Welcome to the Sector Strategies Blog!

Below, you'll find reports, news items and original articles that we think are of particular interest to sector strategy leaders. We encourage you to check in regularly for the latest updates. When you register for the site, you can subscribe to get notifications of updates sent directly to your email inbox. Submissions are encouraged! Just email us with your links, reports, articles, questions, and suggestions for making sectorstrategies.org the best resource for State sector strategy leaders. Lastly, we encourage you to comment on the posts you see here, adding your opinions, insight and experiences.

Blog archive

Evaluating Sector Strategies - Systems Change

Submitted by tcoxen on Wed, 05/13/2009 - 11:48am

evaluation

In the first phase of our project, we developed an Evaluation Framework for State Sector Strategies. Now, a handful of states are continuing a conversation about how to evaluate sector partnerships across a set of key categories. The first of a series of conversations occured in March about measuring systems change. States will be scheduling additional calls about impact on workers, impact on industry and overall effectiveness of partnerships. Brief notes from the call in March are attached to this post.

Workforce Trends and Needs in the Energy Efficiency Sector

Submitted by jtorrens on Tue, 05/12/2009 - 3:24am

Join NNSP for a webinar on energy efficiency occupations, May 20, 2009.

In 2009, the San Francisco Bay and Greater Silicon Valley Centers of Excellence studied eight energy efficiency occupations that are most relevant to community colleges. Employers in the 12-county Bay Area are projected to add as many as 13,000 new jobs over the next three years in this cluster of occupations.

This webinar will present findings from the study related to demand and growth in eight energy efficiency occupations based on survey responses from more than 700 firms that hire energy efficiency workers. In addition, the webinar will compare employment demand with existing and planned community college programs to prepare workers for these occupations and will identify gaps in existing training. Finally, the webinar will suggest strategies community colleges and other institutions can use to respond to identified industry needs.

Title: Workforce Trends and Needs in the Energy Efficiency Sector
Date: Wednesday, May 20, 2009
Time: 10:00 AM - 11:00 AM PDT

Space is limited. Reserve your place now at:
https://www1.gotomeeting.com/register/520375936

For more information about the Centers of Excellence Energy Efficiency Study see: http://www.coeccc.net/energy/

Sector Skills Academy - Two Weeks Left to Apply

Submitted by jtorrens on Thu, 05/07/2009 - 3:15am

Every field needs visionary, energetic people to explore new ideas and set future directions. To support the next generation of innovative leaders in sectoral workforce development, the Sector Skills Academy was created to provide a unique opportunity for peer learning, skills development, and professional growth.

Designed for leaders from community-based organizations, community colleges, labor-management partnerships and business associations, the Academy is a year-long program involving workshops, mentoring, technical assistance, and peer support. During three 3-day workshops, participants will hear from leading sectoral practitioners, share ideas and experiences, and gain exposure to innovative ideas and creative leaders in today's sectoral development field.

As an integral part of the Academy, each participant will reflect on and refine his/her vision, strategy and implementation plan for a specific sectoral initiative, compatible with his/her own organization's vision and goals. Applicants should be involved in a current sector initiative or developing a new initiative and have the authority within their organization to lead such an effort.

The Academy's fifth class of approximately 25 participants will begin in October 2009. Applications to the Academy will be accepted through May 20, 2009. To learn more about the Academy, visit: www.sectorskillsacademy.org.

Ready to apply? Download an application now.

The Sector Skills Academy is a joint project of the Aspen Institute's Workforce Strategies Initiative and Public/Private Ventures, with principal support from the Charles Stewart Mott Foundation.

Green Jobs and Blue Skies

Submitted by jtorrens on Wed, 04/22/2009 - 4:56pm

In 2009, the San Francisco Bay and Greater Silicon Valley Centers of Excellence studied eight energy efficiency occupations that are most relevant to community colleges.

This environmental scan’s findings are based on survey responses from more than 700 firms that hire energy efficiency workers in the 12-county Bay Area. Employers are projected to add as many as 13,000 new jobs over the next three years in this cluster of occupations.

The Centers of Excellence continue to research energy efficiency occupations in California. In the next few months, an overview of the statewide results and additional regional scans will be released.

For more information: http://www.coeccc.net/energy/

A Growing Green Economy: Opportunities of Tomorrow

Submitted by jtorrens on Mon, 04/20/2009 - 2:42pm

Join us for a webinar on the growing green economy, April 30, 2009.

Seattle Jobs Initiative (SJI) and the National Network of Sector Partners (NNSP) present a report on the growing green economy and its impact on jobs and career pathways.

The report, supported by an NNSP Strategic Venture Fund grant and continuing work initiated by the City of Seattle, examines local industries that are turning green and what this change means for local employers, workers, and available skills training.

Topics include: policy, advocacy, investment and economic development, industry sectors, jobs, labor market challenges, workforce preparation, and recommendations for green sector approaches, with special attention throughout on the energy efficiency sector in the Puget Sound region.

Title:	A Growing Green Economy: Opportunities of Tomorrow
Date:	Thursday, April 30, 2009
Time:	10:00 AM - 11:00 AM PDT

Space is limited. Reserve your place now at:
https://www1.gotomeeting.com/register/577584841

Recovery Act Summary by Industry Sector

Submitted by jtorrens on Tue, 04/07/2009 - 4:59pm

By Ravinder Mangat

NNSP has developed a tool – the Recovery Act Summary by Industry Sector – to identify potential funding available to initiatives working in particular industry sectors from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (ARRA).

The workbook categorizes ARRA investments by industry sector, such as construction, healthcare, and information technology. It also lists investments in "green" industries, such as renewable energy and energy efficiency.

Each industry break-out is further sub-divided, with descriptions of programs, specific activities, and level of funding available. Also included is our initial assessment of whether sector initiatives may directly apply for funds.

While this tool is intended to help sector initiatives and supporters identify funding opportunities, it also offers an overview of ARRA’s potential impact on specific industries, such as construction, in which the recovery investments are likely to generate significantly increased economic activity and workforce demand.

To view the Recovery Act Summary by Industry Sector, click here.

Materials from the Colorado SECTORS Academy

Submitted by tcoxen on Thu, 04/02/2009 - 3:08pm

On February 17-19, 2009, Colorado held a SECTORS Academy in Denver. The Academy was a training and capacity building opportunity for workforce regions, industry, education, economic development and other stakeholders to learn how a sector strategy approach can be planned and implemented in key industries to support regional prosperity statewide.

The Academy brought national expertise into Colorado, offered time for regional partners to plan and discuss next steps in a sector approach with facilitators, and provided workshops to help answer specific questions about how a sector approach is planned and implemented. The goal is to prepare regional partners statewide to launch sector initiatives in key industries this year.

A wealth of information is available to the public at e-colorado.org, including videorecordings and session materials. All major sessions were videotaped, and topics included:

Sector Practitioner Panel
Understanding Your Region’s Economic Strengths: Data Driven Strategies
Engaging Business: When and How
Evaluation and Performance Measurement for Sector Strategies

ETA Webinar - State Plans and Waivers

Submitted by jtorrens on Fri, 03/27/2009 - 3:29pm

The infusion of funds from the Recovery Act has prompted the Employment and Training Administration (ETA) to require WIA/Wagner-Peyser Act State Plan modifications from all states. In a webinar held earlier today, ETA provided an overview of its guidance on the submission process for State Plans and waiver requests for PY 2009.

The PowerPoint presentation can be found here: http://www.workforce3one.org/view/2110908641287227698/info

A recording of the webinar should be posted to Workforce3One within a few days.

Click "Read more" below to read a summary of the webinar.