Jobs for the Future (JFF)’s Post
Jobs for the Future (JFF)
72,993 followers
4mo Edited
Last week, JFF’s Congressional Staff Network (CSN) traveled to Clark County, Nevada, to get a firsthand look at the region’s cross-sector approach to economic development. Throughout the three-day site visit, this bipartisan, bicameral group of senior Congressional staffers learned from leaders on the ground—like Jaime Cruz, executive director of Workforce Connections, southern Nevada's local #workforcedevelopment board —how the region is bringing key partners together to diversify the economy and ensure strong talent pipelines in emerging sectors.
Congressional staffers who attended said southern Nevada presented a clear example of how collaborative, data-driven #policy can bring economic diversification and success to a region. Staff said the experience revealed the importance of designing policy with enough flexibility for areas like this to continue to innovate, creating cross-sector solutions that address the unique needs of their region.
The #LasVegas region is seeing rapid growth, presenting both opportunities and challenges. While hospitality remains the dominant industry, leaders are working to diversify the state’s economy with recent growth in the transportation, education, and construction sectors. These realities require strategies to attract new businesses and connect workers to in-demand jobs.
To respond to the state and region’s changing economic landscape, Workforce Connections is going beyond its federally mandated responsibilities by leveraging community assets alongside foundation and private sector resources to drive alignment across crucial workforce initiatives.
Their EmployNV Business Hubs, co-located in public libraries and at the Vegas Chamber, help employers navigate hiring challenges by reaching jobseekers in their communities and help small and midsize businesses tap into available resources to support their talent development needs.
Other partners are modernizing to meet talent needs across the state as well. To address Nevada’s teacher shortage, the University of Nevada-Las Vegas launched the state’s first-ever teacher #apprenticeship program, the NV|Forward Initiative. Students in the program have a 97% graduation rate.
Staffers also saw firsthand the role of workforce development in #fairchancehiring: Nevada’s Hope for Prisoners Vocational Village at Southern Desert Correctional Center is home to one of the first American Job Centers inside a correctional facility and provides incarcerated learners with vocational training, industryrecognized credentials, and connections with employers up to 18 months pre-release, plus ongoing support post-release.
Meanwhile, Workforce Connections is pioneering an expansive, cross-sector effort to address Clark County’s severe youth disconnection crisis, which has secured support and buy-in from more than 20 community partners to pilot strategies like expanding dual enrollment and hands-on career exploration.
#NVJobs EmployNV of Southern Nevada #NoDeadEnds
