Great Falls Area Chamber of Commerce

47 Great Falls Area Chamber of Commerce www.greatfallschamber.org n spring of 2021, the Great Falls Area Chamber of Commerce commissioned a search committee to fill a brand-new position focused on workforce education and development. The vision for the position is simple: convene business and community leaders from all sectors of education and industry; form strong, innovative, and forward-thinking sector alliances; and develop a talent pipeline ecosystem to fuel workforce needs. In looking at the workforce issue currently challenging the state of Montana, and honestly, the entire country, the shortage is not industry specific, nor is it tied to one demographic. Workforce is an extraordinarily complex problem set, and an issue vexing all in the business community. The solution to the workforce issue is one requiring very targeted, strategic innovation to provide the maximum benefit to our employers. The state of Montana is eager to see recovery after what we have been through as a nation in the past two years. We want the economy in this region to make a transition, where we shift our thinking from, this is the way we've always done it, to a new paradigm of, what is the best way we can do it? The goal goes beyond mere recuperation and certainly beyond where we were in March of 2020. It is to ensure "recovery." So not a short term rebound, but a sustainable and thriving engine of progress. No one wants growth simply for the sake of having growth. Montana wants the kind of development that is going to propel it into the future, building on the foundation of what makes us unique. We are a hearty and resilient people, and we know how to overcome adversity and how to work together to get things done. The Workforce Education Coalition is a vehicle to convene leaders and decision-makers from business, industry, state, and local government, as well as the education system to inspire, grow, and retain local talent. The goal is to cultivate a local labor force in a way that is innovative, strong, and sustainable. It is an initiative which will require building bridges, which means identifying common ground or, most importantly, finding a place of agreement between those entities. That point of agreement is also a place of power, which has an opportunity to create a pathway for open and honest communication across the clusters of industry providing the fuel for our local economy. This entire concept begins with our attitude, as we are community-focused and inspired by the idea that Great Falls can break out of stagnation prevalent over the past two E D U C AT I O N I decades and become the hub of economic excellence and innovation it once was. We have looked at several reports and other data sets assembled by private and public-sector entities and identified six clusters of industry as the most prevalent drivers of economic growth in this region: healthcare, construction, manufacturing, finance, hospitality, and professional services. We are building out those sector alliances, convening as singular entities, and will be bringing together the entire coalition in the spring. If the Workforce Education Coalition initiative is one you or your business or agency wishes to participate, we encourage you to contact us. Your commitment to this initiative will demonstrate the importance of what we are doing, as well as your individual devotion to its success. We need champions, and we are asking you to partner with us to ensure the economic stability and vitality of this region. Workforce Education Coalition

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