[0:02] our um Otteril County quarterly
[0:04] workforce convening. It's good to see
[0:05] everyone online today. Um
[0:09] we are going to take today to um walk
[0:14] through we we did a little bit of a
[0:16] refresh of the county's workforce
[0:19] strategy. And it's good to be able to to
[0:21] have this group, this recurring kind of
[0:23] convening group that joins us um
[0:26] consistently to share this with um just
[0:29] because we feel like this is really um
[0:31] we got a lot of feedback in this refresh
[0:34] process from folks like you, employers
[0:37] and workforce partners um just to make
[0:39] sure that we're still doing the work
[0:41] that we should be doing right here at
[0:42] Ottertale County. So um glad to have
[0:45] everyone on today. Um we are recording
[0:47] today. who will send out a follow-up
[0:49] email as well as the recording of
[0:51] today's meeting um to to reference back
[0:55] to or for anyone who missed today, they
[0:57] can watch watch later as well. So, we'll
[0:59] do uh we'll walk through that OTC Works
[1:02] strategy refresh today. Um and then we
[1:05] also have a a new team member here at
[1:07] Outerail County that we're excited to
[1:08] introduce. So, we'll do that as well.
[1:10] And then um we'll most definitely have
[1:12] time for some any questions or
[1:14] discussion um around that strategy
[1:17] refresh or any uh burning questions that
[1:20] you have for Paige, our new workforce
[1:22] project manager. So we'll go ahead and
[1:25] jump right in. Um what we wanted to
[1:28] start with um I think on the last
[1:30] workforce convening if if you joined us
[1:32] in March, we kind of did a teaser that
[1:34] we would be updating the OTC works
[1:37] workforce strategy. So, it's the
[1:38] county's workforce development strategy.
[1:41] Um, as you can see here on our little
[1:43] timeline, we developed that back in 2021
[1:45] and five years has sure flown by fast
[1:48] and we think we've done a lot of good
[1:50] work in the meantime. Um, but just felt
[1:53] like it was a good good time to do a
[1:55] refresh, make sure we're still um
[1:59] advancing work that is supporting our
[2:01] employers and other workforce partners
[2:03] throughout the county. Um, so just to
[2:06] kind of give you a a background of some
[2:08] of that work since the strategy was
[2:10] developed back in 2021. Um, that same
[2:13] year we began hosting these quarterly
[2:16] workforce convenings. And we've
[2:17] consistently had a really good group of
[2:19] employers and workforce partners join
[2:20] us. We've we've had some conversations
[2:23] internally about do we keep doing these?
[2:25] Are they valuable? But every time we've
[2:27] got 30 to 40 people who join us. So we
[2:30] continue to have these until until folks
[2:32] don't show up anymore. And hopefully
[2:33] this is a good good sharing um space and
[2:37] just information gathering space um that
[2:39] we've been doing since since 2021 um in
[2:44] 2022. Then we hosted our very first um
[2:47] larger [clears throat]
[2:48] format in-person workforce summit. We've
[2:51] done I think three of those since 2022.
[2:55] Um, and those have been great as well to
[2:57] get everyone in the same room and really
[2:59] kind of create um, we've used those as
[3:01] an opportunity to create shared
[3:03] realities around our labor force and
[3:04] workforce situation um, in Ottertale
[3:07] County and then really more broadly even
[3:09] within the state of Minnesota. Um, as a
[3:13] follow-up to that workforce that very
[3:14] first workforce summit, we began sending
[3:16] quarterly email newsletters. So most of
[3:19] you are probably on that email
[3:20] newsletter and that's how you heard
[3:22] about today. Um, so we send those out
[3:25] just as as information and resource um,
[3:28] sharing. Um, that same year in 2022, we
[3:31] kind of started conceptualizing what the
[3:33] empowered worker program looked like. We
[3:35] didn't have that name for it back then,
[3:37] but started to look at um, what
[3:40] addressing barriers to employment would
[3:41] look like for some of our current
[3:43] residents, current workforce, um, or
[3:46] folks who are who were not in the
[3:47] workforce at the time and just
[3:48] brainstorming what that could look like.
[3:50] At the same time, we are also developing
[3:53] the uh youth workforce navigation
[3:56] program. Um so worked really closely
[3:59] with our school and education partners.
[4:01] Um and kind of started to pair them more
[4:05] closely with employers in industry and
[4:07] created some opportunities to have
[4:10] student learning about career paths and
[4:13] um future opportunities that they could
[4:14] explore. Uh 2023 was the first year,
[4:18] first full year of that youth workforce
[4:20] navigation program. Um so we really
[4:22] engaged deeply with our high schools and
[4:24] employers for some youth exposure to
[4:26] various different careers and pathways.
[4:29] Um in 2023 as well kind of continuing
[4:32] that brainstorming with empowered worker
[4:34] but then also just zooming out and
[4:36] looking at the broader workforce
[4:37] development kind of ecosystem. We did
[4:39] what we call the gap analysis. We talk
[4:42] to our workforce partners, employers,
[4:45] um, community action partners, folks
[4:47] within the county here, within our human
[4:49] services and probation departments to
[4:51] really get a good feel of what they wish
[4:53] they could do more of, what they felt
[4:55] like was missing. Um, and had some
[4:58] really good conversations that came out
[5:00] of that. um and and and continued the
[5:04] work with youth in 2024, but then also
[5:07] uh and kind of wrapped that up in 2024,
[5:10] focus on sustainability
[5:12] um within our schools. Really saw some
[5:14] success with our schools, kind of taking
[5:15] that work and leading it on their own.
[5:18] Um and then kind of switched gears to
[5:20] develop the empowered worker program
[5:22] with some of the information that we
[5:24] gathered from our gap analysis the
[5:26] previous year. um launched that with
[5:28] some support from some deed funding in
[5:31] 2024, continued that work really deeply
[5:34] in 2025. That was a a big priority in
[5:37] 2025 for us. Um serving individuals with
[5:40] barriers to employment and then
[5:42] providing that training and securing
[5:43] employment work kind of all wrapped into
[5:46] the empowered worker program. And um
[5:49] through that that long um 5 years and
[5:53] even going back before that we were also
[5:55] at the county involved in collaborating
[5:58] with Ottertale Lakes Country on resident
[6:00] recruitment efforts um and that's really
[6:03] kind of again focused on bringing more
[6:05] folks to the county um throughout that
[6:07] time. So that leads us to 2026. Um when
[6:11] we when we did our refresh of the
[6:14] strategy um and I think we've talked
[6:17] about a lot um OTC works stands for the
[6:20] OTC is Ottertale County but also we've
[6:22] broke it down and um called it
[6:24] opportunities, training and connection
[6:26] and those aligned with some action areas
[6:29] where we really focused a lot of our
[6:30] work on. So these next few slides kind
[6:33] of just dig in a little bit deeper to a
[6:35] lot of the work that was highlighted in
[6:36] that timeline. Um so opportunities are
[6:40] really focused on promoting the
[6:41] opportunities and the resources for
[6:43] workforce in Ottertale County. Um one of
[6:46] those efforts is what we call on the map
[6:48] efforts. So making sure that people know
[6:51] and Otter County is top of mind for them
[6:53] when they're thinking about relocating
[6:55] to a place to live and work. um that is
[6:58] really has been led by Ottertale Lakes
[7:01] Country and then the county collaborates
[7:02] where we can. Um through that effort we
[7:05] did a a video docu series with Corey
[7:08] Hepa that we called Rural by Choice that
[7:10] really highlighted the the lifestyle of
[7:12] a rural area. Um talked about what it
[7:15] what it felt like to live here and work
[7:17] here. Um, we've had, like I said, that
[7:20] ongoing resident recruitment, marketing,
[7:23] as well as some some really creative
[7:25] partnerships with, uh, Gopher athletics
[7:27] and just some some various different
[7:29] colleges and schools to do advertising
[7:32] and then student and athlete engagement
[7:35] opportunities, too. Um, and then talent
[7:37] tourism is another um, initiative under
[7:40] that work, really building a pipeline of
[7:43] students who may think about moving back
[7:45] to a rural area when they finish school.
[7:48] Um
[7:49] along with that in partnership with
[7:51] Ottertell Lakes Country, we had launched
[7:52] our jobs portal back in 2021 that is
[7:55] still operating. It's a single automated
[7:58] feed of jobs available throughout the
[8:00] county that lives on Ottertale Lakes
[8:02] country's website and really provides a
[8:04] central location for job seekers to look
[8:07] for what's available as far as jobs go
[8:09] within Ottertale County. So that is
[8:11] still operating. Still does get really
[8:13] good traffic living on that website and
[8:15] that's an ongoing effort for us.
[8:18] Um here I just have a couple of
[8:20] snapshots of you know we have in
[8:22] partnership with Ottertale Lakes Country
[8:24] they do featured job posts. They kind of
[8:26] highlight again the the lifestyle of
[8:29] Ottertale County um through some
[8:32] different uh so social media marketing
[8:34] and then ads and then again some of
[8:36] those more um engaging experiences where
[8:39] we've had and invited students to come
[8:41] and experience Otter County as well. So
[8:43] we've got a couple of U of M um
[8:46] University of Minnesota uh volleyball
[8:48] players that came up for a visit and
[8:50] then as well as some some students from
[8:52] the U of M too. So that's been some
[8:54] really fun um engaging and
[8:56] transformative work with those students.
