The Role of Workforce Development in Business Expansion

Staffing is one of the biggest challenges facing American companies right now and is directly affecting business expansion plans. It’s no longer enough to find a strategically-located site with existing utility infrastructure; companies are increasingly looking for communities with skilled workers and a high quality of life.

The economic development experts at Golden Shovel Agency have had countless discussions with clients about workforce development and potential opportunities to support business expansion. Communities of all sizes can grow their talent pools and make the local workforce desirable to potential employers. Here are a few opportunities to help residents develop new skills while marketing your workforce to potential organizations. 

Identify In-Demand Skills and Workers

The labor shortage isn’t a monolith, which means some industries are having a harder time finding employees than others. According to the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, the manufacturing industry lost 1.4 million jobs during the pandemic and is now struggling to fill vacancies to meet production demand. As of January 2024, 622,000 manufacturing jobs need to be filled.

Economic development teams can tailor their pitches to companies and site selectors based on the employees they are looking for. They can showcase their partnerships with education and training organizations to upskill the local workforce. If a manufacturing company has trouble finding top talent, your community can be the solution with the right employees ready for work.   

Look for Customized Training Programs

Economic development organizations can work closely with local education institutions to identify skills gaps in the community and better meet employers' needs. These efforts can make it easier for existing businesses to expand while also attracting new ones.

Some community and technical colleges develop training programs specifically for companies. If a business needs to train employees, it can develop its own materials using company time and money or reach out to local educational institutions for help. Here are a few leading examples of local colleges supporting economic development: 

• Businesses in Palestine, Texas, can send employees to Trinity Valley Community College to complete various certifications, including OSHA training. Companies can even apply for workforce development grants to receive that training for free. 
• Flint Hills Technical College in Emporia, Kansas, developed a CDL program based on the needs of a local company. Students learn how to handle specialty trailers, which allows them to immediately provide value (and become more hirable) to employers. 
• Representatives at St. Cloud Technical & Community College in Benton County, Minnesota, meet directly with local businesses to discuss their training needs. They can then develop programs specifically for that company.

These partnerships allow local institutions to provide solutions to employers. Anyone in the community who takes classes at these colleges will receive the same standard of education, ensuring a well-trained workforce. 

Showcase the Value of Local Jobs 

One challenge of meeting hiring needs is making jobs desirable to potential employees. Talent pipeline development starts well before workers sign up for training programs. Human resources departments increasingly use sales and marketing tactics to make their companies attractive to potential workers.

The economic development team of Fairmont, Minnesota, held a Tour of Manufacturing event that invited students, parents, and the general public to tour local facilities. The goal was to dispel the myth that manufacturing work is dirty, loud, and stressful. There is a similar program in Western Nebraska where students travel to four companies based on their desired industry to see what the work environments are like.  

When people within the community want to work somewhere, they are more likely to seek out training and education resources to secure the right skills for the job. 

The Workforce Increasingly Impacts Business Expansion Options 

Companies in your region may be ready to scale production or increase their footprint with a new facility, but their choice to do so depends on their access to the right employees. You don’t need a perfect workforce right now, but you do need resources to support your community. Partnerships with local K-12 schools, community colleges, and training organizations can increase the chances that future workers will get the skills and certifications they need.

Learn how Golden Shovel Agency can showcase your workforce development efforts so they don’t go unnoticed. We can promote your community and the skilled residents who live there.