Workforce Development Collaborative

About the Program

Category: Community and Economic Development (Best in Category)

Year: 2022

In 2021, Wayne County embarked on an effort to addresses the economic fallout of the COVID-19 pandemic by establishing a Workforce Development Strategy. As part of this endeavor, the County established a Workforce Development Collaborative – comprised of a group of leaders from the business, education, government, and non-profit communities – to enhance cross-sector coordination and provide expert insights to inform the County’s workforce development priorities and programs. Since its inception, this Collaborative has taken a collective impact approach to workforce development, bringing together organizations from various sectors to drive sustained and impactful social change. Central to this approach are five key elements (The Annie E. Casey Foundation, 2016): 1) A shared vision and agenda; 2) Data-driven decision making; 3) Mutually reinforcing governance structures; 4) Continuous communication; and 5) Partnerships. The Wayne County Economic Development Department coordinated the efforts of this Collaborative and engaged with member organizations through an ongoing series of interviews, ideation sessions, and group discussions. The Collaborative helped shape the direction of the County’s Workforce Strategy and informed the development of four new workforce programs, representing $50 million in total workforce investment. The strategy and programs produced by this Collaborative are expected to help the County’s labor force recover from the negative impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic.