SBCSS News and Press Releases

Alliance for Education's Stakeholders Meeting on June 7

2005-06-07

FONTANA � The Alliance for Education will unveil an Internet-based system for tracking workforce needs during its annual Stakeholders' Report on June7 at 2 p.m. at the Sierra Lakes County Club, which is located at 16600 Clubhouse Drive. Alliance founders Randall Lewis of Lewis Group of Companies and County Superintendent Herbert Fischer will lead the meeting.

The Alliance, which started in 2002, is a partnership between education and more than 900 business, labor, government, faith-based and community representatives who seek to identify ways to grow a workforce capable of meeting the demands of county businesses now and in the future.

For the past three years, task force groups made up of local business and community leaders, educators and economic development professionals have met to map out strategies to develop the workforce and engage even the youngest students in the educational process.

In addition to the system for tracking workforce needs, the Alliance’s redesigned Web site will be unveiled, as well as a new logo design.

“The Alliance is preparing our students to take part in the 21^st century economy,” Fischer said. “The community has embraced the program with the understanding of how vital it is for us to develop an educated workforce.”

Regional advisories of the Alliance have developed an online system that tracks occupations and the jobs that are going unfilled in San Bernardino County. The system, called theWorkforce Training Provider Matrix, is located at the Alliance’s Web site at www.sbcalliance.org.

Three regional workforce advisories – the West End, East Valley and High Desert – meet monthly with training providers to identify the skill sets required to meet specific industry needs.

They also work to match incoming employers with trainers willing to create and offer curriculum designed by the business.

“The Inland Empire has a huge advantage over other areas because of our strategic location,” said Mary Jane Olhasso, Economic Development director for the City of Ontario and the brainchild of the Workforce Training Provider Matrix. “We are enhancing that advantage by having our community colleges and private training providers partner with businesses.

“This ongoing partnership is working to monitor any gaps in current skills training and to be ready for future demand occupations.”

The program is making inroads, said local economist John Husing.

“This is forward-thinking stuff,” he said. “Site selectors looking to locate companies in any region look to see if the area has its finger on the pulse of workforce needs. That’s what the Alliance is doing.”

In addition to the unveiling of the new programs, there will be a testimonial about the experience of students working with electrical engineers; business-labor, community and education partners will be recognized for their work and commitment of resources to forward the goals of the Alliance; and booths will be available after the program to provide information and contacts for those who wish to find out more about services with the Alliance.