Issue link: https://nebusinessmedia.uberflip.com/i/479644
2 Jobs for People & People for Jobs • Capital Workforce Partners W elcome to Capital Workforce Partners' Jobs for People, People for Jobs, "enhanced" annual report that includes a glimpse of our 2012-2013 fiscal year outcomes, as well as what we are doing now, and our vision for the future. While annual reports simply "look back," this custom publication prepared by the Hartford Business Journal and supported by our partners who have purchased advertising, also enables us to "look forward," as we address critical challenges and opportunities related to job creation, workforce talent development, closing skills gaps and improving economic development in the region. e sluggish economic resurgence, from the 2008 recession, has hampered our ability to fully recover lost jobs, tackle the youth unemployment epidemic, and create the economic environment that benefits the business and community at large. While the trends are moving in the right direction, the unemployment rate is still too high. Further, a demographic 'tsunami' heading our way will lead to further labor and talent shortages, as the baby boomer workforce gradually retires, and there are simply fewer qualified workers to take their place. Many businesses will be losing a significant portion of their knowledge base. is is an economic competitiveness imperative. It's time to invest in the current and future workforce, which should include: re-tooled, high-skilled workers who have been laid off through no fault of their own; your future consumer and worker – the youth – and other talent sources like older workers and Veterans. In the coming year, Capital Workforce Partners, North Central Connecticut Workforce Investment Board, will focus on the following business-driven priorities: W E L C O M E Thomas Phillips Capital Workforce Partners President and CEO Sheldon Bustow Capital Workforce Partners Board Chair; Director, New Business Development, Hospital for Special Care • Assisting businesses in acquiring and developing the skilled talent they need, particularly in healthcare and manufacturing, but also in other growth industries. • Identifying wage subsidies for manufacturing and small businesses through programs like STEP UP that is administered in conjunction with the CT Department of Labor. • Preparing trained, and certified workers for over $6 billion in construction projects slated for the region, with our Jobs Funnel, a construction and trades training consortium. • Increasing the basic skills levels of low literacy individuals through contextualized learning initiatives to improve the talent pipeline at the entry level. Capital Workforce Partners is a non-profit organization that is driven by a volunteer Board of private sector business, professional as well as government and community partners – all with the same goal in mind – finding jobs for people and people for jobs. We hope you will join us in this cause.