Past Policy Updates

To: VBSR Public Policy Committee
From: Pat Heffernan, Chair, Workforce Development and Education Committee
Date: November 5, 2007
Re: Team Recommendations

I am pleased to present recommendations from the Workforce Development and Education Public Policy Action Team.

The Team was charged with developing priorities within this subject area, providing relevant resources and information and recommending changes or updates to policy positions, and assist in advocacy.

As you can see from the attached meeting summaries; the Team had not yet developed any changes or additions to current policy positions.  The Team does conclude that VBSR has an important implementation and technical assistance role to play in eliminating the gap between educators/trainers, employers, and our workforce, and that VBSR should pursue opportunities to:

• Facilitate the implementation of internship programs with our member businesses.
• Support funding and implementation of “training to work” programs like Vermont HITEC that result in direct job placement.   
• Support funding and implementation of “work readiness” programs, and pre-k and early education, and
• Support development of sector specific clusters that are strategic for Vermont (e.g. the “green economy&rdquo.

People who participated in at least one committee meeting include:
Allen Evans, Workforce Development Council
Bruce Seifer, Burlington CEDO
Commissioner Of Labor, Pat Molton-Powden
Dan Baker, UVM
Flip Brown, Business Culture Consultants
Frank Sadowski, Gallagher, Flynn and Company
Gerry Ghazi, Vermont HITEC
Glenn McRae, Snelling Center
Janice St. Onge, Sustainable Jobs FundJ
Julie Davis, Vermont HITEC
Julie Goodhart/Abby White, NRG
Kevin Bell, Marlboro College
Linda Markin,  Concept2
Mark Schulman, Goddard College
Pat Heffernan, Marketing Partners
Phil Hammerslough/Doug Whitney, VABIR
Representative Michele Kupersmith
Todd Davis, Vermont HITEC
William Mathis, Vermont Association for the Study of Education

There are numerous other people currently receiving Team emails announcements.

The committee had four meetings (July 23, 2007, August 27, 2007, September 24, 2007, October 22, 2007). Meeting summaries are attached.

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