$1.3 Million to Fund Education & Career Opportunities in Seattle-King County
Partnerships between schools & industry facilitate career-connected learning
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE – February 12, 2018
Seattle, Wash. – The Workforce Development Council of Seattle-King County and the Seattle Region Partnership have received $1.3 million from a Governor Inslee-issued, state-wide Career Connect Washington grant to increase career guidance, work-based opportunities, and apprenticeship pathways for youth and adults in Seattle-King County. The two organizations will co-lead an effort to build on the best practices to scale partnerships between the public-school system and local industry to serve all youth ages 16-24, with a special emphasis on underrepresented populations. The programs will also connect unemployed adults with apprenticeship opportunities.
The Workforce Development Council of Seattle-King County is a workforce grant-making organization that oversees employment-related programs for youth, the adult workforce and employers in King County, with the goal of a strong economy and self-sufficiency for every resident. The Seattle Region Partnership was created to streamline the way businesses partner with our region’s workforce, economic and education systems, in order to ensure residents have access and connection to meaningful, livable wage careers. Among the programs to benefit from the grant is a partnership with Highline Public Schools that offers lessons and best practices for the expansion into a regional education strategy with Seattle Public Schools and Seattle Colleges. Career goals and interests are identified in high school and form the basis of a personalized pathway that includes an education course plan and moves from career awareness to exploration, preparation, and training.
Career Link, a reengagement program and partnership between Highline Public Schools and South Seattle College, works with Washington’s Open Doors dropout reengagement system to provide career mentorship for out-of-school youth. With funding from the grant, this model will scale to form an intensive, three-part program encompassing career planning, adult mentoring, and career experience with local businesses.
Seattle Colleges will act as a systems convener for developing standard processes for enrolling youth and ensuring their success in apprenticeships. Committed apprenticeship partners include businesses in the aerospace, culinary, allied health, and construction sectors.
Dot Fallihee, interim Chief Executive Officer of the Workforce Development Council of Seattle-King County, says, “This grant bolsters our regional partnerships to create new career opportunities for young people from Enumclaw to Rainier Beach. This region’s young people have great potential to meet our local industry need and propel our communities forward with their passion and skill, while achieving self-sufficiency—thriving in supporting themselves and their current and future families.”
Maud Daudon, co-chair of the Seattle Region Partnership and President and CEO of the Seattle Metropolitan Chamber of Commerce comments, “Our state expects 740,000 job openings by 2021, many of which provide career paths to family wage jobs. We look forward to seeing that industry need met by local talent through the programs and collaborations made possible by this exciting grant award.”
###
The Workforce Development Council of Seattle-King County is a workforce grant-making organization that oversees employment-related programs for youth, the adult workforce and employers in King County, with the goal of a strong economy and self-sufficiency for every resident. The Workforce Development Council provides the region with talent pipeline studies, research and partnerships to aid in connecting talent with employers that need it most. Learn more: via www.seakingwdc.org or by calling (206) 448-0474.
The Seattle Region Partnership (SRP) was created in 2016 to streamline the way businesses partner with our region’s workforce, economic and education systems, in order to ensure residents have access and connection to meaningful, livable wage careers. SRP was founded by Greater Seattle Chamber of Commerce, Seattle Foundation, City of Seattle and King County in 2016.
Media Contact
Hannah Mello, Communications Program Manager
Workforce Development Council of Seattle-King County
hmello@seakingwdc.org | 206-448-0474 x 3014