Hartford is among four communities that will assist local manufacturers and healthcare employers in changing their business practices to improve hiring, retention and engagement of frontline workers.
HARTFORD, CT -- The National Fund for Workforce Solutions today announced that it is awarding $100,000 to Workforce Solutions of Metro Hartford to advance job quality strategies in the manufacturing and healthcare industries. The grants, made possible through The Prudential Foundation, will enable local employers to incorporate new skill development strategies and business practices that will improve their competitiveness and result in better jobs for workers. Workforce Solutions of Metro Hartford was chosen from the National network of more than 30 communities to lead this innovative program. The selected communities— Hartford, Atlanta, Boston and Dallas —will develop and share successful approaches to improving the quality of frontline positions.
The National Fund’s Job Quality Initiative is focused on expanding the number of good jobs for American workers by promoting business practices and community investments that support workers and businesses. National Fund collaboratives will partner with companies to implement new hiring and training strategies that will enhance productivity and growth while improving key conditions for workers such as learning new skills, higher wages, better benefits, improved supervision, incentive bonuses and opportunities for advancement.
“From our work with thousands of employers, we understand that a ‘good job’ is key for workers, companies and communities to succeed,” said Fred Dedrick, President and CEO of the National Fund. “By effectively hiring, training, engaging and empowering entry-level staff, companies create a competitive advantage. That is why our local partners are working directly with businesses to help them understand what ‘makes a good job’ and how to institute practices that sustain them.”
“As a leading founder of Workforce Solutions Collaborative of Metro Hartford, United Way is commited to connecting those in need with quality jobs that can help people in our communities find their way to a more financially secure future,” said Paula S. Gilberto, President and CEO, United Way of Central and Northeastern Connecticut. “We look forward to our continued collaboration with Workforce Solutions to advance job quality strategies in the manufacturing and healthcare industries.”
A total of seven cities will be participating in the program. An additional three cities will be announced in late spring. Each collaborative will be developing strategies tailored to their labor market, workforce system, employer partners and unique challenges.
The Workforce Solutions Collaborative of Metro Hartford is partnering with the Connecticut Center for Advanced Technologies to help four companies increase the productivity of their employees and the quality of their jobs.
Atlanta CareerRise, in partnership with the Construction Ready Program, is addressing job quality issues impacting the retention and advancement of new hires within Georgia’s construction industry.
SkillWorks, Boston is partnering with JVS Boston to help businesses in the healthcare and hospitality industries more effectively hire and retain frontline workers. The project will focus on securing fair and equable wages, creating career pathways to higher paying jobs, providing peer mentoring and access to academic and career coaching, and a series of process changes including job redesign and cross-training.
Pathways to Work, the United Way of Metropolitan Dallas, and the DFW Hospital Council Foundation will work with members of the Dallas Healthcare Learning Consortium to solve a shared workforce challenge: improving job quality of the Patient Care Technician (PCT) position.
Lata Ready, senior vice president, diversity, inclusion & impact, Prudential Financial and Chair and President, The Prudential Foundation, discussed why Prudential has chosen to partner with the National Fund saying, “To help people build a strong financial future, we strive to invest in both local communities committed to supporting workers and businesses but also building an infrastructure that can accelerate the dissemination of successful efforts. The National Fund provides an avenue for us to deepen and expand our impact, create more workforce programs that meet industry needs and to seed innovative practices that generate good jobs.”
About Workforce Solutions of Metro Hartford
Workforce Solutions Collaborative of Metro Hartford (Workforce Solutions) is a funders’ collaborative that invests in the development of a workforce with skills regional employers need to compete in today's economy successfully. The collaborative brings together a diverse group of public/private organizations to address the workforce development needs of employers as well as the education and training needs of low-income, low-skilled workers in the Greater Hartford region. Learn more at workforce-solutions.org.
About National Fund for Workforce Solutions
The National Fund for Workforce Solutions is a national network promoting economic opportunity and prosperous communities through investment and innovation. Based in Washington D.C., the National Fund partners with philanthropy, employers, workers, public and private community organizations, and more than 30 regional collaboratives to invest in skills, improve systems, and generate good jobs. The National Fund supports civic and business leaders in promoting evidence-based practices and policies that build shared prosperity. Learn more about the National Fund and its local partners at www.NationalFund.org.
About Prudential Financial
Prudential Financial, Inc. (NYSE:PRU), a financial services leader with more than $1 trillion of assets under management as of September 30, 2017, has operations in the United States, Asia, Europe, and Latin America. Prudential’s diverse and talented employees are committed to helping individual and institutional customers grow and protect their wealth through a variety of products and services, including life insurance, annuities, retirement-related services, mutual funds and investment management. In the U.S., Prudential’s iconic Rock symbol has stood for strength, stability, expertise and innovation for more than a century. For more information, please visit news.prudential.com.
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Contact:
Jen Gifford
Vice President of Community Resources
United Way of Central and Northeastern Connecticut
860-493-1113
jgifford@unitedway.org
Websites: workforce-solutions.org; www.NationalFund.org; news.prudential.com