Economic Development
The WIB is a preferred source of trend analysis on the labor market and a gateway of valuable services to help business leaders reduce risk and maximize investments in human capital. These products and services cover a full cycle of market research, recruitment and screening of candidates, training initiatives to reduce skill gaps and boost productivity, sector affiliations to build supply chain value, and much more.
Local Economic Development Organizations (EDOs) and Chambers of Commerce truly embrace the global market push that rates workforce skill and availability among the top site selection issues considered by decision-makers for business attraction and expansion. The WIB’s economic development operational focus positions the WIB as a viable partner and extension of economic development services for EDOs and Chambers across the region. The WIB steps in to assist the smaller communities without a full-time economic development operation and provides a valuable workforce enhancement to the EDO operations in larger communities.
The Southwest Missouri Development Alliance, a regional marketing entity for economic development, routinely uses the services of the WIB to help promote the workforce assets of the region. Large-scale business prospects considering startups, relocations, or expansions to the region through the Alliance and its member communities depend on the WIB to provide valuable market analysis and an independent third-party evaluation of the success potential for companies by interpreting regional workforce data.
The Quad-States Regional Transformation (QSRT) initiative further strengthens the partnerships with EDOs and Chambers of Commerce. More than a dozen Chambers of Commerce united toward regionalism through a series of quarterly summits and taskforce groups launched in April 2008. This momentum drives the components of regional economic transformation deep into the hearts of business and community leaders region-wide. While indirectly maximizing the WIB’s resources and outcomes, the regional movement meets the shared mission of the WIB and the Chambers for economic prosperity.