NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF WORKFORCE BOARDS AND SHEET METAL AND AIR CONDITIONING CONTRACTORS’ NATIONAL ASSOCIATION ANNOUNCE PARTNERSHIP TO STRENGTHEN WORKFORCE ALIGNMENT The National Association of Workforce Boards (NAWB) and the signatory Sheet Metal and Air Conditioning Contractors’ National Association (SMACNA) today announced a partnership that will strengthen the relationship between local workforce development boards and the sheet metal and air conditioning industry, with a mutual goal of supporting the workforce needs of the sheet metal industry across the country. NAWB and SMACNA believe that collaboration is one of the most effective ways workforce development boards and industry can meet their respective objectives. The partnership will work to establish relationships between SMACNA’s network of 97 chapters and 1,834 members and workforce development boards and one-stop centers. The partnership will also build awareness for and increase the use of SMACNA/SMART apprenticeship, training and certification programs that match industry workforce needs and help workforce development boards place more clients in the sheet metal and air conditioning industry. “NAWB is pleased to partner with SMACNA to mutually support and engage each of our organizations to provide employment opportunities in the diverse and expanding sheet metal and air conditioning industry,” stated Ron Painter, CEO of NAWB. “We know how critical it is for workforce development boards to have the information, support and engagement of industry if they are to address both individual and local economic needs. The partnership with SMACNA will help the workforce development system meet the needs of the industry.” “The thriving sheet metal and air conditioning industry has so much to offer to job seekers, including paid training programs, lucrative wage packages, rewarding work, and a wide variety of career paths to explore,” said Vince Sandusky, CEO of SMACNA. “Companies in our industry are eager to hire for roles of all types and levels. We are excited to partner with NAWB to promote the excellent career opportunities that we offer, and to connect job seekers with our resources.” Information on the sheet metal industry will be regularly shared with workforce development boards through NAWB publications, podcasts, conferences, and a website that will highlight opportunities within the industry. Likewise, information on how to effectively connect and work with the boards will be shared by SMACNA with its chapters and members across the country. Job seekers interested in learning more about careers in the sheet metal industry can visit SMACNA’s career website, IgniteYourCareer.com. About the National Association of Workforce Boards (http://nawb.org): The National Association of Workforce Boards represents approximately 550 Workforce Development Boards and their 12,000+ business members that coordinate and leverage workforce strategies with education and economic development stakeholders within their local communities, to ensure that state and local workforce development and job training programs meet the needs of employers. About the Sheet Metal and Air Conditioning Contractors’ National Association: The Sheet Metal and Air Conditioning Contractors’ National Association (SMACNA) is an international trade association representing 3,500 contributing contractor firms and is a leader in promoting quality and excellence in the sheet metal and air conditioning industry. SMACNA members are responsible for effectively delivering the clean air Americans breathe in offices, homes, and hospitals; for many of the attractive facades you see on today’s stadiums and office buildings; and for the comfortable, healthy, and safe living environments in which our citizens live out their daily lives. SMACNA has national offices in Chantilly, Va., outside of Washington, D.C., and on Capitol Hill. For more information on SMACNA, visit www.smacna.org. Learn more about careers in the sheet metal industry by visiting IgniteYourCareer.com.

Washington, D.C . -- The National Association of Workforce Boards (NAWB) is delighted to announce the winners of the Laurie Moran Award, the WIOA Trailblazer Award, the W.O. Lawton Award and the Chair’s Award for Outstanding Achievement in Partnership. The winners of each award will be honored throughout the programming of The Forum 2020, powered by NAWB, which will take place at the Washington Hilton from March 21-24. “Workforce development is an essential part of any community because it supports the current and future needs of business and industry,” said NAWB President and CEO Ron Painter. “We are proud to recognize our award winners’ efforts to advance workforce development by connecting workers with quality jobs. On behalf of NAWB, I want to thank Southern Nevada’s Workforce Development Board, Vegas Chamber, Spokane Workforce Council, Eastern CT Workforce Investment Board, the Manufacturing Pipeline Initiative, and Workforce Solutions South Plains for setting an example for workforce industry leaders across the country.” The Laurie Moran Award, which recognizes a workforce development board and chamber of commerce that have formed a partnership to advance the workforce and economic development of their local region, will be presented to the Southern Nevada’s Workforce Development Board and Vegas Chamber, the WIOA Trailblazer Award, which honors the board that has made the most progress in adopting the changes envisioned in the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA), will be received by the Spokane Workforce Council, the W.O. Lawton Business Leadership Award will be given to Workforce Solutions South Plains for their strong commitment of time, money, and leadership to make their community’s workforce and economy more vibrant and the Chair’s Award For Outstanding Achievement in Partnership will be presented to the Eastern CT Workforce Investment Board (EWIB) and the Manufacturing Pipeline Initiative (MPI) for demonstrating the value of collaboration by working together to advance the future of workforce development. If you are interested in press access to The Forum, powered by NAWB, and/or in an interview with NAWB CEO Ron Painter or any of the award winners, please contact Christina Kanmaz at ck@prismgroup.global. ### About the National Association of Workforce Boards (http://nawb.org): The National Association of Workforce Boards represents approximately 550 Workforce Development Boards and their 12,000+ business members that coordinate and leverage workforce strategies with education and economic development stakeholders within their local communities, to ensure that state and local workforce development and job training programs meet the needs of employers.

