Task force research leads to variety of recommendations and emerging strategies.
The Human Capital Work Group and its six task forces have identified several existing efforts and emerging strategies that it believes KC Rising should support:
- Talent-to-Industry Exchange: A system of business-led discussions around skills and educational needs and gaps focused on developing local talent to fill projected employment needs. KC Rising will hold two TIE discussions in 2016: Life Sciences Nexus and Design+Construct.
- Talent Attraction Tools: KC Rising will offer several lifestyle marketing tools and tips developed for TeamKC: Life+Talent, a program of the Kansas City Area Development Council. TeamKC is making these select tools available to any business in the KC region on the kcrising.com site by February 29, 2016. Companies can become KCADC members if they are interested in customization or higher level engagement.
- KC Scholars: A Kauffman Foundation program that would provide post-secondary scholarships to high school students, and matching funds for 529 plans and scholarships to adult learners wanting to complete a degree or certification. KC Scholars plans to serve up to 2,000 promising individuals in the KC region each year.
- ecosySTEM KC: KC Rising is supporting the efforts of ecosySTEM KC, an initiative which seeks to align STEM education programming across our region. In a competitive grant process, the national STEM Funders Network selected the Kansas City region, as one of 27 communities across the nation, to receive technical assistance in building a comprehensive STEM educational ecosystem.
- 315,000 adults in the KC region have some college education but have not yet completed a certificate or degree. There are several strategies being considered that would target this population.