[8:59] Um jumping into the second action area
[9:02] is really focused on training and I kind
[9:04] of highlighted a couple of these pieces
[9:05] already. Um what we bucket into that
[9:08] action area is our in-person workforce
[9:10] summits. these quarterly workforce
[9:13] convenings, um the email newsletters
[9:15] that go out and then um didn't mention
[9:19] this prior, but uh have really found a
[9:22] great partnership with MState in their
[9:24] workforce development solutions um kind
[9:26] of arm to do leadership and mental
[9:29] health first aid training that we
[9:30] offered to employers in Ottertale County
[9:33] at a discounted price for their
[9:35] workforce to go through. So, that was a
[9:36] great partnership as well. Um and then
[9:39] jumping into the third action area is
[9:41] connections. That's really where the
[9:43] bulk of our work has been for the past
[9:45] five years. Um we, you know, talked
[9:48] briefly already about the youth
[9:50] workforce navigation program. That was
[9:52] um we leveraged some some state funding
[9:55] from the youth skills training grant to
[9:56] really get that going. And with that
[9:58] funding, we're able to offer um a number
[10:02] of field trips with anywhere from 15 to
[10:05] 60 students that got to go out for a day
[10:07] and experience um what a what working in
[10:11] Ottertale County and different
[10:12] industries looked like. So we did
[10:13] manufacturing tours, healthcare tours,
[10:16] um lots of different variety,
[10:18] agriculture, all those things. Um I also
[10:22] talked about building that workbased
[10:23] learning capacity within our schools so
[10:25] that there is sustainability of those
[10:27] efforts. So worked really closely with a
[10:29] lot of the workbased learning
[10:30] coordinators throughout the county um to
[10:33] really build their connections to
[10:35] industry um kind of just learn and build
[10:38] their skills with engaging with those
[10:40] employers um and then obviously that
[10:43] helps sustain those efforts too. So it's
[10:45] really great to see some of those those
[10:47] coordinators pick that up and and have
[10:49] really um had a lot of success with
[10:52] their individual school programs in
[10:54] that. Um, we had built a K12 navigator
[10:57] directory which was kind of a similar to
[10:59] the jobs portal but um more generalized
[11:02] to employers that were willing to
[11:03] partner with schools on various
[11:05] different activities. Everything from
[11:06] hosting a field trip to donating
[11:08] materials. Um, so that was a great kind
[11:11] of one-stop shop for our schools and our
[11:13] businesses to to leverage.
[11:16] um built some employer and parent guides
[11:19] too just to share good information and
[11:21] make sure that those uh those efforts
[11:24] were able to sustain and that people
[11:26] were equipped with best practices and
[11:28] then also had convened a a group of
[11:30] employer and partner um employers and
[11:33] partners in an advisory committee to
[11:35] guide that work as well. Um we don't
[11:37] talk too much about it under workforce
[11:39] but it definitely is part of our our
[11:41] workforce strategy and that's childcare
[11:43] capacity expansion. that's still a need
[11:45] that we hear from employers and and
[11:47] workforce labor force often. Um, in that
[11:50] work, we've done a number of rounds for
[11:52] uh direct provider grants to support
[11:54] their businesses. Um, we have leveraged
[11:59] uh some West Central Initiative grant
[12:01] funding to work with um some child care
[12:04] project managers that provide support
[12:06] and technical assistance both direct to
[12:09] providers but also for community
[12:11] projects. Um and that's that community
[12:14] project advancement piece as well. So
[12:16] have had a a support role in a number of
[12:19] projects in um with the expansion of a
[12:22] center in PUM in partnership with a few
[12:25] employers and their support. Um
[12:28] as well as the more recent project in
[12:30] Ottertale with a couple of twin homes
[12:33] expanding capacity in that community. um
[12:36] as well as an employer here in Fergus
[12:38] Falls expanding um some of some
[12:42] community capacity and and building twin
[12:44] homes as well to expand that. Um so
[12:46] that's been some really exciting work
[12:48] and it's peripheral to workforce, but we
[12:49] really feel like it is a a key piece of
[12:51] that too. So I have a couple of
[12:53] snapshots here of mostly that youth
[12:56] youth workforce engagement um work. So
[12:59] this is the picture of um some some
[13:02] tours that were offered with students um
[13:05] in healthcare and this one specifically
[13:07] with Ring Doll EMT um career pathways.
[13:11] There was some internships as well. We
[13:13] had some great employers that offered
[13:15] internships and really that hands-on
[13:17] learning experience for students. So in
[13:19] the top left corner that's a student who
[13:21] did an internship with Shoremaster. Um,
[13:24] and like I said, a number of other
[13:25] employers who hosted students in various
[13:27] different capacities, which was awesome
[13:29] to see. And then that K12 navigator
[13:32] directory and the the parents guide is
[13:34] pictured here as well, just as good
[13:35] resources.
[13:37] Um, and that kind of leads us to what
[13:39] has been our our core focus of the last
[13:42] year, two years I would say now I
[13:44] suppose. Um, and that's the empowered
[13:46] worker program. So that program provides
[13:48] training and supportive navigation
[13:50] services to individuals already in
[13:53] Ottertale County that address or that
[13:55] need some kind of support addressing
[13:56] barriers to employment to obtain high
[13:59] demand livable wage jobs. Um those
[14:02] participants have have worked with a a
[14:05] key um staff member here at Otto County
[14:08] to develop an individualized plan and
[14:10] then receive those individualized
[14:12] support services that help them remove
[14:14] the barriers during their kind of career
[14:16] exploration phase and then achieving
[14:19] whatever sort of training is necessary
[14:20] for them to then gain employment. So,
[14:23] um, we've had that program has been
[14:26] really, really awesome and and quite
[14:28] frankly life-changing for some of the
[14:30] participants and we're excited to
[14:31] continue that with with some upcoming
[14:33] changes here um, this year and going
[14:36] forward. So, have a couple of of
[14:38] snapshots of some success stories of
[14:40] participants that went through that
[14:42] program um, that are all available on
[14:46] the county's website or various
[14:47] different news news sources. So, it's
[14:49] been fun to to feature them as well.
