable and relevant within the various communities with which we interact and more responsive to the needs of industry. By accomplishing these goals, we will better assist all our customers.

GOAL ONE:

Identify current and future needs of businesses, workers and job seekers .

GOAL TWO:

Develop a comprehensive internal and external communications plan for employers, job seekers, local government, community non-profit agencies and PWN partners.

GOAL THREE:

Develop an effective integrated system of workforce services for employers, job seekers, emerging workforce and community.

GOAL FOUR:

Develop a system for reporting and demonstrating results .

GOAL FIVE:

Develop a Resource Plan for continued sustainability (viability) and future needs.