Nevadaworks

The history of workforce training programs is rife with do-good, feel-good projects that may or may not have benefited individuals and businesses.How should results be measured when spending government funds? By numbers of individuals with face-to-face contacts? By numbers of individuals with upgraded skills? By numbers of individuals businesses hire through the workforce system? By increased earnings individuals get after the system helps them? Every year at this time, I report to the Nevadaworks board of directors about our performance for the program year.My reports have always focused on the people behind the numbers and the impact Nevadaworks has on individual lives and what it means to them, their communities and society in general.

The following highlights are from my latest report.

Nevada continues to have a nurse shortage, and Nevadaworks continues to attack this problem through special funding.

Last fall, the second group of surgical technician students graduated from the newly accredited training program at Western Nevada Community College.

Of the 27 graduates funded by Nevadaworks, 18 immediately started work at medical facilities throughout northern Nevada with an average starting wage of $32,000 per year.

Four of the remaining nine are pursuing even higher education.

An exciting outcome of this initial program has been the ability of WNCC to place this training as an on-going course in its curriculum.

Board member Phil Ringle, president of Truckee Meadows Community College, suggested a new idea involving TMCC,Washoe County School District (WCSD) and Nevadaworks,working together to enroll high school juniors in a specifically defined, fasttrack program that would lead those individuals to graduate from TMCC as certified nursing assistants.

Upon completion of the second group of students late next year, at least 50 individuals will be in the nursing field due to the efforts of Nevadaworks and its outstanding partners at TMCC and WCSD.

Shelly Parrish, an instructor with the Pershing County School District, decided to contact Nevadaworks about funding for an innovative television production/business education program for students at Lovelock High School.Her presentation was so convincing that Nevadaworks secured funding and the program began.At the March Nevadaworks Board meeting, Shelley presented some of her students and a video they produced.

Board member Lawson Fox, president and general manager of KTVN Channel 2 Reno, invited the group to his facility to meet with his production and on-air staff so the students could learn more from KTVN's experienced team.

Not all of the projects funded by Nevadaworks are for groups of individuals.

Many successes are achieved one person at a time.

One example comes from Job Opportunities In Nevada.

Three years ago, a young woman requested childcare assistance while she completed high school through JOIN.

She had become pregnant at age 15, a mom and married at age 16, and divorced at age 18.While at JOIN she completed the Career Prep Workshop and graduated.When she moved out-of-state with her parents, Nevadaworks connected her to the local program in her state that assisted her in completing certified nursing assistant training.After 18 months as a CNA in obstetrics, she recently requested letters of recommendation to pursue a scholarship for additional training.

She has been persistent and successful in trying to make a good life for herself and her child.

Nevadaworks also succeeds by serving as a source of information to businesses.After learning of a van-pooling program in Washoe County,Nevadaworks shared this information with businesses through the JobConnect center in Reno.

During these high gasoline prices, we look forward to the program's implementation this summer.

Businesses with workforce needs continue to discover the benefits of coordinating with the Reno JobConnect Center.Visits by employers and mini-job fairs have increased dramatically this past year.

Employers are so pleased with results from these fairs that it sometimes challenges our capacity.

Individuals like the face-to-face employer contact and the ability to have their job questions answered in person.

Total visits at the Reno and Sparks JobConnect facilities exceeded 56,000 last year and are on track to surpass that number this year.

There are many more successes throughout Northern Nevada.

From the innovative workforce liaisons in Lander,Mineral and Storey counties, to the new Northern Nevada Literacy Council online GED program in Sparks, to senior citizens receiving computer training, enabling them to re-enter the workplace.

The good news continues to be that workforce development succeeds in Northern Nevada the way the program was intended.

Nevadaworks' challenge in the coming year will be to continue these successes one at a time while constantly seeking new directions.

To meet these challenges,we need input from all sectors of the business community.

Please use the complimentary services available at the JobConnects.

Inform us of your staffing and training needs.

Offer suggestions for improvements to the existing system.

If we continue to work together, then next year I will again be able to share new positive results in workforce development.

Tom Fitzgerald is CEO of Nevadaworks.