[14:52] Um, so with all of that obviously
[14:55] leading us to today, um, it's been five
[14:59] years of a lot of really exciting work
[15:02] and wanted to make sure that that
[15:03] exciting work continues and is still
[15:06] serving our employers and our workforce
[15:09] partners throughout the county. And so
[15:11] I'm going to turn it over to Amy and
[15:13] she's going to kind of talk through what
[15:14] our what our process was for doing that
[15:17] true strategy refresh and doing some
[15:19] engagement with with those partners.
[15:22] Great. Thanks, Sarah. Uh, so I think I
[15:26] know most of the folks on the call, but
[15:27] there might be a few who are um I'm not
[15:30] uh haven't been able to connect with
[15:31] previously, but my name is Amy Baldwin.
[15:33] I'm the community development director
[15:35] here at Ottertale County. And uh really
[15:39] um uh glad to be here today and and have
[15:42] such a great group to to talk through
[15:44] where we're looking to go into the
[15:46] future from our workforce um development
[15:49] effort. So, as Sarah said, you know, we
[15:51] we kind of were um time flies a surprise
[15:54] to see that it had been five years since
[15:56] we had created that original OTC works
[15:59] strategy uh with with partners and and
[16:02] informed through various um mechanisms
[16:05] uh back in 2021 and thinking about how
[16:08] things have changed. you know, 2021
[16:11] um we were still definitely in um
[16:14] pandemic uh time frame, you know,
[16:17] impacts to employers resulting from that
[16:19] and and have really shifted. Things have
[16:21] changed a lot in the last uh last five
[16:24] years and we we've heard that from our
[16:26] employers, from ourselves as a large
[16:27] employer. Uh we see that shift um
[16:30] happening as we speak. So you know as we
[16:33] look uh again where what are the spaces
[16:35] that we could be involved with um to try
[16:38] to support workforce development and
[16:40] thinking about that attraction retention
[16:42] um training you know the actual talent
[16:44] development um and when we talk about
[16:46] training it is a little different maybe
[16:48] than this this broader holistic um piece
[16:51] uh but employer supports is a big part
[16:53] of what we do or what we have done um
[16:55] and then supporting employees and
[16:57] thinking about that quality of life and
[16:59] connection. So these are kind of just
[17:00] broad buckets that we started with as we
[17:02] looked at that refresh of, you know,
[17:04] what has changed, what's what's looking
[17:06] different, where can we best support our
[17:08] employers and work with our stakeholders
[17:10] on what that looks like. So, what we did
[17:12] um this past spring, we convened a a a
[17:15] smallalish group of employers of
[17:18] different sizes, different industries,
[17:20] different um geographic location across
[17:22] the county, as well as our partners in
[17:25] education, both K12 and higher ed, and
[17:28] came together with um and had just a
[17:30] really great discussion about, you know,
[17:33] wanting to hear back from them, you
[17:34] know, what what has helped um what has
[17:37] been impactful or useful for you that
[17:39] we've done in the past. um and you know
[17:42] what what that would look like. So um we
[17:45] did a kind of an exercise with them to
[17:47] look at our strengths and as well as
[17:49] what gaps they saw still existing or
[17:51] continuing to exist or expecting to come
[17:54] forward and we'll kind of walk through
[17:56] some of those responses that we got from
[17:58] them. So um current strengths right I
[18:01] mean the rural by choice the the
[18:02] resident recruitment work really
[18:04] resonated um and came out you know that
[18:06] messaging that through Ottertale Lakes
[18:08] country we are really pushing out to a
[18:11] very large audience um to really
[18:13] highlight Ottertale County as a place
[18:15] that um to to come and live and to work
[18:19] and really thinking about those in their
[18:21] prime working years with some of that
[18:22] messaging um all based on data that we
[18:25] have um had started with back um back in
[18:28] 161 17 when we first started that and
[18:31] and that still resonates to be true with
[18:33] folks about why they choose um that
[18:35] simpler life. Um bringing people
[18:38] together, hosting our summits was
[18:39] something that was highlighted as
[18:41] strengths. You know, learning from each
[18:42] other, you know, being in the same space
[18:44] as other employers is something that um
[18:47] doesn't happen a lot. And even in our
[18:49] our kind of our focus group that we had
[18:51] that came across that new connections
[18:53] were made just in that that meeting for
[18:55] folks who hadn't connected because
[18:57] they're you know not in the same
[18:59] community so they just haven't had the
[19:01] opportunity to cross paths. So learning
[19:03] from each other um and thinking about
[19:05] that and and then the information of
[19:07] course that is presented and shared out
[19:09] at those summits um came across again as
[19:11] as value or strength that we're able to
[19:13] be a convenor and bring people together
[19:16] both um in person and and virtually like
[19:18] we are today. again, Ottertail Lakes
[19:20] Country um specifically called out in
[19:23] what that the work that they do as a
[19:25] partner and really supporting um across,
[19:28] you know, promoting our communities,
[19:29] promoting our county overall. And then
[19:32] those employers, like Sarah shared a
[19:33] couple of those um employer um job
[19:36] opportunity post, things like that that
[19:38] really um connect that messaging like,
[19:40] "Hey, you just had a great weekend here.
