Larimer County commissioners on Tuesday unanimously approved a proclamation designating September 2025 as Workforce Development Month and heard department leaders and board members describe a range of job-training and employer-engagement efforts.

The proclamation and remarks from Mark Johnston, director of Larimer County Economic and Workforce Development, emphasized the department’s role in pairing residents with skills training, work-based learning and employer partners. “Workforce development is more than just jobs. It’s about creating opportunity, strengthening families, and building thriving communities,” Johnston said.

Why it matters: County officials said the programs are intended to help residents obtain employment that supports living in the region and to supply local businesses with trained workers. The board’s proclamation cited 2024 figures that appear in the official text: 9,945 job seekers served in the county system, of whom 3,922 received in-depth, staff-assisted services, producing a collective post-service wage increase of $18,690,759 (figures are reported in the proclamation document presented at the meeting).

Officials’ details and discussion: Johnston told commissioners that in calendar year 2024 nearly 10,000 residents used workforce services and that about 4,000 requested more intensive staff-directed help. He described roughly 9,000 career-counseling appointments, about 1,800 wraparound supportive-service actions (examples he gave included assistance with tools, work clothing, child care and auto insurance), and more than 330 placements into registered apprenticeships or paid internships. County materials presented at the meeting note program outcomes and the department’s partnerships with education, employers and nonprofits.

Board members and workforce-board representatives said they value the department’s regional partnerships. Julie Chella, HR manager at Lincoln Electric and chair of the local workforce development board, said the board’s work “has been eye opening” and urged employers to engage. Mark Christiansen of Brinkman Construction and Janelle Heifel of Front Range Community College also described private-sector and education collaboration with the county.

Action taken: Commissioner John Kefalas read the proclamation and moved adoption. The Board of County Commissioners voted 3-0 to approve the proclamation declaring September 2025 Workforce Development Month.

What to watch next: Johnston said the department plans an open house and the Northern Colorado Workforce Symposium later in September; he said the symposium is expected to draw about 300 hiring managers and HR leaders. The department posted event details to its web channels and will provide a final symposium agenda in coming weeks.