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PRIORITY GOAL #2 <br /> Grow, Enhance, and Better Prepare the Local <br /> Workforce to Meet Current & Future Demands <br /> OVERVIEW:There is an urgent need to develop a more effective approach for preparing and <br /> enlarging the local workforce to meet regional workforce requirements and ensure that the <br /> energy,manufacturing,transportation,healthcare and other sectors secure workers they need. <br /> There are numerous agencies in Decatur and Macon County currently providing workforce <br /> development services.These include: Workforce Investment Solutions, Richland Community <br /> College's workforce development office,the Decatur/Macon County Economic Development <br /> Corporation,and others. Despite a multi-agency commitment to advancing workforce <br /> development,good paying jobs in manufacturing,transportation logistics,healthcare and <br /> other key sectors still go unfilled due to lack of sufficiently prepared applicants. <br /> The city and its partners should help employers find the labor and skills they need to be <br /> successful. Since larger employers often make expansion and new development decisions <br /> principally based on the availability of a reliable labor force,this is troubling.The city will seeks <br /> to assist other agencies actively engaged in building and strengthening local workforces by: <br /> Key Implementation Strategies: <br /> 1. Collaborating with existing workforce development organizations to conduct a county- <br /> wide study identifying gaps in the current workforce ecosystem. <br /> 2. Securing grants and formal commitments to fund and participate in more extensive <br /> workforce development training,retention and recruitment. <br /> 3. Incorporate generational work ethic issues,varying work expectations,and equity and <br /> equality of access into workforce development and planning and programs so that the <br /> city and its partners can better help and motivate people appropriately and effectively <br /> to embrace a works ethic that results in sustainable employment. <br /> 4. Placing more emphasis on helping local young people (high school and pre-high school) <br /> to develop necessary job skulls to prepare them for work:prior to graduation.This could <br /> include supporting efforts by other organizations to remove barriers to employment <br /> (e.g.,missing life skulls,coaching,childcare availability,transport,etc.). <br /> 5. In advancing workforce development,the city will stress Decatur's overall quality of life <br /> features so that employees make long-term decisions about living in Decatur,because <br /> it is important that employees select Decatur as a place to live rather than just a place <br /> to work. This will include emphasizing the additive value to job access of the Decatur <br /> public transit system,the recreational value of Lake Decatur,cultural resources of <br /> Millikin University,a lower cost of living,the resources of the Decatur Park District,and <br /> other amenities that can attract and retain a diverse workforce. <br /> Page 14 <br />