How Workforce Development Boards and Apprenticeship Programs Help Close America’s Skills Gap Originally published on Medium As Americans stand at the precipice of a new decade, the future of our economy is dependent upon a skilled workforce. With it being National Apprenticeship Week, we should celebrate the efforts of local Workforce Development Boards (WDBs) in developing and upskilling the future workforce of our nation. On the surface, there is much to celebrate. The November 2019 national unemployment rate remained at 3.6 percent, the lowest in 50 years. According to the National Bureau of Economic Research, American businesses continue to add new jobs, extending consecutive monthly growth to a record 120 months, averaging 167,000 net new jobs every month of 2019. However, there are big concerns about how we can continue this trend throughout the next decade. Despite the growth in job opportunities, the challenge to secure a skilled workforce remains a critical issue for most industries. According the National Math and Science Initiative, 60 percent of the new jobs that will open in the 21st century will require skills possessed by only 20 percent of the current workforce. To combat this growing trend, the workforce development industry is changing the way Americans view work. At the center of this change are apprenticeship programs. For many industries, apprenticeships are a proven approach to preparing Americans for jobs while meeting the needs of business and industry. These programs sponsor an employer-driven, “learn-while-you-earn” model that combines on-the-job training with job-related instruction that is tied to the attainment of national skills standards. Apprenticeships are building blocks for upskilling the workforce and meeting employers demands to establish and sustain a skilled workforce pipeline. The tried and true model is used in a variety of job-sectors. Industries that are suffering from the lack of a skilled workforce, such as construction, advanced manufacturing, healthcare, retail, and hotel and lodging are all looking at ways to provide worked-based learning opportunities through apprenticeship programs. Many of the leaders in these industries will gather in Washington, DC next March for The Forum, a convening of 1500 workforce development professionals, business owners, and policy experts engaging in dialogue on the future of work. Local Workforce Development Boards are strong community allies working to close the skills gap for the country’s workforce. WDBs are part of the public workforce system, a network of federal, state, and local offices that support economic expansion and develop the talent of the nation’s workforce through a variety of workforce development programs. Both state and local WDBs serve as connectors of workforce development efforts in their communities that deliver services to workers and employers. The intersection of WDBs and the apprenticeship system provides opportunities for WDBs to use apprenticeships as a workforce development strategy, training individuals at an affordable cost while also changing the perception of apprenticeship programs by providing career awareness and benefits of apprenticeships to the millions of Americans that they serve. According to Workforce Investment Works, apprenticeships can provide outstanding outcomes for both employees and employers. One individual from Stuarts Draft, Virginia serves as an excellent example. He suffered from anxiety, ADHD and other disabilities, and decided to search for a new beginning. He enrolled in vocational rehabilitation at the Wilson Workforce and Rehabilitation Center and found purpose in the Center’s manufacturing technology training program. He now works as an Industrial Manufacturing Registered Apprentice (IMTA) at the Hershey’s factory in Stuarts Draft. Since hiring him as an IMTA, Hershey has added over 175 more IMTAs, providing jobs for numerous members of the community Another shining example of what can happen when WDBs and apprenticeship programs join forces comes from an individual in Ohio who enrolled in a program for dislocated workers. He obtained his electrician apprentice license and began job seeking upon graduation. He eventually accepted a fulltime offer as an Electrician Apprentice at a local construction and restoration company. We have two reasons to celebrate this week. Apprenticeships are an important part of upskilling the American workforce and the economy continues to benefit from a tight labor market and continued job growth. But the warning signs are clear. We must do more to prepare for the decade to come and both local WDBs and apprenticeship programs will be needed to keep the American economy growing.