Minnesota State Colleges and Universities Department of Human Services Department of Education Department of Employment & Economic Development Contact Us Use the Site Map to Find What You Need
Governor's Workforce Development Council


GOVERNOR’S WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT COUNCIL
Chair’s Report
July 17, 2003

 Highlights from April through July 2003

Activity in support of developing vision and policy direction for Minnesota’s workforce system  

1.      Roger Hale, Don Gerdesmeier and Matt Kramer met with Governor Pawlenty on July 9 to review the work of the GWDC and the Preeminence Minnesota framework.  The Governor appreciated the GWDC’s effort to focus on a few specific challenges and solutions that can keep Minnesota’s economy strong.  He agrees that a skilled workforce will be Minnesota’s competitive advantage.  We will continue to clarify vis-à-vis state agency leadership and Governor’s Office staff how the GWDC can be of value to the Governor in shaping policy and setting strategic direction. 

2.      Work has begun on two assignments given to the GWDC by the Minnesota State Legislature. Both assignments require the GWDC to provide recommendations to the legislative committees with jurisdiction over workforce development by January 15, 2004.

  •  The Workforce Service Area Study will focus on reviewing the current configuration of the workforce service areas, clarifying the governance role of the Local Workforce Councils, and creating strategies for improving the ability of the Local Workforce Councils and local elected officials to oversee and manage and integrated service delivery system at the local level.  The study will determine if the efficiency and quality of service delivery could be improved by changing the boundaries of the sixteen workforce service areas.  The Creating System Excellence Committee, chaired by Dave MacKenzie, will lead the effort, and Koryn Zewers will be the GWDC staff lead. 

  • The Dislocated Worker Program Study will provide recommendations for legislative changes to improve the efficiency of the dislocated worker program.  A GWDC Ad Hoc Committee, chaired by Norb Conzemius, will lead this study, and Luke Weisberg will be the GWDC staff lead. 

State statute requires that the studies be done in consultation with representatives of the Local Workforce Councils and local elected officials.  In addition, independent grantees and certified providers are identified in the legislation as part of the required consultations for the dislocated worker program study.  GWDC staff met with the GWDC Executive Committee for review of the study proposals.  GWDC staff also reviewed the dislocated worker program study proposal with the Job Skills Partnership Board on June 30, 2003.  We will continue to ask members of the GWDC and other key stakeholders to participate on these committees to complete these legislative assignments. 

  3.      GWDC staff participated in a Department of Employment and Economic Development (DEED) workgroup to develop a Minnesota position paper on reauthorization of the Workforce Investment Act (WIA). The position will be used to inform Minnesota’s Congressional delegation.  DEED staff initiated meetings with representatives of workforce service areas to discuss positions, and where possible, develop shared positions on WIA reauthorization with representatives from local areas. 

4.      GWDC staff has continued engagement in the “Meaningful Measures” work initiated by the DEED Office of Policy, Planning and Measures (PPM).  This work will help create the outcome measures (common program measures as well as system measures) that can track our progress toward meeting the Preeminence Minnesota challenges outlined by the GWDC.  Efforts continue at the staff level to create a coordinated vision that will encompass common program measures, system measures, and a WorkForce Center credentialing process that assures a high-quality experience and promotes continuous improvement.

 Strengthen Local Workforce Councils and other Stakeholders as Strategic Community Leaders

5.      The Spring Leadership Institute sponsored by the GWDC was held in Saint Cloud on May 20 and May 21. The conference focused on the three challenges and solutions outlined in the Preeminence Minnesota 2003 Portfolio Report.  Over 200 state and local leaders participated in over twenty workshops covering a variety workforce development topics. Speakers from out of state included: Curtis Austin, Director of Workforce Florida; Keith Bird, Chancellor of the Kentucky Community College System; and, Nancy Mills, Executive Director of the national AFL- CIO Working for America Institute.  The conference agenda can be viewed on the GWDC web site at http://www.gwdc.org.  

We received strong feedback on the event.  Attendees wanted sessions repeated more than once because they wanted to attend several.  We also heard from attendees who wanted more Minnesota-specific information rather than cross-state sharing.  The GWDC will continue to follow-up on the conference themes through the GWDC committees work.  Discussion has begun with MnSCU, U of M, and DEED staff to create a coordinated set of statewide events, perhaps with Spring Leadership Institute becoming a biennial event.

6.      Through Families Forward funded by the McKnight Foundation, the GWDC continues to support the efforts of eighteen different program partners from across the state who are providing innovative career ladder and skill training opportunities for low income working families. In addition to ongoing work with the individual partners, the Council sponsored a workshop in June on retention strategies for both jobseekers and employers.  Program partners include Local Workforce Councils, MnSCU programs, and organizations representing education, labor and business throughout the state.

7.      The sixteen Local Workforce Council Chairs have been surveyed via an electronic survey for their input into this year’s GWDC work plan and Preeminence Minnesota.  As of Friday July 11, we have had 16 responses to the survey from Chairs, staff, and local elected officials. The survey is part of a continuing effort to strengthen communication with Local Workforce Council leadership to learn how the GWDC can best support their efforts.  The Preeminence Minnesota framework was also discussed with Chairs at an informal meeting with GWDC leadership held in conjunction with the Spring Leadership Institute.

 

Minnesota North Star site