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NextGen update: Wyoming reports new partnerships, launches and focus on talent and retention
Summary
John Melville told the council Wyoming has eight active NextGen partnerships across seven regions with additional launches planned; members flagged housing and broadband as barriers to recruiting and retaining talent and discussed an in-person Academy in April.
John Melville briefed the Wyoming Workforce Development Council on the state's NextGen sector partnerships, reporting growth in partnerships and new regional launches and urging council help to recruit industry champions and public partners.
Melville said the program has "a lot of new energy" post-academy, noting the state currently has eight partnerships spanning seven regions and several launches planned, including a Laramie County health-care partnership scheduled for Feb. 29. He credited referrals from the governor's health-care task force and foundation-funded work for helping grow participation.
Why it matters: Melville framed NextGen as a voluntary, regional approach that builds career awareness and work-based learning. He told the council workforce-development challenges such as housing and broadband affect employers' ability to recruit and retain workers, especially in health care and advanced manufacturing.
Council members described local wins — for example, a first female powerline trainee who is a single mother of three — and asked for contact information for industry champions in Laramie County's health-care sector. Melville agreed to share industry-champion recommendations and offered NextGen 101 orientations for members who want to learn more.
Practical details: Melville previewed the annual Academy scheduled for April 25 and noted an in-person NextGen 101 on April 24 plus virtual NextGen 101 sessions Feb. 27 (noon) and March 21 (1 p.m.). He also said some partnerships qualify for preference points on grant applications and encouraged councils and regional teams to support recruitment and networking.
Next steps: Members were asked to help spread the word, recruit champions and consider attending the Academy or regional events.