[19:42] Maybe you want to come back and and move
[19:44] and live here." um you know, this time
[19:46] of the year is is ripe for that as as
[19:48] I'm sure everyone who was around this
[19:50] weekend experienced lots of folks from
[19:53] um out of the area that that maybe would
[19:55] love to to make their home here. um uh
[19:58] MState, you know, we've already uh noted
[20:00] them as a great partner and and they
[20:02] were recognized as well and really being
[20:04] responsive and and looking at the
[20:06] changing um workforce needs and employer
[20:09] needs to to train and and equip um those
[20:13] uh employees for for the needs that are
[20:15] there. And then child care. Um the work
[20:17] that we do to um help again bring people
[20:20] together, bring opportunities to
[20:22] fruition, providing technical
[20:23] assistance, grant writing, things like
[20:25] that to help expand that capacity of
[20:28] child care. Uh so those were some that
[20:30] that popped up. Um but we also asked
[20:32] them what are the gaps, you know, what
[20:34] are we still missing from from the work
[20:36] that's happening? And um housing housing
[20:39] [laughter] number, you know, number one
[20:41] and two there. Um not not surprising.
[20:44] And as we look back to why we started
[20:46] our housing initiative, a different
[20:48] different side, um it was around
[20:50] workforce. And so, right, that
[20:52] interconnectivity remains and not
[20:55] surprise to to most, but that affordable
[20:58] housing, the starter housing, the um you
[21:01] know, it's it's just gotten so um uh
[21:04] challenging for folks to obtain housing
[21:08] that is within their um general um uh
[21:14] capacity from an income standpoint. And
[21:16] so that is something we continue to work
[21:18] on. We as as many of you know, we do
[21:20] work in the the housing realm pretty
[21:22] heavily as well. And so making sure
[21:25] we're are continuing to connect those
[21:27] two, you know, what is the affordability
[21:29] um needs of our workforce truly? You
[21:33] know, we talk about workforce housing a
[21:35] lot, but what does that mean and and
[21:36] help people even further understand that
[21:39] as we work to um both develop and
[21:41] preserve housing? And really that
[21:43] preserved housing is often what's most
[21:45] affordable uh for for folks to get into.
[21:48] So um you know that that always is a
[21:52] gap. Um and you know just thinking about
[21:54] how do we um connect people you know to
[21:58] when we were doing the youth work we had
[22:01] you know a a kind of a it was pretty
[22:03] basic but it worked. Um a connection
[22:05] through a website to um allow people to
[22:08] to have those relationships. um that was
[22:11] on the youth side, but how do we, you
[22:12] know, kind of create that um those
[22:14] connections maybe a little differently
[22:16] and and how to explore careers um and
[22:19] understand what's available here in
[22:20] Ottertale County? That's something that
[22:23] we really worked heavily with the youth
[22:24] work when we were more deeply involved
[22:26] in that was to ensure the students knew
[22:29] what the career opportunities were in
[22:31] the future. you know, it might not be
[22:33] this year or next year or even the year
[22:34] after for those students um as they
[22:37] pursue other opportunities or
[22:39] experiences um maybe outside of
[22:41] Ottertell County, but for them to know
[22:43] and have an under, you know, at least
[22:45] some understanding of what opportunities
[22:47] might they be able to come back to and
[22:49] connect into. So, that was a big part of
[22:51] the youth work that we did. um you know
[22:54] some uh changes with MState as far as
[22:57] you know programs moving but also some
[22:59] really exciting um opportunities uh with
[23:02] MState as well. Uh and then we did talk
[23:04] quite a bit about um just the challenges
[23:07] of connecting into communities. So, we
[23:09] do the work, we get someone here, an
[23:11] employer is able to recruit somebody um
[23:13] and get them hired and and they find
[23:16] housing hopefully, but then there just
[23:17] isn't um always the opportunity to get
[23:21] connected into that community and feel
[23:23] more you have your place in community
[23:25] and not just you know with an employer
[23:27] or um you know those kind of more direct
[23:30] relationships. So, that was uh something
[23:33] that we talked about and it's it's hard.
