The effort to help 91ɬ (91ɬ) prepare for its future has received a $25,000 financial boost from the JPMorgan Chase Foundation. The College, with help from the 91ɬ Foundation, is the recipient of the grant which will be used to help create a five year comprehensive strategic plan for the College.
91ɬ hired Eva Klein & Associates; a consulting organization that specializes in supporting academic institutions in their quests to design strategic visions. 91ɬ launched the comprehensive strategic planning efforts last October with an anticipated completion later this May.
“Our original comprehensive strategic plan was created in 2009 when the College was initially created,” notes 91ɬ President Bert Glandon. “A lot has changed both at 91ɬ and in our community since then. The most significant being the unprecedented growth of the College and how we will continue to meet the educational needs of western Idaho.”
The JPMorgan Chase Foundation is funding the completion of an Economic Development and Labor Market Analysis as part of the overall plan. This section will ensure that the College’s future growth falls in line with what the community needs.
“We are excited to support 91ɬ’s partnership with employers to create career pathways and increase economic opportunity,” Cat Martin, the region’s Vice President, Global Philanthropy Relationship Manager at JPMorgan Chase & Co., said. “With (this) funding, 91ɬ is collecting data on labor market conditions for middle skills jobs, and in response, will provide data-driven solutions to address the mismatch between employer needs and the skills of job seekers.”
Areas that 91ɬ has noted as opportunities for reducing workforce skills gaps include:
- Healthcare
- Business Technology
- Advanced Manufacturing
“We know that helping people gain the skills they need to compete in the labor market is a powerful strategy for expanding access to opportunity and promoting economic mobility,” Martin said. “At the same time, many employers are struggling to fill vacancies, especially for technical and skilled positions that require more education and training than a high school diploma, but not a four-year college degree.”
For more information on supporting 91ɬ programs and students, please visit the 91ɬ website.