Workforce development 101

By its very nature, workforce development is a community prosperity initiative. After all, helping workers gain valuable skills attacks the roots of poverty. Training workers for living-wage jobs can help break the cycle of dead-end work. What’s more, boosting the skills of Whatcom County workers helps local companies fill important jobs so they can grow.…

Read More

Job shadow program helps Whatcom youth imagine future careers

The Whatcom Business Alliance’s Youth Engagement Initiative is working to make real its vision of a dynamic local economy in which communities, schools, businesses and policy-makers operate together in support of our youth, the emerging workforce. How exactly would the community support youth in this model? Through the promotion of academic and career pathways, workplace…

Read More

Job shadow & local workplace tours in Whatcom County

If you are an educator and would like to learn more about the Junior Achievement Job Shadow visit their website or contact Whatcom County Program Director, Elaine Christensen. If you are a business and would like to host a school tour of your workplace, contact WBA.

Read More

Career Connect Opportunities for Education & Industry

Open Your Business to Youth Apprenticeships Demand from our local industries tells us how workforce shortages are a barrier to their growth. Educators, in particular, those in Career-technical education, need our help connecting their students to local workplace environments, expectations and job opportunities. The Youth Engagement initiative is currently organizing efforts to bring youth apprenticeships in…

Read More

Build your workforce with an apprenticeship program

  One effective way for manufacturers to develop skilled workers is through apprenticeship programs, which are again taking hold among manufacturers in the U.S. as they look for ways to address their workforce needs. Per the U.S. Department of Labor, apprenticeship is an “earn and learn” training model that combines work-based learning with related classroom…

Read More

WBA announces $50,000 contribution to Youth Engagement Initiative

April 19th, 2018 Whatcom Business Alliance Announces $50,000 Commitment to Phase Two of the Youth Engagement Initiative (YEI)  Whatcom Business Alliance (WBA) Board Chairman Doug Thomas, President Tony Larson, and education committee co-chairs Laura McKinney, NW Government Affairs and Public Relations Director for Alcoa and Tom Kenney, recently retired Regional President for Washington Federal, announced…

Read More

Whatcom Entrepreneurs Inspiring Youth…

Whatcom Business Alliance’s Youth Engagement Initiative launched in February of 2018 with a presentation from four Whatcom County Business Founders/Entrepreneurs.  Watch Whatcom County business owners Kevin Menard of Transition Bikes, Anne-Marie Faiola of Bramble Berry, Erin Baker of Erin Bakers Wholesome Baked Goods and Mike Andes of Augusta Lawn Care Services.  Watch the playlist of the 4 videos below.

Read More