By John Rogers
Gov. Gary Herbert has taken the first steps in implementing his program for filling 40,000 new high-skill, high-paying jobs in Utah over the next four years. First announced in his State of the State Address in January, Talent Ready Utah is a grant program designed to improve education for a tech-savvy workforce.
The governor recently announced that the Utah Cluster Acceleration Partnership will become the grant program for Talent Ready Utah, with more than $2.1 million in grant funding available for the purpose of developing and enhancing programs to meet industry needs, building career pathway programs and providing work-based learning opportunities.
“The Talent Ready Utah grant program unveiled today is a collaborative effort to improve both our education system and workforce in Utah,” said Herbert. “The program seeks to align our efforts to provide a pipeline of future talent and meet the needs of Utah businesses.”
According to the Governor’s Office of Economic Development (GOED), there are thousands of positions of the type targeted by Talent Ready Utah that go unfilled statewide and the program is the first step in working toward a goal of connecting candidates with those job openings.
The governor also announced the executive board members he has appointed to oversee the program. Herbert’s education advisor, Tami Pyfer, will chair Talent Ready Utah, while Val Hale, executive director of GOED, will be vice chair. Board members will be Jon Pierpont, executive director of the Utah Department of Workforce Services (DWS); Dave Buhler, commissioner of higher education; Dave Woolstenhulme of the Utah College of Applied Technology; Sydnee Dickson, state superintendent of public education; and Vance Checketts, vice president of Utah operations at EMC Corp., as a representative from industry.
Money for the grant program comes from the Department of Workforce Services’ job growth fund, which is designated by the Legislature for the purpose of investing back into the workforce. Grants from this program have helped develop or expand more than 170 training programs, creating capacity for over 5,800 individuals to receive industry-recognized credentials.
“Our public education institutions are eligible for the grants, whether you’re K 12, an individual school district, public higher education or applied technology colleges,” said Melisa Stark, DWS employer initiatives manager. “Industry associations are also eligible for funding.”
“We look to industry to tell us what they need to fill that demand,” Stark said. “We are looking at how to engage the students and what marketing strategy would be effective.” Openings are also accessible to individuals who are older and looking to retrain for a new career, Stark added.
“Through these grants everyone wins,” said Pierpont, “Students get hands-on experience which prepares them for employment. Education receives support from local industry to build programs. Businesses are able to help students obtain the training necessary to fulfill their needs.”
“Utah is leading the way in best practices for work-based learning programs and Talent Ready Utah will build upon this momentum,” said Hale. “With the right partners at the table and grants to help successfully launch these programs, Talent Ready Utah is poised to accomplish the governor’s goal.”