[23:35] We we've had, you know, some little
[23:37] efforts up and down and tried to help
[23:39] with with some of those and a couple of
[23:41] our communities have done deeper um
[23:44] partnerships with U of M extension to
[23:46] think about welcoming communities and
[23:48] what that looks like for them. So, um
[23:51] you know, we'll continue to think about
[23:53] that and and recognize it's absolutely a
[23:55] gap there as well. Uh and then finally,
[23:59] you know, again, I kind of talked about
[24:00] the opportunities. Um so um that
[24:03] lifestyle um piece and thinking about
[24:06] the students and um focusing in on those
[24:10] who maybe have a connection a connection
[24:12] to rural but maybe it's not Ottertale
[24:15] County specific but have that rural um
[24:18] desire and understanding of the pace of
[24:20] life and and may may wish to come back
[24:22] to. So really thinking about leaning
[24:23] into that with that talent tourism or
[24:26] you know another effort um and what that
[24:28] could look like. um the uh you know uh
[24:32] MState and other resource sharing. So
[24:34] what else is out there for for training
[24:36] funding um I think I saw one of our
[24:38] partners at DLI on the call earlier and
[24:41] that's absolutely uh from the state
[24:43] department of labor and industry has
[24:44] some great programs that is who um
[24:46] helped fund our youth workforce efforts
[24:49] uh through a grant there and as Sarah
[24:50] mentioned a number of our school
[24:52] districts have been able to continue to
[24:54] leverage uh that funding um uh multiple
[24:58] times now. So uh and then there's uh on
[25:01] the adult side for apprenticeships and
[25:03] and other um programs there. So that is
[25:07] something that we are looking at. How
[25:08] can we better connect our businesses
[25:10] with those available resources
[25:11] predominantly at the state um state
[25:14] level for those uh again uh how do we
[25:18] continue to connect industry and schools
[25:20] getting those those connections made to
[25:22] further that um what are those
[25:24] opportunities going forward? what are
[25:25] the you know um the careers in demand
[25:28] that are here not just in that global
[25:30] sense you know sometimes I um I've
[25:33] experienced you know where there's a
[25:35] general discussion about what are those
[25:37] careers that are in demand and it's it's
[25:39] broader even if it's statewide we're
[25:41] different here locally so how do we help
[25:44] um think about that uh and more of that
[25:47] localized effort and and whether it's
[25:49] arming our school districts with that
[25:50] localized information you know how can
[25:52] we how can we help to bring either data
[25:54] uh or um connections uh forward to help
[25:58] get those students more um connected
[26:00] with our local industry. And then
[26:02] finally, you know, what are those those
[26:04] onboarding or welcoming resources that
[26:06] might be able to help um folks plug in
[26:09] better in community and um you know what
[26:12] that might look like. So continue to
[26:14] think about what that is and we welcome
[26:16] all ideas and what that might look like
[26:18] and maybe it looks different in each
[26:20] community depending on you know size and
[26:22] capacities and and if there's ways we
[26:24] can help um share those best practices
[26:27] or things that are working in in one
[26:29] community to another that's um would be
[26:31] would be great to do that.
[26:34] Um so with all of that um we took that
[26:37] feedback and we discussed with our
[26:40] subcommittee of our community
[26:41] development agency board um that's
[26:44] focused on workforce and as well as the
[26:46] full CDA board in the last couple months
[26:49] about you know what what is our role
[26:52] what should we be thinking about what
[26:53] should be our guiding principles and
[26:56] that's where we landed here with these
[26:58] bullets and I'll just kind of talk
[26:59] through a few of them um but you know we
[27:03] know the the workforce needs and and our
[27:05] the growth of our communities um are
[27:08] interconnected, you know, including
[27:09] housing and child care. All of these
[27:12] things have to come together for our
[27:14] communities to thrive and for our
[27:16] families and residents and workforce to
[27:18] uh be supported.
[27:21] Um, we know the data. Our our workforce
[27:24] is projected to decline because of our
[27:26] aging population, people aging out of
[27:28] the workforce and our younger um our
[27:31] growth in population isn't offsetting
[27:33] that. And so, um, that's that's a a data
[27:36] point reality that we have to just
[27:38] continue to keep in mind. You know,
[27:40] again, numbers are shifting a, you know,
[27:42] over um over time, but that's um that's
[27:46] the window we're in for some some period
[27:48] of time as far as the the aging and as
[27:50] we we get through that um that bubble.
