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)
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
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
Proposals Sought for QSRT Projects
June 17, 2009
The next phase of QSRT focuses on several key deliverables of the regional transformation framework. The Workforce Investment Board of Southwest Missouri is seeking qualified vendors to assist in the deployment of these initiatives. Links to download a vendor application along with Request for Proposals in specific categories are provided below.
- Vendor application form (MS-Word format)
Bid Announcements for Proposals Due July 8th:
- Regional Planning Technical Assistance
- Green Sector Development
- Multi-Modal Feasibility Analysis
- Regional Shared Youth Vision
- Sector Competency Framework
Additional Asset Mapping RFPs (to come online soon):
- Geographic Information Systems for QSRT Asset Mapping
- Online Database Tools for QSRT Asset Map Gateway
Are you a potential bidder that would like to be informed of bid announcements as they go online? Send your contact information in an email requesting bidders list notifications to ceo@workforcezone.net.
Disclaimer: Request for proposal does not commit the Workforce Investment Board of Southwest Missouri to award a contract or to pay any costs incurred in the preparation of a proposal. The WIB reserves the right to accept or reject any or all proposals received as a result of this request; modify any potion or other terms of this RFP; negotiate with all qualified proposing organizations; cancel in part or in its entirety this RFP if it is in the best interest of the Board; or solicit additional proposals as necessary.
Futures Game” Regional Summit Set for March 5th
February 5, 2009
The next event in a series of regional summits designed to boost the Four-States economy is a Futures Game event slated for March 5th. The Futures Game is a fun, interactive scenario-based planning simulation that demonstrates the impact of decisions on the future of the Four-States region. Read more
Going Green Symposium Set for February 11th
February 4, 2009
The Going Green Symposium, presented by the Joplin Business Journal and KSN-TV, is set for Thursday, February 11th at the Butchers Block Banquet Center in Joplin. The summit represents an important milestone for green-minded business leaders across the region. Read more
Bids Sought for TDL Sector Feasibility Analysis
December 19, 2008
As part of the Quad-States Regional Transformation initiative, the WIB of SW MO is seeking qualified bids for the project of a feasibility analysis for development activities in the TDL/Multi-Modal industry sector for the Lamar/Barton County area. Proposals and applications are due no later than Noon on January 14, 2009. Questions may be directed (email only please) to Jasen Jones.
- Download the TDL Request for Proposal (PDF)
- Download the TDL Proposal Application Form (MS-Word)
Disclaimer: Request for proposal does not commit the Workforce Investment Board of Southwest Missouri to award a contract or to pay any costs incurred in the preparation of a proposal. The Board reserves the right to accept or reject any or all proposals received as a result of this request; modify any potion or other terms of this RFP; negotiate with all qualified proposing organizations; cancel in part or in its entirety this RFP if it is in the best interest of the Board; or solicit additional proposals as necessary.
Arkansas Gov to Present “Community of Excellence” Certification to Benton County
November 11, 2008
Missouri-Arkansas Partnership (MAP) planning committee members cordially invite you to a presentation 1:30 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 18, by Arkansas Governor Mike Beebe, certifying Benton County as an “Arkansas Community of Excellence.”
The presentation will be held in the Wal-Mart Auditorium at the Shewmaker Center for Workforce Technologies on Southeast Eagle Way, Bentonville, on the campus of NorthWest Arkansas Community College. A reception will follow.
Benton County is the latest county in Arkansas to receive state approval for an economic development plan that reaches across state lines. MAP was created by leaders in Benton County along with McDonald County and Barry counties in Missouri to promote regional economic growth. Pea Ridge Mayor Jackie Crabtree chairs the MAP partnership.
The ACE plan for continued growth includes components on economic and community development. The application was finished in January and includes the following topics:
• ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT COMPONETS - Established Business & Industry, Agriculture and Agri-Related Business, Tourism, Retiree Relocation and Area Partnerships
• COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT COMPONENTS - Education, Workforce Development, Health Care, Fire Protection, Homeland Security, Technology, Leadership, Solid Waste Management, Community Beautification, Transportation and Water/Wastewater
The ACE program is designed to empower a community to thoughtfully and methodically determine the desired direction for its future and to develop a plan to achieve its goals, according to the Arkansas Economic Development Commission. ACE is a cornerstone of the Arkansas Economic Development Commission’s community development efforts.
Arkansas Community of Excellence
Certification Award Presentation
November 18, 2008 1:30PM
Northwest Arkansas Community College
Shewmaker Center
2700 S. E. Eagle Way
Bentonville, AR 72712
AGENDA
Welcome Dr. Becky Paneitz
President, Northwest Arkansas Community College
Introductions of Guest and Remarks Dr. Becky Paneitz
President, Northwest Arkansas Community College
Introduction of GOVERNOR Senator David Bisbee
Remarks GOVERNOR
Presentation of ACE certificates to: GOVERNOR
Judge Gary D. Black, Benton County Judge
Honorable Jackie Crabtree, Mayor Pea Ridge, ACE Steering Committee Chair
Response by Honorable Jackie Crabtree, Mayor Pea Ridge
ACE Steering Committee Chair
Adjourn
RECEPTION/REFRESHMENTS: Sponsored by Northwest Arkansas Community College and local chambers of commerce
Bid Opportunity Announced for Asset Mapping Technical Assistance
July 14, 2008
In conjunction with the Quad-States Regional Transformation intiative, the Southwest Missouri is pleased to announced the pursuit of bids for the Asset Mapping deliverables for the regional transformation initiative. Visit the RFP page online to download the application form and RFP announcement from the Workforce Investment Board of Southwest Missouri.
