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The United States is in a workforce crisis. Many employees are aging out of the workforce and the pipeline of skilled workers is inadequate to meet employment demand. This is not a new story. Frankly, this is an issue that has been quietly brewing for years if not decades. For far too long, policy makers failed to put an adequate emphasis on the need for and the development of human capital in the areas of science, technology, engineering and math. Today, employers are grappling with how to attract the workforce they need to support their organizations. It becomes even more challenging in regions where populations and school age children are on the decline. Yet, there is hope. Stepping away from the daily grind and sitting down with employers and organizations from outside the area can be a helpful exercise to help understand best practices and compare notes. Recently we had that opportunity as Justin Hanft the Executive Director of the Chautauqua County Education Coalition attended the 2019 Business & Education Forum, titled Pathways to Success. The event was put on in conjunction by the Business Council and The Public Policy Institute of New York State, Inc. in Albany. The conference was focused around learning how businesses are innovating to address their workforce challenges and how they are collaborating with a diverse range of training and educational programs. Organizations across New York State shared several innovative practices and programs they are implementing to address the workforce needs of employers. At this conference communities highlighted their efforts to advance early childhood equity, the importance of industry sectors partnering with education to co-construct career pathways that can prepare the future workforce, the Pathways in Technology Early College High School (P-TECH) model, talent pipeline management, consortium trainings of industry specific and nationally recognized credentials including the Certified Production Technician (CPT) by the Manufacturing Standards Skills Council (MSSC), and efforts to bring back the apprenticeship model. It was reassuring to learn that we are on the right track with our efforts and that the best practices highlighted at this gathering are being implemented here in Chautauqua County. The Chautauqua County Education Coalition and its partner stakeholders are working hard on all the initiatives that were highlighted at the conference in Albany. The Coalition has facilitated initiatives in early childhood, brought together industry and education to construct career pathways, supported the efforts to build the P-TECH program in Dunkirk, worked with the Manufacturers Association to grow the Dream It Do It program, implement a talent pipeline management effort and build an apprenticeship initiative and has supported efforts of institutions such as Jamestown Community College to implement a Certified Production Technician certification program and the launch of the Workforce Readiness Scholarship. The Chautauqua County Education Coalition, initiated through Cummins the Manufacturers Association and the Chamber of Commerce in cooperation with a variety of stakeholders is working to align Chautauqua County’s learning system to meet the region’s workforce needs. It is reaffirming to know that as a region we are focused on strategic initiatives that are considered best practices in helping our businesses and communities address the workforce challenges we face. It is energizing to know that we are on the right track. To learn more about the Chautauqua County Education Coalition (CCEC) contact Justin Hanft at jhanft@educoalition.com.