Great Falls Area Chamber of Commerce

Central Montana Works! A New Chamber Entity. Program Description In March of 2022, the Great Falls Area Chamber of Commerce conducted a benchmarking trip with a cohort of twenty-four local, state, and federal government representatives, educators at the K-12 and post-secondary levels, and business leaders. The team traveled to visit the Chamber of Commerce of West Alabama, which hosts the best workforce development program in the nation. Upon returning to Great Falls, Central Montana Works! began to take shape. This new initiative is the premier mechanism for unifying action and driving workforce development in Cascade County and the Golden Triangle Region (GTR), founded on collaborative partnerships with business and industry, educators, the public sector, service, and government entities. Through these partnerships, Central Montana Works! will be able to maximize its potential to fuel economic growth, enhance quality of life, and foster a mindset of innovation and problem-solving for all. In addition, the partners will work together to establish a nexus for workforce needs in the Central Montana region. Our unwavering commitment to an industry-driven, industry-led model means we begin with these sector alliances that drive all other activities. The process consists of agile partners and moves at the speed of business, and the outcome is a qualified, skills-ready, and trainable workforce ready to meet the demands of industries across the GTR. Key Initiative Focus Areas: 1. Communicate critical workforce needs in the GTR through urban and rural outreach programs. 2. Empower and amplify the potential of each business partner/service provider/educational institution 3. Consolidate and streamline community workforce development-related services 4. Avoid or eliminate unnecessary duplication of effort Targeted Industry Sector Alliances: • Healthcare and Bioscience • Construction and Trades • Hospitality, Retail, and Tourism • Modern Manufacturing • Government and Professional Services • Banking and Finance • Agriculture • Education Targeted Areas of Operational Focus: • Pathways - Talent Pipeline Management® (K-12, post-secondary) • Immediate Needs - Employer-specific Hiring Events • Upskilling and Reskilling - Upward and Lateral mobility - Career change Central Montana Works! will collaborate with business and industry partners to implement innovative strategies to address systemic and programmatic barriers, gaps in training, and job placement opportunities throughout the GTR counties of Blaine, Cascade; Chouteau; Fergus; Glacier; Hill; Judith Basin; Liberty; Petroleum; Phillips; Pondera; Teton; Toole; and even the northern end of Lewis and Clark. Scott Wolff, Workforce Development Director, Great Falls Area Chamber of Commerce 51 Great Falls Area Chamber of Commerce www.greatfallschamber.org W O R K F O R C E Workforce Development Initiative Compounding Specialist • Bio-Identical Hormone Replacement erapy • Sports Management • Pain Management • Pediatric • Hospice • Veterinary Compliance and Long Term Care Packaging Delivery/Mail Services • Locally Owned for 22 years 2828 10th Ave S. Great Falls 8am-5:30pm M-F • 216-3102 www.andersonfamilypharmacy.com

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