Fayetteville named to nation’s top list of unexpectedly green cities
August 5, 2010
The Huffington Post selected seven top locations nationwide for cities that have the honor of being “unexpectedly green.” Fayetteville, AR made this list along with towns in Oregon, Alabama, New Hampshire, Texas, Nevada, and California.
National report cites leadership as key to regional development
July 8, 2010
The Council on Competitiveness recent released Collaborate: Leading Regional Innovation Clusters, which identifies effective leadership as the cornerstone of regional economic growth, job creation and shared prosperity.
Collaborate brings into focus the unexamined issues of regional leadership and explores the role of regional leadership in a globally competitive environment. The report was commissioned by the Economic Development Agency at the U.S. Department of Commerce to understand how regional collaboration can become a bedrock for national competitiveness.
“Regional leadership is critically important but little understood. The practice of regional leadership often runs ahead of theory. This report summarizes the state of practice and offers useful suggestions on how to move the field forward on a national basis,” said Doug Henton, Chairman and CEO, Collaborative Economics.
Among the challenges to regional collaboration is the absence of political jurisdictions that correspond to economic regions in the United States. As a result, we do not have adequate mechanisms to make decisions on a regional basis. Read Collaborate to discover strategies aimed at overcoming this, and other challenges, to make US regions globally competitive.
Sector Competency Framework Summit set for June 29th
June 22, 2010
The Heartland 411 partnership is pleased to host a day-long training and collaboration summit on Industry Sector Competency Frameworks Tuesday, June 29th. The event runs 8:30 to 4:30 p.m. in the Saracen Room at Downstream Casino Resort.
What is a Sector Competency Framework?
Comprehensive and readily accessible industry competency models that document the foundational and technical skills and competencies required for workplace success in economically important industries. Industry competency models provide a resource for the development of curriculum, certifications, and the tests that assess work-related competencies.
The Heartland 411 partnership of workforce, economic development, and education professionals team up with business sector leaders to design the competency models relevant to the Four-States Region that fill gaps in supply and demand for businesses and the workforce.
Who Should Attend?
Practitioners and program designers in workforce and economic development, education, and industry associations will all gain insights on the tools helpful to achieve talent development goals for the region. Competency models form the foundation for developing curriculum and selecting training materials, and for licensure and certification requirements, job descriptions, recruiting and hiring, and performance reviews.
What happens on Tuesday, June 29th?
Roderick Nunn, the Vice-Chancellor of Workforce and Community Development at St. Louis Community College, facilitates a day-long training and collaboration session on the design and deployment of sector competency models. Rod brings valuable expertise to this Heartland 411 event, having led multi‐million dollar business/industry‐based education and training programs throughout Missouri and Illinois.
The festive environment of the Downstream Casino Resort serves as the backdrop for the event, which includes a buffet luncheon with a staggering variety of oriental, Mexican, Italian, and southern cuisines. The meeting will be in the Saracen Room in the hotel section of the resort. Downstream is conveniently located off Interstate 44, Exit 1, and the Tri-State marker for Missouri, Oklahoma, and Kansas.
How Do I Sign Up?
Send your contact information to Jasen Jones by email to ceo@workforcezone.net. Jasen will notify you of your registration and send specific information on the event the day before. Jasen may be reached by phone at 417-206-1717, Extension 224. For more information on the Heartland 411 regional development initiative, visit the website at www.heartland411.org.
2010 SEK Business Conference blazes new trail
May 18, 2010
Southeast Kansas, Inc., SE Kansas Human Resources Association, and Labette Community College are pleased to announce the most comprehensive business conference for Southeast Kansas’s Business community in many years. The 2010 Southeast Kansas Business Conference is set for August 5th at Labette Community College in Parsons. Nationally recognized speakers discuss the topics that are most critical to today’s business environment. This is your organization’s unique opportunity to hear and discuss the most up to date information on a wide variety of meaningful issues.
- Online Registration Link
- Single Page Event Flyer (updated June 17th)
Who Should Attend
This conference is designed to benefit small business owners and managers, as well as human resource professionals and financial officers. With the broad range of topics, it is relevant to manufacturers, retailers, wholesalers, hospitals, educators, bankers, etc. It is advised to bring as many members of your management staff as possible. There is limited seating (200 max.) so please register early.
Session Topics
- Health Care Reform’s Effect on Business
- KS Dept. of Commerce Incentive, Credits and Awards
- Business Survival in Today’s Political Climate
- Strategic Planning Your Business’s Future
- Business Legal Changes
- Employment Law Changes
- Kansas Legislative Review for 2010 Session and Outlook for 2011
- Controlling Health Care Costs
- Hiring Right the First Time
- Human Resources 101
Presenters/Subject Matter Experts
- KS Sec. of Commerce William Thornton
- Wyatt Wright, Esq.
