Active Collaborations to Create ICT Job Pipelines & Resources
Community, CBOS, Government, Education & Business.

OUTCOMES

• Diverse local and regional partnership: collaborative relationship with community organizations, government, education and business groups to support ICT training and job creation.
• Sharing of resources: ongoing collaboration permits sharing of funding opportunities, joint grant applications, infrastructure (meeting and class space), staffing, discounts, marketing.
• Assessment: determine what makes your community attractive to the ICT industry.
• IT educational pipeline: create links to middle schools, high schools, local community colleges, private educational and training institutions, and 4-year institutions.
• Relevant training & capacity building: recruit industry as faculty for training.
• Hiring: develop hiring network and internship opportunities via industry partners.
• Recruitment: joint actions target local, regional, national and international industries to utilize the locally trained ICT workforce.

PROGRAM STRUCTURE

• Develop collaborative with diverse local and regional partners.
• Local school district.
• City/county/state government.
• Neighboring or relocating industry.
• Local CBOs, Community Technology Centers, religious organizations, and neighborhood organizations.
• Public employment agencies (CalWorks, OneStop, Workforce Investment Agencies.)
• Establish a formal collaborative agreement and regular meeting schedule.
• Labor market studies to establish work opportunities and training needs.
• Build support for basic skills and vocational education.
• Community Technology Centers and neighborhood computer centers.
• K-12 classes and after-school technology support.
• Engage local schools and Community College system at all levels.
• Establish social support system for clients with multiple barriers (includes health care, housing, legal support.)
• Job placement assistance.
• Hiring network, internships and mentorships with industry partners.
• Partnership/connections with local workforce investment agencies.
• Targeted recruitment of local, regional, national and international businesses.

PROGRAM ALTERNATIVES

• Contract with experienced organization to provide labor market studies and/or training.
• Storefront, school or church facilities and classrooms for locally-delivered Community College classes that are less intimidating.
• Community College can operate One-Stop Career Center, providing support and job training services in the local community.
• “Borrowed” staff from businesses, county and state agencies can take on specific assignments./li>

COLLABORATIVE PREREQUISITES

• Commitment to economic growth and IT workforce development.
• Commitment to job placement after training.
• Leadership participation from collaborating organizations, and willingness to collaborate with a diverse, cross-sector group.
• Establishing a formal collaborative agreement and regular meeting schedule.
• Leadership support and participants who can follow through on commitments.

CHALLENGES

For the organization

• Establishing relationships with supportive community, college, government and industry staff and directors.
• Understanding the culture and rules of the community.
• Maintaining collaborative focus and involvement.
• Support necessary to complete projects.
• Curriculum design that focuses on industry needs.
• Encouraging industry to develop work opportunities for graduates.
• Support for regional economic development.
• Establishing linkages to jobs.

ELEMENTS OF SUCCESS

• Selecting appropriate partners:
• Community College support at all levels (from Dean to Department.)
• Active involvement of industry, available for job development, internships, mentorships and job-shadowing.
• Leadership support for all participants.
• Assistance with funding and resources, ongoing oversight.
• Focus on 5-year industry trends: NAIC/SIC codes, labor market studies, identify promising growth occupations and pathways.
• Staff: 1 Program Manager (0.25 FTE), 1 Recruiter (0.5 FTE), 1 Career Advisor (0.5 FTE), 1 Director of Training (0.10 FTE); instructor (1.0 FTE.)
• Workforce system assessment & workforce infrastructure: labor market studies to identify promising growth occupations; infrastructure to connect program graduates with work opportunities.

Collaborations

• Corporations.
• Foundations.
• Government local.
• State.
• Community college.
• Other nonprofits.
• Individuals.
• Local business.

Sources of Funding

Contributed

• Corporations.
• Foundations.
• Government.
• Local (City/County.)
• State.
• Individuals

Earning Income

• Fees.
• Other earned income.