Advancing Sector Strategies
Sector strategies are targeted and collaborative approaches to workforce and economic development that focus on specific regional industries or occupational clusters. Valley Vision’s workforce development sector strategies in the Capital region are designed to empower the local workforce, boost economic growth, and address the evolving needs of the job market. These strategies focus on bridging the gap between education and industry, fostering job readiness, and promoting inclusivity and diversity in the workforce. By aligning with local stakeholders and leveraging data-driven insights, Valley Vision’s workforce development initiatives are helping to ensure that the region’s workforce remains competitive and adaptable, ultimately contributing to the region’s prosperity and sustainability.
Through innovative programs and collaborations with employers, educators, and community-based organizations, Valley Vision aims to ensure residents are equipped with the skills and training necessary to thrive in a rapidly changing economy. The following highlights a few areas of our current sector work.
Public Sector Pathways
Valley Vision plays a leadership role in the Innovative Pathways to Public Service (IPPS) initiative, administered by the Institute for Local Government (ILG). Our workforce team actively participates in the Public Sector Pathways & Innovation Workgroup and the Marketing and Events Public Sector Workgroup, focusing on enhancing pathways to public sector employment, particularly for underserved communities.
Additionally, Valley Vision actively participates and helps steward the region’s Strengthening Community Colleges Training grant received by the Department of Labor from the Los Rios Community College District. This grant program aims to build community colleges’ capacity to meet the skill development needs of employers and equitably support students in obtaining good jobs in in-demand industries through sector-based career pathways. Our region’s Strengthening Community Colleges Training grant was developed to focus on quality public sector career pathways, which make up almost one-quarter of jobs in our region. Valley Vision has been involved in designing and implementing this system change model, which served to redefine traditional BusTech pathways into Business Professional Worker certifications to meet the qualification needs of public sector employers. Valley Vision regularly convenes public sector employers to inform the curriculum and provide onramps for students completing these credentials.
In our collaborative efforts, Valley Vision is tracking the outcomes of students completing BusTech pathways, monitoring their entry into employment, and the wages they achieve. Additionally, we have researched the future demand for skills required for entry, mid, and advanced-level employment across the region’s diverse public sector. Hosting the IPPS Regional Initiatives Forum, Valley Vision facilitated discussions on statewide and regional data and public sector initiatives. These efforts provide valuable insights into the skills needed for the future public sector workforce, reinforcing our commitment to developing effective pathways to public service employment.
Upskilling Farm Workers
Valley Vision works in partnership with the Center for Land-Based Learning (CLBL) to support their AgHiRE program, a High Roads Training Partnership grant to upskill Spanish-speaking farmworkers with new skills to enable them to move to supervisory positions with their current farm employer. Valley Vision’s role includes providing initial grant support, employer engagement and advisory support, engagement with farm operators and advocacy groups, and conducting in-depth interviews to inform training curriculum design to maximize wage gains. The AgHiRE program offers training in leadership, communication, English, digital skills, math, and regulatory awareness to meet the needs of Spanish-speaking farmworkers and farm operators. By centering training on information from employers, the program aims to overcome language barriers, improve worker productivity, and make farming operations more competitive. This initiative also creates a sense of community among farm employers, encouraging collaboration and supporting employee development. The ultimate goal is to help farmworkers progress to higher-skilled positions, benefiting employees and employers by maximizing the workforce’s potential.
Culinary Arts Management
Valley Vision worked with Cosumnes River College to refine and update its Culinary Arts Management program. This included a holistic review of course offerings, curriculum, program courses, degrees, and certificates within the department, and researching other culinary arts management programs for insights on innovative equity-driven practices. The objectives of this effort were to better align curriculum to the training needs of industry and the educational needs of students, create a scheduled course rotation that better serves students, alter degrees and certificates to make students more employable after graduation, use available research and data to address achievement gaps of marginalized groups in the CAM program, and develop innovative curriculum to elevate Culinary Management training at CRC.
Childcare Careers
Valley Vision assisted in research, analysis and recommendations along with the SETA Head Start, the City of Sacramento, and the Center of Excellence at Los Rios Community College District to better understand and address challenges in attracting and retaining the childcare workforce necessary to alleviate child care access issues for families. Primary and secondary research was conducted to develop a detailed landscape of current conditions, along with surveys of current and former childcare workers to comprehend workers’ level of satisfaction and reasons for leaving the field. Particularly concerning was the average age of childcare workers, and the lack of younger workers entering the field. On behalf of the initiative, we also explored innovative and successful practices outside of our region. To this end, we convened a core group of experts, produced and analyzed research results, and provided detailed recommendations to inform future actions and investments.