- Andrew Thengvall, Esq.
- Natalie Bright, Esq.
- Dennis George, CEO
- Russ Moen, SPHR
- Walter Keener, SPHR
- Phil Hayes, SPHR
- Sue Goldsmith, SPHR
Registration Info
Individual Full day cost is: $149
Early bird special prior to July 4th: $134
SEK, Inc. and SEK HR mbrs: $134 (prior to July 4th: $120)
Company discount: Add as many colleagues as you wish for only $49 each!
Limited vendor space and advertising opportunities are available as well. Contact Stacey Stuart, sstuart@rsihomeproducts.com, for more information.
- Online Registration Link
- Single Page Event Flyer (updated June 17th)
Workshop offered to explore social media tools for regional prosperity
May 6, 2010
Heartland 411 is proud to present nationally-known workforce thought leader, Sandra Hastings on Friday, May 14th. The workshop on social media outreach for regional economic development will help the Four-States region boost its one-stop workforce and economic development system outreach through low-cost, high-impact channels.
Following introductions and a brief update on the Heartland 411 initiative, Sandi will guide participants on how to unleash the power of internet tools to improve service delivery for job creation as well program outcomes. After a networking lunch, the workshop focuses on social media techniques to improve business outreach and tools to enhance the image and influence of regional partners.
The workshop runs from 9:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. in Springdale, AR. Lunch and refreshments will be provided. There is no cost to attend, but space is limited and participants are encouraged to register quickly.
Regional Youth Workforce Summit announced
April 15, 2010
Youth Council stakeholders from the WIBs across the Four-States Region are gathering for a day-long networking and collaboration summit on the vision for the future of the youth workforce. The acclaimed Jones Center for Families at Springdale, Arkansas is the location for the summit, slated for 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. on Thursday, May 13th.
The summit opens with a brief orientation targeted to youth system stakeholders on Regional Economic Transformation in the Four-States area. The keynote presenter for the Summit is nationally-known workforce leader , Sandra Hastings. The summit targets Youth Council members, youth partner agencies, and WIA Youth providers. Participants will gain insights into the strategic role of WIB Youth Councils in regional economic transformation and how leaders can engaged cross-state collaboration. Sandra’s training includes tips on capacity-building for Youth Council and their respective stakeholder networks to more effectively pursue and attain goals.
A networking lunch offers attendees a chance to get better-acquainted with cross-state colleagues. The afternoon agenda includes breakout sessions and group collaborationon next steps for Shared Youth Vision opportunities and regional impact. The summit wraps up by 3:00 with a summary of upcoming events, projects, and ways to get further involved in regional economic transformation.
Lunch and refreshments will be provided. There is no cost to attend, but space is limited so RSVP today! For more information, contact Jasen Jones at the SW MO WIB by email to ceo@workforcezone.net or by phone at (417) 206-1717, Extension 224.
Region seeks ultra-fast broadband initiative through BbBB
March 22, 2010
The regional development partnerships among chambers of commerce, economic development, business leaders, educators, and communities are seizing an opportunity to propel the area forward to ultra-fast broadband connectivity. Spanning six of the region’s counties with ideal adjacency and assets, the emerging Broadband Beyond Borders (BbBB) initiative seeks a selection by Google to fund and implement a test-pilot gigabit broadband service.
Project leaders are urging local stakeholders to engage the project online through www.broadbandbeyondborders.com and by taking an online survey through Google that is linked on the BbBB site. The deadline for survey participation is Friday, March 26th.
As a stakeholder in regional transformation, the QSRT partners are highly-committed to the success of BbBB initiative as well. Giga-bit fiber to the home is important to expand training resources, employment opportunities (such as Rural Sourcing and telecommuting), and overall connectivity of citizens to associations, governments, and other networks. Gary Box, a Business Retention Coordinator at the SW MO WIB, is assisting the BbBB group with economic development market data needed for the BbBB’s proposal.
The Heartland Giga-Region initiative enjoys an innovative foundation based on a regional transformation framework driven heavily by broadband connectivity. The region’s borderless economic development approach integrates asset-based planning and research, workforce training and employment systems, and sector-based business leadership. Local Workforce Investment Boards (WIBs) teamed up with local economic developers to launch Quad States Regional Transformation (QSRT) in early 2008. QSRT quickly engaged stakeholders through a series of Regional Chamber impact summits. QSRT created strategies for Rural Sourcing, the leveraging of rural assets and competitive factors to reverse the trends of off-shoring by adding technology sector jobs in rural areas. Asset-based research and planning initiatives shared through QSRT helped equip chamber leaders and community benefactors to design and launch the Regional Prosperity Initiative, which netted more than $3 million in resource leveraging to attain economic development outcomes slated in the next three-five years.
