Engaging Diverse Stakeholder perspectives

Economic & Workforce Development Professionals

Economic and Workforce Development Professionals encompass a wide range of groups and organizations that can bring resources and expertise throughout the transition process. These groups include Economic Development Districts, Community Development Financial Institutions (CDFIs), nonprofits focused on workforce development, municipal economic development and workforce departments, community colleges, Workforce Investment Boards, and Community Development Corporations, among others. They often play a particularly important role in promoting an inclusive and participatory process by which communities can address economic and workforce challenges. 

‍What they bring to the table:

• Capacity building support including technical assistance, grant writing, long-range economic development planning.
• Regional perspective that can foster collaboration across multiple communities and advance regional economic recovery. 
• Consideration of economic and workforce factors alongside social, environmental, and cultural factors.
• Ability to identify partnerships, bridge differences, and make connections.
• Identify community assets (including skilled workforce, natural assets, infrastructure) that can be drawn upon to build a more resilient economy and workforce.
  

Common concerns for a successful transition:

• The regional nature of economic development work can be a challenge because economic shocks do not stop at municipal boundaries.
• Fiscal constraints of municipalities will hinder their ability to plan and implement economic development and workforce programs.
• There will be a desire to bring in another large industry to replace the one lost, which will not necessarily lead to economic diversification or jobs.
• A singular focus on job replacement can limit economic and workforce strategies. Need to think about long-term economic sustainability and living-wage jobs.

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