[27:53] But we have to make sure we're building
[27:54] up that population um and uh available
[27:58] workforce. Um skills are changing,
[28:01] right? I mean we've we've probably today
[28:03] if you turned on the radio or you know
[28:05] read your your um news briefings uh AI
[28:08] was being talked about that is a huge
[28:10] shift um in thinking about how that
[28:13] impacts workforce how it impacts
[28:15] employers and how they get work done and
[28:17] how do we prepare a workforce to be
[28:19] ready for that and and and many other
[28:21] things but that's the one that seems to
[28:23] often be top of mind is that changing um
[28:26] environment uh a lot driven by AI
[28:31] um again that that need to recruit the
[28:33] workforce connected back to that
[28:35] reduction in labor force. Thinking about
[28:37] um recruiting and retaining those those
[28:39] residents in those the prime working
[28:41] years, you know, 30 to 45ish um is kind
[28:45] of the the window we look at. Um and
[28:48] then keeping that that in the back of
[28:51] our mind or forefront actually is that
[28:53] workforce is really about the people. So
[28:55] their skills, what are the skills that
[28:57] they need, what are their own
[28:58] experiences and that you know their
[29:01] backgrounds all matter. You know that's
[29:04] um when we initially envisioned the
[29:07] empowered worker program, it was
[29:09] thinking about who was still on the
[29:10] sidelines of of workforce. We had a we
[29:13] have a still a high workforce
[29:15] participation rate. Um but those who
[29:17] weren't participating, what were you
[29:20] know what what was behind that? And
[29:22] often it was either real or perceived
[29:24] barriers um to the workforce. And so
[29:27] what that um you know looks like and
[29:29] what's what's having that perceived um
[29:32] challenge or real um it it uh it
[29:35] matters. We need to continue to think
[29:37] about it from that that people centric
[29:39] personentric um position. And then
[29:42] finally, partnerships. Like like
[29:44] anything that we do um within our work
[29:46] in community development and housing,
[29:47] it's all about the partnerships. We're
[29:49] able to build and sustain and and think
[29:52] about, you know, where there's gaps or
[29:53] where someone else might be better
[29:55] equipped to to be part of that solution
[29:57] or to fill that gap and or where can we
[29:59] do it together. And so, um, just always
[30:02] having that as the the foundation of the
[30:05] work that we do, I think, um, helps, um,
[30:08] hopefully, um, everyone be more
[30:10] successful, whether it's the employer or
[30:12] the individual, um, and our county and
[30:14] communities as a whole. So, those are
[30:17] kind of the what we want to keep in
[30:19] mind. We have these um, principles that
[30:21] we've used for our housing efforts as
[30:24] well. And so it it kind of just grounds
[30:26] our work and gives us a little bit of
[30:28] the why of what um why why is the county
[30:31] involved, you know, because of these
[30:33] these items that help um you know, again
[30:36] guide the the investment and the work
[30:38] that we're doing and the prioritization
[30:40] of workforce.
[30:42] Um so those will look a little different
[30:44] as we talk about strategies um and
[30:47] efforts, but the core actions that were
[30:49] developed back in 2021 have really
[30:52] remained the same. a couple of word
[30:53] tweaks, but these are the actions that
[30:55] we've talked about that that if you've
[30:57] been on any of our um been part of any
[30:59] of our workforce efforts, um convenings,
[31:02] virtual or in person, we've talked about
[31:04] these three things. So, again, promoting
[31:06] the availability of jobs um and
[31:08] workforce resources. So, how do we
[31:10] continue to do that? Um help our
[31:12] employers promote their opportunities
[31:14] and recruit as well as retain their
[31:17] workers most effectively and
[31:18] efficiently. And then finally again
[31:20] around that partnerships. How do we
[31:22] create partnerships to improve career
[31:24] readiness, reduce barriers to employment
[31:26] and then align skills for the future
[31:28] workforce needs? Really thinking about
[31:29] our youth as well as um the retraining
[31:32] or upskilling or reskilling of our
[31:35] current workforce. So those are the
[31:37] action areas that we um will be
[31:39] continuing to to follow and guide the
[31:42] work that we do, the programs and
[31:43] initiatives that we might launch or
[31:45] advance. um you know in line with those
[31:47] principles on the why why are we doing
[31:49] this work. Um so with that I um would
[31:55] love to introduce uh Paige Carlson and I
[31:59] will just turn it over to Paige to talk
[32:01] about the work she'll be doing here at
[32:03] the county. So take it away Paige.
[32:06] » Alrighty. Thank you Amy. Um so I'm just
[32:10] so excited to be here Paige Carlson. Um,
[32:14] one thing that I've been thinking of,
[32:16] uh, as Sarah and Amy had been talking, I
[32:18] talked to an employer yesterday who was
[32:21] just frustrated with some of the folks
[32:24] coming in and didn't understand the
[32:26] value of networking. And so, it's just
[32:29] great to really hear about, you know,
[32:31] partnerships through all of this and
[32:33] seeing so many people on the call. Um,
[32:36] so I think it's great and I hope this
[32:38] group really keeps going and coming
[32:40] together for these. Uh but anyways,
[32:42] Paige Carlson. I um am coming from I was
[32:46] with Community Action in Elbow Lake. Uh
[32:50] for the last few years, I was a director
[32:52] in the aging services as well as asset
[32:55] development. And so I'm excited being an
[32:57] Ottertale County girl, being back in
[33:00] Ottertale County um with all of you. And
[33:02] I do recognize a few names on the list.
[33:06] So just know that I see you. And shout
[33:09] out, hello. Um, and I'm excited to get
[33:12] to know all of the rest of you because
[33:14] that is going to be a big part of my
[33:16] role is just really connecting with all
[33:18] of you and understanding um, what your
[33:21] needs are and what we can do to help and
[33:24] support you and just really getting to
[33:27] to know everything that you have going
[33:29] on in your world. And then another part
[33:32] of my role is also to continue that
[33:34] empowered worker program. uh just
[33:37] helping be that workforce navigator for
[33:39] those participants. We do currently have
[33:42] funding for an agricultural career path.
