Transcript Clean, Green and on the Same Team!

Clean, Green,
and on the Same Team!
How Economic and Workforce Development
are Partnering to Serve
an Emerging Regional Industry
Eastern Washington Clean Technology
Opportunity Analysis
• Clean technology is a growth industry in Eastern Washington
with mature and emerging companies gaining national
recognition
• CLEEN|NW, a regional industry group, was formed
three years ago to maximize potential and opportunities in
the industry
– The group includes members from economic development and
workforce development organizations, as well as private organizations
– Founders and partners of CLEEN|NW determined the need for
baseline information existed that could help grow and sustain the
clean technology industry
• Workforce needs of sector not fully understood
Clean, Green,
and on the Same Team
• The CLEEN|NW group applied for an industry grant through Department
of Commerce that would be used to develop an opportunity analysis for
the clean technology industry
• Members of the application team included:
Avista Corporation
City of Spokane
CLEEN|NW
Community Colleges of Spokane
Eastern Washington Partnership Workforce Development Council
Eastern Washington University Spokane
Gonzaga University
Greater Spokane Incorporated
McKinstry
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Pullman Innovation Partnership Zone
Sirti
Southeast Washington Economic Development
Association
Spokane Area Workforce Development Council
Spokane Innovation Partnership Zone
Tri County Economic Development District
Washington State University Pullman and Spokane
Whitworth University
Spokane Area Workforce Development Council received $250K grant to study
10-county region of eastern Washington
–Target Clean Energy and Energy efficiency technology companies
–Determine skill gaps and future workforce needs
–Develop technology-based tools to connect and disseminate information about careers
–Expand training capacity for sector
Eastern Washington Clean Technology
Regional Opportunity Analysis
• The program was set up in three phases:
– Clean Energy Industry Skills Panel
• Convene business, labor and education to determine the unmet workforce needs, ensure skills
gaps are addressed and regional and statewide goals are met
– Clean Energy Opportunity Analysis
• Overview of the clean energy market, inventory of existing companies in the region and
survey to determine regional competencies and barriers or opportunities for success
– Clean Energy R&D Infrastructure
• Identify gaps between industry, state research organizations and commercialization
resources to develop greater facilitation and coordination
Eastern Washington Clean Technology
Regional Opportunity Analysis
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The Industry Skills Panels were convened by the local workforce
development councils and community college
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Initial program development and training funded by $1.9M Recovery Act grant to SAWDC
Educational institutions outlined their existing curriculum and programs that focus on
training for this industry
Through Advisory Committees, private industry discussed their current and future needs
for skilled workers
The Opportunity Analysis team, consisting of economic development
partners and a consultant, developed a template
for an opportunity analysis
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The group performed research on global, national, regional and local
Clean Energy trends
Developed a list of existing companies that provide services and solutions
to the industry
Created a survey tool to discover issues regarding funding, infrastructure,
R&D, regulatory and policy, educational attributes, leadership
and supply chain
In process of editing and completing the final documentation which will
highlight areas of opportunity in Eastern Washington
Eastern Washington Clean Technology
Regional Opportunity Analysis
• Clean Energy Research and Development Infrastructure
– Conducted meetings with industry and university representatives to
assess research competencies,
gaps and opportunities
– Organized and executed Invention to Venture seminar connecting
researchers with entrepreneurs
– Assisted in identification of promising university research
and possible commercialization pathways
– Generated an opportunity matrix that identified specific areas
of collaboration
Metrics and Milestones
• This project will include three deliverables:
– A regional strategic implementation plan that supports
long-term economic growth of businesses and jobs
in the clean energy cluster
– An opportunity analysis study that provides a recommended platform
for business growth and segmentation opportunities for regional
companies
– An opportunity matrix that identifies and facilitates specific areas of
potential collaboration and paths for commercialization of
technologies
Lessons Learned
• Be realistic when setting schedules and milestones
• Get everyone on the same page early
• Remove any barriers to participation
Unique and Unequaled
• One of the first clean energy industry projects undertaken
jointly by multiple economic and workforce development
organizations, in partnership with multiple Innovation
Partnership Zones
• Variety of funding streams helps to sustain long term efforts
• State request to consider designing and implementing the
project to allow it to be replicated across other areas of
Washington
Next Steps
• Implement the findings
from the Opportunity Analysis
• Continue expanding research and development
of asset map for region
• Maintain relationships with business networks
to remain current on workforce needs
• Pursue resources to fund new and existing training
Contact Information
• Robin Toth
VP, Business Development
Greater Spokane Incorporated
801 W Riverside Ave., Suite 100, Spokane, WA 99201
[email protected]
509.321.3636
• Mark Mattke
Executive Director
Spokane Area Workforce Development Council
808 W Spokane Falls Blvd #606, Spokane, WA 99201
[email protected]
509.625.6214