This guide is a result of the 2018-2019 National Governors Association (NGA) Chair's initiative, "Good Jobs for All Americans," led by Montana Governor Steve Bullock. This initiative aimed to understand the changing world of work and the factors that affect an individual's ability to connect to a good job and for businesses to access the…

Through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) the federal government is pumping nearly $790 billion dollars into state and local coffers to strengthen the United States economy. In order to stimulate the economy as quickly as possible, states are being asked to invest much of this funding into regions within 30 days, and to have the…

Examples from Utah, Illinois, and other states illustrate how entrepreneurship is becoming part of the educational structure due to growing recognition of the importance of small businesses to economic growth. (SK)

One incentive state governments are offering industries to relocate is customized, state-supported training. A pool of skilled workers is a distinct competitive advantaged in attracting new businesses. (SK)

The latest round of proposed state and federal welfare reforms has major implications for state work force development systems. These systems will face new demands generated by the need to help welfare recipients find jobs before they reach the time limits on aid and the need for states to meet the new work participation rates for federal welfare…

In the absence of Federal job initiatives, over 14 million people cannot find full or part-time work. According to a report issued by the Full Employment Action Council and the National Committee for Full Employment, they are casualties of shifts in the economy and of deficit spending that favors the affluent and the military over the poor and the…

This article describes how a school psychologist used her skills to develop materials, instructional methodologies, and assessment strategies to facilitate the vocational education of students with special needs. The role of psychologist, instructor, consultant, manager of facility, and researcher are described. The importance of training in…

This report questions whether high-tech development is an option for rural counties in the United States by examining the spatial location, industrial composition, growth experience, and environmental factors associated with high-tech industries in such counties. Using a highly detailed database of manufacturing plants and estimates of employment,…

The booklet describes the accomplishments of Project Skill, an approach to providing employment in Wisconsin civil service positions for mildly mentally retarded or restored emotionally disturbed persons. In addition to an historical review of the project, the report focuses on the following aspects (subtopics in parentheses): job development…

Under Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF), states face steadily increasing work participation requirements. The TANF structure presents one new option: the ability to use TANF funds for community service employment in wage-paying, publicly funded jobs designed to provide work for individuals and to address unmet community needs. A…

By embracing education as an economic development tool, policy makers adopt a new economic metaphor--a new way of understanding how the economy works and identifying determinants of development. Development policy has shifted focus, from providing incentives for the accumulation of physical capital to emphasizing investments in human capital. Most…

A study was conducted in 1987 to: (1) assess the impact of the farm financial crisis in Washington State; (2) identify at-risk populations; and (3) suggest appropriate programs and agency responses. Particular emphasis was placed on making recommendations for training and development programs to aid in reemployment of dislocated agricultural…

As a result of federal legislation aimed at welfare reform, states have been transforming welfare in new ways. Critical questions remain, however, and policymakers must continue to develop new ideas and implement programs from other states. This book contributes to the learning process among states by sharing program innovations and analyses to…

In order to diversify its economy and raise the economic level of its people, South Carolina concluded that a possible solution might be to provide pretrained people for the work force of any industry that located in the State or for any expanding industry within the State. In 1961, Technical Education Committee (TEC) Centers were created and…

Examines occupational education's, the private sector's, and the federal government's roles in job creation. Describes state and local programs that attract or revitalize industry and expand the economic base. Presents criteria for evaluating state and/or local job development programs and considers models for expanding vocational education's…