Economic Opportunity

Creating Economic Opportunity for rural residents, families, remote regions

Workforce Development takes on a broad spectrum of considerations. A primary element is education. However when education is conceived in the framework of school-based teaching and learning it mostly constrains, inhibits and demotes adult learners. Schools are run and managed for youth. Colleges and Universities have struggled with the challenges of access for adult learners without much success in making a huge impact. Distance learning, off campus learning centers, flexible scheduling and rolling deadlines have helped but still reach a minor percentage of adults who might/would benefit from skill development.

Workforce development also means attention to the life circumstances of members of the workforce. Housing, transportation, familty relationships, recreational opportunities, financial management support, and many other quality of life elements have a huge impact on the capability of the workforce.

From a developmental perspective it is important to recognize that "a workforce" is produced, or perhaps more accurately evolves or emerges, in many ways.

• Locally produced through the education system. Imposed on a local population by a politically sensitive system of schooling.
• Stimulated to change or grow by local (and sometimes regional, national or international) conditions. Thus being mostly a product of individual perceptions, motivations and access to learning resources..
• Locally produced through employer training. Conditional on the economic values inherent in the training. ROI.
• Regionally, nationally, and internationally produced and attracted and imported to the local workforce.