Release Date: Sep 11, 2007
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Summary:
Regional Leaders to Launch New Workforce Strategy

The Dayton region's leaders, along with the Montgomery County Workforce Policy Board will launch a regional workforce strategy at 9:30 am Wednesday, September 12, at the Ponitz Center at Sinclair Community College.  This strategy links workforce and economic development in an effort to ensure that the workforce is prepared to meet the needs of current and future job openings.

This new regional strategy calls for a tighter link to employers and will put in place training and development programs for the regional growth sectors, as well as core industry sectors that support the region's economic base, and infrastructure industry sectors such as construction, telecommunications and utilities.

1. The high growth industry sectors include information technology, human sciences/heath care, advanced materials/advanced manufacturing, and aerospace research.  These sectors are identified as areas where the region can compete in the global marketplace and leverage the new missions and jobs coming to the Region from the most recent BRAC process.
2. The core industry sectors include healthcare, hospitality, financial services, retail and core manufacturing.  These sectors comprise the core economic stability for the region, require significant numbers of workers and create the living wage jobs vital to the Region's success.
3. The infrastructure sectors include construction, utilities, logistics/distribution, government and education.  These sectors provide the physical and human capital infrastructure that enables the core industry and growth industry sectors to thrive.

The launch will include a presentation from Scott J. Sheely, the Executive Director of the Lancaster County Workforce Board in Pennsylvania.  The National Association of Workforce Boards has identified the Lancaster approach as one of the nation's most successful models. 

The new strategy will have an expansive set of collaborators that include the Montgomery County Job Center, The Montgomery County Department of Community & Economic Development, Sinclair Community College, Dayton Development Coalition, the Dayton Area Chamber of Commerce, and organizations involved in the WIRED proposal including Wright State University, the University of Dayton, Wittenberg University, Clark State Community College, the Greene County and Clark County Departments of Job and Family Services, the Turner Foundation, EDvention, daytaOhio and AVETEC.  The launch will also provide an opportunity for government, industry and academia stakeholders from across the region to engage and participate in building and integrating workforce development programs to meet employer's needs.