SW MO’s economic development integration profiled nationally

The prestigious Economic Development Now journal features insightful trends on the integration of local economic development strategies with workforce development.  As a follow up to the national analysis, ED Now profiles a case study on the success of these efforts in Southwest Missouri featuring the WIB and the Joplin Area Chamber of Commerce.

While the journal is a subscription-only access, IEDC’s home page plugs the two articles with specific references to the Chamber and the Southwest Missouri WIB.   The first article is titled Survey Finds Economic-Workforce Development Collaborations Are the “New Normal”.    Economic developers see greater value in workforce development now than ever before.   That’s clear from the partnerships, activities and plans reported in this survey, even though administrative barriers and misalignments remain.

The title of the second article suggests a positive contrast:  In Southwest Missouri, Economic and Workforce Developers Achieve Results through Real Collaboration. The Workforce Investment Board of Southwest Missouri and the Joplin Area Chamber of Commerce have worked together successfully to retain and attract companies, develop a skilled workforce, secure financial resources, and position the region to compete in the global economy.  Here’s a look at how they’ve done it.

• International Economic Development Council
• Similar feature recently from Workforce Marketing Solutions magazine (PDF)