Sometimes we can all use a little help when entering the job search market. This includes seasoned veterans and newcomers – even some who are still years away from becoming job seekers.
A new strategic partnership between Workforce Solutions for Tarrant (WSTC) and the Fort Worth Chamber of Commerce (FWC) is designed to help with exactly that. The two organizations entered the agreement through a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) Thursday, Aug. 20, designed to strengthen connections between the region’s business community and workforce system.
The signing, which took place at the FWC offices, brings together two organizations with deep connections to local employers. This shared commitment helps ensure Tarrant County has the talent, resources and opportunities needed for businesses and individuals to thrive for many years. “I am beyond excited about this collaboration, not only with my good friend Robert Sturns, but with these two organizations,” FWC President/CEO Steve Montgomery said. “This alignment will ensure employers get the workers they need.”
Sturns, Executive Director of WSTC, said this partnership reflects a commitment by both organizations to build a stronger workforce ecosystem. He added that no single organization can meet today’s workforce challenges alone. “I am pleased to be working with Steve on this,” he said, noting the agreement is a gateway to creating a talent pipeline for employers, along with creating access to meaningful careers for those who live and work in Tarrant County. “What better partner to work with than the Fort Worth Chamber?” Sturns added.
The MOU establishes a framework for ongoing collaboration in areas that directly impact the region’s workforce and economic competitiveness. It will create additional opportunities to listen, collaborate and act on the issues affecting employers and the region’s workforce. Among the many things the partnership will provide are: *A connection between businesses and resources for opportunities through co-branded outreach, shared promotion and coordinated communications. *Expansion of internships and work-based learning opportunities that help students and job seekers gain valuable experience while giving employers opportunities to develop future talent. *Sharing of data, research and employer insights through surveys and information exchange to better understand workforce challenges and opportunities. *Strengthening of industry engagement through collaboration on task forces, industry councils and other initiatives focused on the needs of local businesses. *Identifying and addressing emerging workforce needs by combining the organizations’ research, relationships and knowledge of the business community. *Amplifying the impact of workforce initiatives through coordinated communications and storytelling that increase awareness of available resources and opportunities.
Montgomery said a factor in creating the union was Fort Worth’s rapid growth. With city climbing to over a million in population with a quick influx of new residents in recent years, many of those newcomers filled jobs. However, he said that is not a sustainable long-term plan.
Both Sturns and Montgomery agreed that the partnership is not only good for those businesses and individuals currently in the workforce, but also for those who are going to do so in the future. “Technology changes so quickly,” Sturns said. “It may not be the same thing now that they need five or 10 years from now.” He stressed the importance of having business partners at the table to help navigation in such a direction.
Montgomery said it’s important to give young people a “line of sight as to what’s out there.” “For example, you may want to be in healthcare, but not be a doctor or nurse,” he said. “There are a lot of opportunities in healthcare without being a doctor or nurse.”
