Full Citation

Title: I-69 Thumb Region Asset Mapping of Work-Based Programs and Initiatives: Final Report

Citation Type: Miscellaneous

Publication Year: 2016

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Abstract: The I-69 Thumb Region, comprised of Genesee, Huron, Lapeer, Sanilac, Shiawassee, St. Clair, and Tuscola counties, collaboratively developed a shared and unified economic vision for its region as part of the state of Michigans Regional Prosperity Initiative. The plan, titled Accelerate: A Plan for Regional Prosperity, details six agreed-upon goals through which the I-69 Thumb Region Steering Committee will guide strategies to address education, infrastructure, regional collaboration, economic development, tourism, and quality of life opportunities and concerns. The education goal to develop and retain a talented workforce so regional businesses can compete on a global basis was ranked as the second highest priority in the region. In an effort to begin to meet the objectives outlined in the education goal, the I-69 Thumb Region Steering Committee first needed to get a sense of what education and workforce programs and initiatives exist in the I-69 Thumb Region. The Steering Committee decided that this could be best accomplished through developing an asset map of the regions work-based programs. Once identified, an asset map demonstrating the availability and relationship of these programs would prove useful in (a) determining the effectiveness of these work-based programs, (b) acknowledging opportunities for replication and/or expansion across the region, (c) assessing any obstacles and/or gaps, and (d) developing a strategy to further integrate employer participation to resolve workforce issues across the I-69 Thumb Region. The I-69 Thumb Region Steering Committee contracted with the W.E. Upjohn Institute for Employment Research (Upjohn Team) to create an inventory of work-based programs and conduct an analysis of the programs in the I-69 Thumb Region. Although the original scope of work for this project called for an evaluation of the regions work-based programs, through its research, the Upjohn Team found that the majority of the programs in the region lack significant individuality; a lack of local program individuality is a function uniform state standards. Thus, a traditional evaluation of many programs would have few practical implications; it is difficult to measure success relative to other programs when the programs are similar. Therefore the work-based programs were assessed based on their ability to meet the needs of the residents and businesses in the I-69 Thumb Region. The assessment consisted of a review of the number of recent graduates from work-based programs in the region and a comparison with the labor supply projections in several industries in the region. The outcomes of the assessment are noted, in detail, in the industry-by

Url: http://research.upjohn.org/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1224&context=reports

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Authors: Adams, Lee; Brommerbach, Bryan; Pittelko, Brian; Robey, Claudette; Robey, Jim

Publisher: W.E. Upjohn Institute for Employment Research

Data Collections: IPUMS USA

Topics: Methodology and Data Collection, Other

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