Education

Nicole Crain, Executive Vice President, Iowa Association of Business and Industry

December 17, 2019

The current unemployment rate in Iowa is 2.5%, and there are currently 40,000 people on unemployment and 60,000 job openings. As historically low unemployment continues, employers are always looking for opportunities to recruit more workers and also to retain their existing workforce. To solve this challenge, Iowa business leaders have increased wages, offered flexible work environments where possible, and expanded benefits. More recently, one of those benefits is childcare.

Accelerating Childcare Solutions in Oregon

Katy Brooks, CEO, Bend Chamber of Commerce

December 10, 2019

Like much of the nation, Oregon is in a childcare crisis. There are openings for only one in three children under the age of five in registered childcare centers and in-home providers. This is not only a crisis for families seeking affordable and high-quality childcare, it impacts employers who are struggling to attract and retain talent in a record low unemployment environment.

Community Improvement

Building Bridges: Creating Strong Partnerships for Early Childhood Education

December 4, 2019

This report brings together data, research, and lessons learned to guide the development of successful and lasting partnerships between the business and early childhood education communities. In surveys, focus groups, and interviews, we asked business leaders and early education advocates about what compels them to action. Our recommendations are grounded in that qualitative and quantitative research.

Data

Women

Webinar: Messages That Work to Build Stronger Partnerships

On this webinar we will launch our early childhood education Messaging Guide, share the new data we have gathered, and discuss the insights and tips we've gleaned from it.

U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation Selects Elite Cohort of Business Leadership Fellows

November 13, 2019

2019 November, BLFP Elite Cohort Launches

The U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation today announced the launch of an advanced track for its Business Leads Fellowship Program called the Elite Cohort. This invitation-only program will focus on how Fellows can elevate education and workforce initiatives, navigate change, and learn best practices in program management.

Postsecondary Education

Workforce Training

How They Built This: Early Ed Edition Webinar

Build Up SMC has partners countywide that are dedicated to solving childcare facility challenges. The Bend Chamber has hired a full time staff to focus on childcare needs in central Oregon. They're here to answer your questions on how they did it and where they're going.

“A country that lends itself to bigness”: The Texas-Size Importance of Higher Ed’s Role in Rural Workforce Development

November 14, 2019

Lubbock is home to Texas Tech University (TTU), which has eight satellite campuses located within the “bigness” of the West Texas region: Abilene, Amarillo, El Paso, Fredericksburg, Highland Lakes, Junction, Midland, and Odessa. While you may not be familiar with these towns, you are probably familiar with the problems that face their workforces.

Chief Etheridge

Community Improvement

Talent Pipeline Management

Postsecondary Education

Workforce Training

Fellowship Program, Elite Cohort

The Fellowship Program Elite Cohort is a one-time, three-day program. This invitation-only, advanced track will focus on how Fellows can elevate existing education and workforce initiatives, better navigate change management to keep their projects and teams on track, and learn best practices in state, local chamber, or statewide association program evaluation, funding, data, and member services.

Workforce Challenges? NAEP Scores Show U.S. Must Start Solving Them with a Focus on Early Reading

November 7, 2019

Workforce Challenges Solved with Early Reading as a Priority

The 2019 Nation’s Report Card, released last week, showed alarming drops in reading and disappointingly middling results in math. This has huge implications for our nation’s future workforce and heartbreaking consequences for families across the country who are trusting our public education system for the most basic of learning goals.

Cheryl Oldham

Competitiveness