HighCountry

HighCountry

HighCountry


Workforce Development Board
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» Strategic Plan Update, 2008 - 2011

Building an adaptive workforce system to meet the demands of a globally competitive economy

The High Country Workforce Development Board is committed to building a skilled workforce that supports regional business competitiveness. The Southern Growth Policies Board 2007 Report on the Future of the South describes key challenges for the region, including the increasing demand for skilled workers in the global knowledge economy and an ever-widening skill and academic achievement gap among today’s youth. The Board’s 2008-2011 Strategic Plan Update sets the stage for advocacy and engagement around three broad goals that respond to these issues.

Our Values

The High Country Workforce Development Board invests in services to our communities with both passion and compassion. We achieve our mission by setting and reaching meaningful goals while relentlessly striving to improve services. We demonstrate our values through strong leadership, relationships, vision, imagination, and unquestionable trust.


The Challenge

Between 2008 and 2011, jobs in the High Country’s seven-county region are expected to grow by 6%*. Yet by all accounts, the demand for skilled workers outpaces supply in key industry sectors. The anticipated increase in retirements as baby boomers leave the labor market intensifies the necessity to produce a workforce whose skills match needs of business.
* Economic Modeling Specialists, Inc.


Our Response

The High Country Workforce Development Board’s strategic plan update builds on our earlier State of the High Country Workforce Report and supports the NC Workforce Commission’s 2007 State of the North Carolina Workforce Report. These and other findings remind us that our region must have skilled and productive people, highly competitive businesses, and innovative ideas for continued success. Our goals and strategies are designed to support regional business competitiveness by effectively aligning workforce resources to produce a skilled workforce.


Shared Vision

Having a shared vision is essential if our business, government, educational, and community leaders hope to meet the economic challenges that face us. The consistent message from these leaders is that a skilled workforce is one of our top priorities in achieving and maintaining global economic competitiveness. The High Country Workforce Development Board has established three standing committees, each of which is accountable for one of the plan’s three goals. By aligning our efforts with the NC Workforce Development Commission’s strategic goals and partnering with the broader community, the Board will engage key stakeholders in achieving our mission.


The High Country Workforce Development Board’s 2008-2011 Strategic Plan Update provides the framework for how we will achieve our mission. We need you, our community leaders, to help us carry out this plan. Our values and priorities will guide us as we join you in continuing to build the region’s workforce skills and economic capacity.

2008 - 2011 Goals and Strategies
Realizing our vision of a world class workforce for our region’s businesses
Goal 1

click for status report 		What do we want to accomplish?
Develop strategies which supply a qualified workforce to target industry sectors.

Committee: Quality Assurance
  What will success look like?
  1. Key business and industry sectors guide the design and delivery of workforce services to meet specific needs and look to the High Country Workforce Development Board for support on significant regional and multi-regional workforce issues.
  2. Businesses have confidence in the skills and work readiness of candidates referred from the public workforce system, such as JobLink Centers, as evidenced by increased use of the system.
  3. Education and training institutions deliver training that meets local labor market demands to allow the region’s residents to be prepared for and hired in high demand, high growth, family- sustaining industry sectors.
  4. Locally significant measures are in place to determine system success and consistent quality of demand-driven service.
Goal 2

click for status report 		What do we want to accomplish?
Maximize opportunities for the emerging workforce to obtain academic and skill competencies required by employers.

Committee: Youth Council
  What will success look like?
  1. Active collaboration with local secondary and post-secondary education systems is in place, as evidenced by participation on Youth Council, Board workgroups, and in specific events such as summits, on-going partnerships, and joint efforts.
  2. The number of WIA youth entering post-secondary education or other credential training is increased.
  3. Career awareness of students, parents, educators, and other decision-makers regarding emerging career opportunities is enhanced.
  4. Participation of youth in school-to-work exposure connections is increased.
Goal 3

click for status report 		What do we want to accomplish?
Align resources to promote and support a seamless and effective workforce system for businesses and for the emerging, incumbent, and transitional workforces.

Committee: Executive
  What will success look like?
  1. There is an increase in awareness of system services and recognition of the value of those services, as evidenced by participation in public events, use of system services, increased participation by new partners in JobLink Centers, and increased use of JobLink Centers by businesses and citizens.
  2. The High Country Workforce Development Board demonstrates active support of policies that promote business competitiveness, self-sufficiency, life-long learning, and work readiness.
  3. Public officials and other key policy makers are informed about specific workforce needs of job seekers and businesses, and engage the Board in policy-making decisions.
  4. A seamless regional workforce system exists with a clear point of contact for businesses and the incumbent workforce, transitional workforce, and emerging workforce.


Services and activities funded by the High Country Workforce Development Board are equal opportunity employers/programs.
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