Just Clusters Implementation Workshop

1
Just ClustersImplementation Workshop

• Introduction
• October 2006

2
Welcome and Introductions
3
Context for the Workshop

• Growing recognition in Oregon that cluster
  frameworks can help governments and communities
  understand their economies and implement
  effective policies in four important areas
• Increased networking and learning among firms
• More efficient and effective delivery of services
• Enhanced skills of the current and future
  workforce
• Targeted economic and workforce investments

4
Milestones in Cluster Evolution

• Oregon Business Plan focused on traded sectors
• Oregon Cluster Network and Cluster Leadership
  Council established
• OECDD focus on traded clusters
• OregonInC focus on emerging clusters
• Website www.oregonclusters.org launched
• State investments in cluster-based workforce
  development through Strategic Opportunity Fund
• Regional investments support cluster-based
  workforce development and consortia training
  through Employer Workforce Training Fund

5
Newest Initiatives

• Workforce Strategic Plan Winning in the Global
  Market
• Ensure all Oregon employers have a skilled
  workforce for competitive success in the global
  market
• Key Strategy Expand business participation in
  cluster-based workforce education and training
  programs
• Manufacturing Workforce Strategy
• Goal 1 Promote innovation in the workplace and
  gain competitive advantage in the global
  marketplace through adoption of high-performance
  practices.
• Key Strategies Seed fund fledgling consortia in
  manufacturing clusters and provide training in
  lean and other areas of aggregated skill need
• Cluster Investment Fund (Proposed)
• 15M biennium in state lottery funds to OECDD
  budget
• (10M to Regional Workforce Response
  Teams/Local Workforce Investment Boards for
  current worker training and 5M for cluster-based
  training and consortia development (curriculum,
  industry-led customized programs, etc.)

6
Just Clusters A Critical Opportunity

• Project Goals To build the capacity of
  communities across the state to
• Identify clusters/develop common language/clarify
  roles and responsibilities
• Understand how best to take advantage of clusters
  to achieve regional economic and equity goals
• Develop effective public policies and delivery
  systems in support of cluster development
• Deploy cluster-based workforce and economic
  development strategies to increase productivity
  and growth

7
Begin with the End in Mind
8
Expected Outcomes
9
Just Clusters in Oregon

• Project Overview
• Launch
• Intensive Workshops
• Technical Assistance
• Evaluation
• Project Team
• Regional Technology Strategies
• Key Links
• Impresa Consulting

10
Survey Results What do you hope to take away?

• Understanding of clusters
• Coordination
• Convener role
• Tools and actions
• Understand state strategy
• Best practices
• Networking
• Rural strategies

• Getting businesses engaged
• a clue what all this is about
• Understand expectations
• Workforce-economic development integration
• How to inspire cooperation
• Capacity for outreach
• Moving from sectors to clusters

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Survey ResultsBenefit to your region?

• Tailoring workforce initiatives
• Target scarce resources
• Better staff training
• Coordination
• Leveraging resources

• Tools for better jobs, placements, skills, and
  wages
• Private-public collaboration
• Prioritization of the ready
• Something positive and useful

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Todays Agenda

• Reviewing terms and concepts
• Tools for finding clusters
• Breakout Clusters in your region
• Lunch
• Cluster Tool Kit
• Workforce Imperative
• Breakout Applying the tools

13
Tomorrows Agenda

• Tying the pieces together regional case studies
• Anticipating problems and pitfalls
• Using the project template and CD
• Breakout Formulating a cluster project
• Wrap Up Evaluation and TA

14
Just Clusters in Oregon

• Facilitated Discussion
• Expectations