Funding is part of a $10.9 million grant awarded to The Chicago Cook Workforce Partnership from the Walmart Foundation.
Bridgeport, Connecticut, September 7, 2016 –
Today, the Walmart Foundation announced that The WorkPlace has been selected to receive a $400,000 grant from The Chicago Cook Workforce Partnership (The Partnership) as part of an effort to increase the economic mobility of workers in retail and adjacent sectors in Southwest Connecticut and around the U.S.
The WorkPlace is one of 10 Workforce Development Boards (WDBs) selected across the country to collectively form and implement new models of career services specific to retail – models that will serve as best practices for the approximately 550 WDBs in the U.S. that already provide career services, such as career coaching, soft skills training, specialized skills training and referrals to other resources. The funding is part of a $10.9 million grant the Walmart Foundation made to The Partnership in March 2016.
“Our collaborative effort with The Partnership, regional business leaders and government officials, and the nine other selected WDBs will allow us to foster workforce training innovation in a sector that WDBs have not traditionally focused on – retail,” said Joseph Carbone, President and CEO, The WorkPlace. “With the retail industry supporting one in four American jobs, this grant presents a tremendous potential for impact, from entry-level to middle skills jobs. The goal of this grant is to create clear career paths in retail for hundreds of workers, providing skills training and new approaches to accelerate career advancement.”
The funding provided to The WorkPlace from The Partnership will provide a variety of services to job seekers, including:
- Job readiness training customized to the retail sector, including helping jobseekers acquire the “soft skills” that are critical for workplace success such as teamwork, leadership, communication and conflict resolution.
- Job placement assistance, resume writing help and interviewing skills workshops.
- Post placement services to promote job retention.
Among the services The WorkPlace will offer employers are:
- Serving as a point of contact for retail employers in the area for recruiting and training opportunities, including career tracks such as sales, customer service, logistics, merchandising/buying and management.
- Customized recruiting and screening and assistance in writing job descriptions for new positions.
- Employee retention assistance and improving the supply of qualified job candidates.
Approximately 300 people in Southwest Connecticut will benefit from The Partnership grant. Key elements include; a two-week seminar to deliver core retail skills, a five-week “boot camp” for job-readiness training. Additionally job seekers can receive customers service and sales training to obtain a National Retail Federation Certification, preparing participants for retail industry opportunities.
“As one of the largest provider of jobs for the American workforce, the retail industry presents many opportunities for workers to grow and thrive,” said Kathleen McLaughlin, president of the Walmart Foundation and chief sustainability officer for Walmart. “Through our work with The Chicago Cook Workforce Partnership, we are helping ensure that retail workers have the skills, training and education needed to build long-lasting careers.”
In February 2015, Walmart and the Walmart Foundation committed $100 million over five years to strengthen the skills of the broader U.S. workforce by funding programs to create career paths in retail and related industries and train thousands of workers outside of Walmart. The two-year grant to The Partnership is the largest investment to date as part of Walmart and the Walmart Foundation’s Opportunity initiative, which aims to increase the economic mobility of workers in retail and adjacent sectors by working with nonprofits, educational institutions and government agencies to make it easier for frontline workers to move faster into middle skills roles.
###
About The WorkPlace
The WorkPlace conducts comprehensive planning, and coordinates regional workforce development policy and programs to prepare people for careers while strengthening the workforce for employers. As national leader in the field, The WorkPlace regularly shares ideas and best practices with lawmakers, foundations, think tanks and other workforce development organizations around the country. For more information, visit www.workplace.org