[33:45] So, it's for empowered workers who are
[33:48] wanting to pursue a career in egg. And
[33:51] so, I of course want to get to know all
[33:54] of you and uh build those partnerships
[33:57] with you. Uh but definitely specifically
[34:00] with any of you folks out there. Um, I
[34:03] have connected with a few of you already
[34:06] and we've set up some different job
[34:07] shadowing opportunities. So, that's been
[34:10] great. Um, so yeah, I'm just really
[34:12] excited to be here and to keep the work
[34:15] going.
[34:20] » Great. Thanks, Paige. And again,
[34:22] welcome. We're excited to have you here
[34:23] at the county. Um the as as Paige said
[34:28] she'll you know she'll be outreaching to
[34:29] employers a across industry but a
[34:32] special focus on those egg partners
[34:34] right now and and that does have a you
[34:36] know somewhat broad you know food
[34:37] processing is you know things adjacent
[34:40] to egg are involved in that that
[34:42] pipeline of agriculture and and um from
[34:45] start to finish uh is is part of that.
[34:48] So, um, so always looking for partners
[34:50] across there to see where where that
[34:53] might look. Um, so I know with that we
[34:56] can open up to questions. Uh, was is
[34:58] that right, Sarah? I'm looking to Sarah.
[35:00] [laughter]
[35:01] » Yep. Um, or discussion or, you know,
[35:04] feel free to drop things in the chat or
[35:06] go ahead and unmute. We're a pretty
[35:07] small enough group. We'll we can manage
[35:10] that. that if there's any questions
[35:11] about the work we're doing, questions
[35:12] for Paige, um, or if you want to drop
[35:16] your, you know, if you're if you're
[35:17] ready to to connect with Paige this
[35:18] week, drop your well, I don't want to
[35:20] commit to Paige's availability in the
[35:22] near future.
[35:24] » Drop your email in the chat and and
[35:26] we'll for sure get you on that list.
[35:28] Yeah,
[35:29] » I can pop in anytime. So, whenever you
[35:31] got time, I'll make it work.
[35:33] » Yeah. So, if you're open to a, you know,
[35:36] um, connection with Paige or, you know,
[35:38] want to make sure you get, um,
[35:39] prioritized on that, drop that in the
[35:42] chat or reach out to Paige. Our emails
[35:43] are up here. Um, now
[35:48] um,
[35:51] quiet group today. Anyone?
[35:58] I think just to add one of the things
[35:59] that we wanted to highlight is um with
[36:02] PA's role it really is more than
[36:04] empowered worker. Um that's obviously a
[36:07] a a big initiative but um that employer
[36:11] outreach and engagement and really
[36:13] identifying those needs and and trying
[36:14] to be I think a little bit of technical
[36:17] assistance but just a lot of support um
[36:20] and be that that kind of one-stop shop
[36:22] or tasking page with becoming an expert
[36:25] in lots of things. So, um, we're excited
[36:28] to to hear what your needs are from all
[36:32] all employers. I mean, egg focused, like
[36:34] we said, but all employers and just
[36:36] really identify where we can be most
[36:39] helpful.
[36:41] » Yep. and as well as partners. You know,
[36:43] we know that programs and and um
[36:46] opportunities or uh you know, how how
[36:49] workforce is supported, you know,
[36:51] changes and es and flows and evolves and
[36:53] and so just making sure we're staying up
[36:56] to speed on what else is happening, you
[36:57] know, regionally and statewide. Um and
[37:00] how, you know, how we can help again our
[37:02] employers tap into those um like Sarah
[37:05] Sarah and Paige said,
[37:13] Okay, I'm counting in my head for the
[37:15] awkward silence that you're supposed to
[37:17] allow space. [laughter]
[37:21] If there aren't any questions or
[37:22] comments or any discussion, just a
[37:24] reminder, we will send out a link to the
[37:26] recording and the slides for today. So,
[37:28] you'll have um emails and contact
[37:31] information and then some of obviously
[37:33] the the background of what we've talked
[37:34] about today. Um, if there's anyone else
[37:37] within your organizations that you'd
[37:39] want to make sure does know about the
[37:41] strategy refresh or should be connecting
[37:43] with PA page, please feel free to to
[37:46] share that follow-up information with
[37:48] them. Um, that would be a really great
[37:50] touch point and and we can also get them
[37:53] um on our distribution list for future
[37:56] convenings and newsletters and all those
[37:57] things too. So, um, use that as a as a
[38:00] pass along as well.
[38:05] All right. Well, seeing uh no one hop
[38:08] off mute or or express a a desire to to
[38:12] chat in the group, uh we will conclude
[38:15] and give you guys a little bit of time
[38:16] back and just watch for the follow-up
[38:18] from Sarah. And always know we are here
[38:20] to partner and think about creative
[38:22] solutions and uh unique opportunities
[38:25] and and uh um continue the work that
[38:29] needs to be done to support workforce.
[38:30] So, take care everyone.
[38:33] Thanks everybody. Bye.
[38:36] » Thanks everybody. Good job today.