Aligning Workforce Development and Economic Development investments to help low-income workers advance in the labor market: Given the increasing need among businesses for skilled workers, there is considerable conversation in both workforce and economic development circles about the importance of a skilled workforce in developing, attracting and retaining businesses within a region. As public agencies pursue their desire to link economic and workforce development activities – largely to meet these economic development goals – a key question arises: Can this movement present an opportunity to work toward improved job quality for low-wage workers? WSI is conducting research into models of collaboration among economic and workforce development entities that can result in improved outcomes for disadvantaged workers. A forthcoming publication will document key lessons from this research.

National Association of Manufacturers' Sectoral Employment Demonstration: WSI conducted a formative evaluation of a pilot project launched jointly by The Manufacturing Institute of the National Association of Manufacturers (NAM) and the National Network of Sector Partners. The goal of the NAM/NNSP project was to develop and support local sector efforts in two demonstration sites and, in so doing, develop a model of sector initiatives that could be applied to multiple communities across the U.S., build an infrastructure for expanding the sector approach, and generate lessons, materials and strategies that provide a guide to other trade associations, industries and workforce intermediaries. Through a formative evaluation of this project along with a set of interviews with other trade association representatives in various industries throughout the country, WSI assessed the capacity of industry trade associations to engage in sectoral employment work that benefits low-income populations. Ultimately, it became evident that trade associations can be valuable partners in sector work, but rarely are they the driving force in the development and implementation of projects specifically designed to address the complex employment barriers faced by disadvantaged populations.

WSI began a two-year evaluation of the Flint Healthcare Employment Opportunities (FHEO) Project shortly after FHEO was launched in 2002. The purposes of the evaluation were to document the development and operation of the initiative over time, and to provide helpful feedback on FHEO operations to project implementers and funders. FHEO was conceived to address both the chronic unemployment and underemployment experienced by residents of Flint, Mich., and the health care industry’s workforce development shortages. FHEO seeks to increase training opportunities in health care in order to provide access to quality jobs. Through the course of this evaluation, important lessons were learned about the challenges of operating a collaboratively managed sectoral initiative. Some of these lessons are presented in a detailed profile.