Upper Cumberland TN
Path to Becoming an Intermediary
Presented by Lillian Hartgrove
Highlands Economic Partnership
Framework
• Highlands Economic Partnership: 4 Counties
– Programs of Work: Economic Development, Health
and Wellness, Workforce Development and Education
– WFD & E Goals Established: Preparing citizens for jobs
now and in the future
• Evolution: small committee to full program of
work
– Steering Committee established
– Chair and committee members chosen
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Assessment
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Conducted Drop Out and Labor Studies
Identified Goals to Address Studies
Created Sub-committees for each goal
Selected Sub-committee Chair and members
– Employers, K-12, higher education
– Meeting frequency and dates
– Reporting results and challenges to steering
committee, leadership and investors
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Funding Streams
• Campaign: every 4 years
• Cash and In-kind (Public and Private Sectors)
• Workforce Development Funding
– Phase 1 Two grants funded studies ($140,000)
and $3,000 in kind
– Phase 2 Two grants ($47,500) and $3,000 in kind
– Phase 3 A larger grant ($101,850) for 2 years and
$3,000 in kind
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Staffing
• First Funding Campaign: 2006-2009
– No dedicated staff
– 1/8 FTE allocated
• Second Funding Campaign: 2010-2013
– Part time fte allocated 3.5 years
– 1.5 ftes allocated for .5 years
• Current Funding Campaign: 2014-2017
– 1.5 ftes allocated for 1.5 years (grant)
– Remaining 2.5 years uncertain
– Future revenue streams uncertain
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Employer Engagement
• Began with Board Members and Investors
– Business and Industry Leaders
– Hospital CEOs
– University President
• Grew from Program of Work Goals and Objectives
– Committee members
– Advisory boards
– Associations (Manufacturing, Human Resources, etc.)
• Expanded by Asking/Inviting Participation
– Presentations to associations, civic organizations, and
elected officials
– Outlining engagement opportunities
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Intermediary Challenges
• Funding
– Stakeholders agree its a high priority
– Leave no stone unturned!
• Strategic plan implementation
– You can be in the hot seat
– Get out of it!
• Stakeholder alignment
– Keeping it
– Move it forward!
• Long Term Commitment
– Results not immediate
– Keep the passion!
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Intermediary Challenges
• Meetings and attendance
– You can build it but will they come?
– Do not give up!
• Group dynamics
– Ever changing with new players
– Work it!
• Commitment to deadlines
– Intricate and often a slippery slope
– Whose in the hot seat now?
• Analogy of flying the plane while building it
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Collective Rewards
• Success breeds success
• Contagious passion
• Collaboration and team work
• A lasting difference
– Children
– Economy
– Future
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Questions and Answers
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