Strategic Planning Committee

The GLWIB continues to be actively engaged in planning and implementing processes to address the challenges associated with the development of a skilled local workforce and to meet statewide standards intended to accelerate continual improvement of the Massachusetts workforce development system. The GLWIB 2009-2014 Strategic Plan is available for your reference. Status updates, including benchmarks and performance assessments will be published on a regular basis.

Emerging Sectors Committee

The Greater Lowell Workforce Investment Board Emerging Sectors Committee is focused on identified emerging and critical sectors in the Greater Lowell Region to ensure the Board has the knowledge and expertise in place to address labor market challenges in support of Strategic Plan. This includes the capability to support new business and job creation by developing and sustaining reliable pipelines of qualified workers now and in the future.

Continuing shifts in the overall economy and business climate demonstrate the need for regular collaboration and monitoring of trends allowing for timely adjustment of emerging sector strategies and plans as necessary. Consequently, the Board approved creation of the Committee consisting of representatives from private industry, education, economic development and workforce development to promote knowledge-sharing, issue identification and resolution strategies.

Meetings are held monthly with agenda and action items designed to address emerging sector labor market challenges and potential impact on our stated objectives including:

• Develop and implement innovative and market-driven workforce initiatives that target the needs of critical industries in the region (including manufacturing and health care) as well as the needs of new and emerging industries focused on green jobs, alternative energy, biotech, life sciences and medical devices.
• Collaborate with training providers on potential solutions to ensure pipeline of skilled resources.
• Increase job placements in critical and emerging industries in the region in alignment with overall workforce and economic development goals.

Workforce Issues Committee

The Workforce Issues Committee consists of a designated Chairperson, several GLWIB Board members, Career Center of Lowell management and other interested partners, including educational providers and community-based organizations. The Committee meets monthly (currently 4th Tuesday from 9-10:00 AM at the GLWIB) to discuss and review job-seeker and employer challenges, Career Center of Lowell operational reports, Executive Office of Labor and Workforce Development (EOLWD) job seeker and employment monthly data releases, the Workforce Training Fund (WTF) and collaborate on labor market solutions and sector initiatives as well as youth education, training and employment activities. Designed to promote dialog and knowledge sharing among members, the Committee’s goal is to be proactive in the identification and communication of issues, assessment of potential impact to our customers and possible short and/or long term solutions. Relative to the WTF, the Committee has the responsibility to review and assess Workforce Training Fund applications, usually twice yearly, according to a published submission and review schedule.

The Committee uses formal meeting procedures including published meeting dates, public notice, advance agendas, meeting packages with review materials, and distribution of meeting minutes. In addition, the Committee utilizes GLWIB performance and assessment tools, including the Scorecard and Strategic Planning documents. The small number of committee members, representing a broad spectrum of targeted population segments and subject matter areas, combined with regular meetings, defined agendas and the ability to discuss issues in a collaborative environment, provides a unique opportunity for information gathering and knowledge-sharing. The outcomes from committee activities are aligned with GLWIB goals and objectives and included in our overall performance metrics.