Contact:
Kent Patton
Kent.Patton@snoco.org
425-388-3883
Future Workforce Alliance Adopts Budget to Support Strategic Priorities
SNOHOMISH COUNTY, Wash., June, 29, 2022 – On June 16, 2022, the Future Workforce Alliance (FWA), which serves as the Local Workforce Board for Snohomish County, adopted the Program Year (PY) 2022 budget of $8.5 million that takes effect on July 1, 2022. The budget reflects the strategic priorities of the FWA to focus Federal Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) funds on underserved areas and communities across Snohomish County.
The PY22 budget includes key investments to support the FWA’s strategic priorities. These include:
- Piloting a north Snohomish County workforce connection site for employers and career seekers in this rapidly growing region;
- Funding community engagement staff to deliver workforce services to underserved communities;
- Developing an in-school youth strategy to serve students and provide them with opportunities for meaningful career throughout Snohomish County; and
- Establishing a $1.3 million strategic reserve to mitigate anticipated decline in Federal workforce funding.
“By building a gold-standard workforce system in Snohomish County, we will be able to make it easier for workers and businesses to adapt to ever-changing circumstances,” said Snohomish County Executive Dave Somers. “By focusing on communities across Snohomish County, particularly those that are underserved, as well as businesses and talent in the advanced manufacturing cluster, the adopted budget sets us on a clear path toward full recovery from the pandemic. The members of our Future Workforce Alliance deserve our thanks for working to make this plan a reality.”
The adopted budget supports FWA’s strategic priorities and provides funding to advance key initiatives that:
- Build a culture of collaboration among all workforce system stakeholders
- Grow and diversify jobs; and
- Develop talent through increased skill development.
“Over the past year-and-a-half the FWA has undertaken an intentional and thoughtful strategic planning process with our workforce and community partners to develop our strategic priorities,” said Amy Drewel, FWA Board Chair. “The adopted budget allows us to implement a number of key strategic initiatives that will help create a gold-standard workforce system centered on equity and inclusion, broad-based coordination, and data-driven decision making.”
Workforce Snohomish, through a designation agreement with Snohomish County and the FWA, will serve as the key implementing partner for the Federal workforce funds and will work with contractors such as Career Path Services to reach underserved communities and areas of the county.
“The adopted budget to support FWA’s strategic priorities will continue the process of workforce system transformation and assist employers with acquiring new and upskilling current talent,” said Joy Emory, CEO of Workforce Snohomish. “Moreover, the budget will allow us to better reach underserved communities with workforce services that will support an equitable recovery across the county.”
The FWA’s mission is to catalyze equitable, inclusive, and responsible economic growth through public-private collaborative strategies that build upon a foundation of lifelong learning, creation of quality jobs, innovation, and adaptability. The FWA ensures that employers have consistent access to the skilled talent they need, and that youth and adults are supported in attaining rewarding careers.
For more information about the FWA, please visit the website at: https://snohomishcountywa.gov/5610/Future-Workforce-Alliance. For information about workforce services in Snohomish County, please contact Workforce Snohomish at 425-921-3423.