Greetings!

Welcome to the new layout of the Workforce Development Council Snohomish County newsletter! We hope you will benefit from the information provided in this quarterly update of what's happening in workforce development in Snohomish County.  While exciting events and collaborations occur almost daily in Snohomish County, I want to highlight two major occurances from this first quarter of the 2007 Program Year.

First, Governor Gregoire announced the designation of an Innovation Partnership Zone in western Snohomish County. This designation gives the area surrounding Snohomish County Airport/Paine Field access to targeted state funding and other resources.  This Zone, named the Aerospace Convergence Zone, will encourage research into new materials and processes for the manufacturing of aircraft.  WDCSC applied for this designation on behalf of a broad based coalition of local entities with a common goal of developing resources for aerospace research, technology transfer, and commercialization capacity; implementing a coordinated strategy for attraction, retention, and expansion of aerospace businesses; and increasing students in industry-related training programs. To find out more about the Zone, click here.

Secondly, WDCSC was pleased to co-sponsor the third annual What about Tomorrow Career and College Fair on October 16th. This year, the Everett Public Schools and Workforce Development Council partnered with four other school districts; Arlington, Edmonds, Lake Stevens and Mukilteo.  The event was well attended, with 2,600 students attending during two daytime field trip sessions and 727 students, parents, and visitors attending during the evening open session. Exhibiting information about career opportunities; apprenticeship, college, and university programs; and other training opportunities were 131 exhibitors, including 59 exhibitors from the top nine demand industries in Snohomish County. This event is a testimony to the power of partnership--between school districts, local businesses and industries, workforce development, and educational partners.

These two highlights showcase the depth and breadth of WDCSC's involvement in workforce development thorughout our county--both in attracting and retaining businesses in key industry sectors and in ensuring that all Snohomish County youth have the tools and knowledge they need to find a career pathway that is right for them.  We foster both the vitality of our local businesses and the development and training of young people in order to ensure the health and sustainability of employers and the workforce of today and the future in order to create a globally competitive workforce right here in our county. 

For more details on the WDC Board of Director's strategic plan to ensure that Snohomish County remains globally competitive, click here.

I look forward to our continued partnership in workforce development here in Snohomish County.  If you have a workforce or education issue you'd like to tackle with us, please don't hestitate to contact me via email or phone at 425 921 3477.

Sincerely,

Sue Ambler

Chief Executive Officer