- BbBB group on Facebook
- News coverage on KSN and KODE TV
- News coverage on KOAM and Fox-14 TV
- News coverage from Joplin Tri-State Business Journal
- News coverage from Joplin Globe
- News coverage from Joplin Independent
Summit Agenda Focuses Economic Recovery and Momentum
February 11, 2010
Registration is now open for the next in the series of Quarterly Regional Summits hosted by Chambers of Commerce and WIB stakeholders from across the Four-States area. The summit is slated for 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. on Friday, February 19th at NEO A&M College in Miami, OK.
Following a busy holiday season and kickoff for 2010, regional leaders are ready for follow-up on strategies refined at the November regional visioning summit at Bentonville. The event includes a forum on economic recovery progress to kickoff the summit. Lunch and refreshments are included at no charge to attendees.
Summit Agenda:
- Focus Group Forum on Economic Recovery Progress (in conjunction with the Southern Growth Policies Board)
- Networking Lunch
- Recap of November Summit Outcomes
- Breakout Sessions on Next Steps
- Green Sector Survey
- Summit Closing and General Announcements
Interested attendees may register online at the link below or send their contact information by email to scloyd@joplincc.com. Questions or ideas for the summit may be directed to Jasen Jones by calling 417-206-1717 or by email to ceo@workforcezone.net. For interested stakeholders not able to attend the event onsite, the WIB is planning to offer a live web video stream of the summit. Remote viewers may sign-up and select the streaming option through the same registration link below.
Background for the February Summit
Stakeholders met previously in November at the Northwest Arkansas Regional Airport in Bentonville. Guest moderators Jason Gatz and Tom Miller facilitated group discussions on the start of a SWOT analysis and emerging themes for regional planning based on targeted phone interviews of regional leaders. Attendees provided valuable insights through breakout sessions on regional opportunities, priorities, and possible obstacles. The February summit is set to debut a summary report of regional efforts to date.
Leading off the summit is a focus group forum session on regional economic recovery progress. The February 19th opening session is held in collaboration with the Southern Growth Policies Board as part of a network of other community forums across a network of thirteen other southern states. Titled, The Road to Recovery…Making Choices for Your Community, insights from the Four-States event at NEO are factored in the overall research report to southern states Governors and business leaders later in 2010.
Regional Visioning Summit set for Nov. 20th
November 3, 2009
The Regional Chambers of Commerce and the Quad-States Regional Transformation collaborative set Friday, November 20th as the date for a Regional Visioning Summit. The summit drills down on master plan priorities, while at the same time, ignites leaders with the region’s potential impact for global competitiveness and economic prosperity. This key event builds on the regional strategy development work of several committees across the greater Four-States region. Read more
National O-NET report promotes QSRT success story on helping bring new jobs to region
October 8, 2009
A national report from the U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Information Network (O*NET) showcases the Southwest Missouri WIB’s recent efforts to use O*NET resources to attract new jobs and investment to the region.
The Fall 2009 release of the O*NET Products at Work report includes the WIB’s honors on page 3 as one of several leading-edge best practices nationwide. The spotlight notes the WIB’s joint work with the Miami (OK) Area Economic Development Service to help land 250 new jobs (both direct and indirect) along with $51 million in new investment for the regional economy. The article includes a link to the recent case study published by Economic Modeling Specialists, Inc.
The Workforce Investment Board of Southwest Missouri was called on to provide data to attract a germanium wafer (a solar cell semiconductor component) manufacturer to Quapaw, Oklahoma. Oklahoma is part of a four-state WIRED region, so workforce data on all four states was analyzed, using EMSI’s labor market tool, Strategic Advantage. Strategic Advantage uses O*NET data to define the knowledge, skills, and abilities available to employers in a region. With this data, the WIB was able to clearly demonstrate the skills and availability of workers in the area. The manufacturer was convinced that the small town of Quapaw had the necessary workforce, resulting in a $51 million investment and 250 new jobs.
(http://www.economicmodeling.com/resources/527_workforce-data-critical-as-oklahoma-town-attracts-solar-cell-plant/)
Other specific references tied to the Four-States region include the Missouri Department of Economic Development website link to O*NET for MERIC’s Dislocated Worker Tool, the Kansas Department of Labor’s Profile of the Healthcare Industry, the Arkansas Occupational Skill and Assisted Research (OSCAR) tool, Arkansas Rehab Services, Oklahoma Employment Service Commission’s JobLink, and the Workforce Oklahoma Career Connection.
