Strategies:
- Regularly survey employers to determine workforce needs
- Research skills gaps in Mattoon and rural Illinois
- Work with local educational institutions (K-12 and college/universities) to develop courses that meet the needs of area employers
- Develop programs with the high school that get students into local businesses to gain real-world experience
Possible Projects:
-Collaborate with the high school on-the-job training programs
-Offer more job shadowing for K-12 students including jobs in agriculture and STEM
-Create high school job fairs with local businesses - Develop summer internship programs with local businesses
- Create a series of workshops/classes for underemployed and unemployed
Possible Projects:
–Offer workshop on underemployment
-Collaborate with the current workforce on programming
-Create an environment to promote strong work ethics
-Enhance program to address drug problems
-offer literacy programs - Improve public transportation to and from major employers
Possible Projects: Expand Dial-A-Ride to manufacturing facilities - Work with grade schools to begin introducing students to careers
- Develop an educational marketing campaign stressing the importance of vocational education.
Possible Projects: Find data on the current percentage of students entering the workforce from high school - Assist employers in starting mentoring programs to improve employee retention
- Encourage employers to offer competitive salaries and benefits to attract workers
- Build relationships between the vocational training programs and the businesses that need workers.
- Develop a workforce development center
- Start vocational trade school for youth or career academy