Friday, March 18, 2011

Walmart Foundation grant benefits MCC

Through its partnership with the Mid-America Regional Council (MARC), MCC is participating in a research project that is being funded through a two-year, $500,000 grant by the Walmart Foundation's America Works Initiative. The MARC project builds on the 2005 WIRED program, whose purpose was to analyze prominent industry sectors and develop training to address workforce needs.

The new funding will support a variety of workforce initiatives, including a survey of five hundred area businesses designed to determine Kansas City hiring and training needs. Research findings will benefit MCC in developing relevant courses for in-demand jobs, as well as continue to strengthen community ties. The MARC research committee is made up of a comprehensive group of educational institutions, industry experts, workforce investment boards and government entities concerned with workforce development. Pat Lees, performance manager for the MCC Institute for Workforce Innovation (I.W.I.) serves on MARC's coordinating committee.

The five hundred-company survey will commence by the end of this month, with results compiled in May. Plans are also underway to host an upcoming workforce summit this summer.

For more information about MARC or MCC research initiatives, please contact Pat Lees.

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