By Laura Walling, Vice President of Government Affairs, Goodwill Industries International
Initially announced by First Lady Jill Biden in May at an invite only event attended by Goodwill Industries International, the Biden administration has begun hosting kickoff events for Workforce Hub cities. The hubs will bring together employers, labor, worker groups, community colleges, k-12, NGOs, and local governments to create new sectoral partnerships to scale quality training pathways to ensure a diverse and skilled workforce can meet the demand for labor. The first five hubs include: Baltimore, MD; Phoenix, AZ; Columbus, OH; Pittsburgh, PA; and Augusta, GA. There are plans to replicate the work with partners across the country.
In Columbus Ohio, Mayor Ginther and the administration is working with Columbus State Community College (CSCC) to bring together other higher education institutions, employers, unions, high schools, and other stakeholders. Several goals were announced at the kickoff event including: quadrupling the number of students trained for engineering technology jobs over the next five years; preparing at least 10,000 skilled construction trades workers by expanding apprenticeship programs; and doubling the number of professionals trained in high-need healthcare occupations.
The Augusta Workforce Hub brings together several entities including Augusta Tech, Aiken Technical College and Richmond County Public schools and focuses on training students in advanced manufacturing, including construction trades and battery manufacturing. During the kickoff event, Secretary of Education Miguel Cardona said they want to end the stigmas around career and technical education.
Lastly, in Pittsburgh Dr. Biden remarked that the administration is working with Mayor Gainey, Partner for Work, colleges, unions, and employers to develop new training pathways to the good careers created by those public and private investments. She also noted that employers and local leaders are expanding access to childcare on-site for pre-apprentices, apprentices, and workers.
As the workforce hub initiatives are launched and eventually expanded, local Goodwill® organizations are well positioned to provide workforce development and job training services along with other holistic supports, serve as a talent pipeline for potential employers, and play the role of a community convener bringing together stakeholders who can ensure the success of these public and private partnerships.
