Our organization is proud to offer 14 talent and workforce programs for our partners to utilize as a valuable community resource to enhance their workforce efforts, both now and in the future. This year alone, we have had over 12,000 direct participants in our talent and workforce programs, with almost 60% participating in Forward Sioux Falls programming, which is specifically designed for companies with immediate hiring needs.
Our virtual and in-person programming includes Talent Thursday, INTERN Sioux Falls, Talent Now offered at the Summit League have been tremendously successful in connecting employers with talent seeking employment. Mike West, executive associate director for external affairs at the University of Nebraska – Omaha, has praised the use of the tournament as a recruiting opportunity for Sioux Falls employers with urgent hiring needs.
We are also dedicated to increasing the talent development STEM pipeline in the professional and skilled trades to meet the growing needs of our expanding economy. Our Career Connections has assisted 426 graduating seniors in becoming first-generation college students since 2021 by addressing common barriers to higher education. Students are involved and set on a path to fulfilling and highly sought-after careers that will meet the workforce demands of local employers. Learn more about the impact of the Career Connections program through this spotlight involving Muth Electric.
Career Connections works by providing immersive career learning opportunities, such as job shadows and project-based internships, and addresses common barriers to post-secondary education. Learn more about the projects and impact from two Career Connections graduates and the impact its having on their career choices.
In April, we collaborated and coordinated Talent Talks with Young Professionals employed within our community to helped nearly 4,000 high schoolers envision themselves and a life in Sioux Falls in the next couple of years. Learn more about the strategy involved.
We are also proud to support the thriving healthcare and manufacturing industries by raising awareness of STEM-related occupations and careers while developing the next generation of the workforce for Sioux Falls through our popular Your Future STEM program. Earlier this month, over 200 incoming sixth through tenth graders from the Sioux Falls area had the opportunity to immerse themselves in STEM-related experiential learning as part of the Your Future STEM Summer Mini Camp at Augustana University. Read more about this program here.
Lastly, don’t forget to check out the latest article in our Newcomer Series, which features a family of nine who relocated from Canada and their experiences in Sioux Falls.
And preparations are underway for the WIN in Workforce Summit 2023! Two-time Olympic champion and renowned author Nancy Kerrigan will be the keynote speaker. The WIN Summit will take place November 1, 2023. Tickets are available here.