Oklahoma partners with OESC to boost aerospace, manufacturing, and AI skills

The Oklahoma Employment Security Commission just secured nearly $6 million in federal funding to boost training in aerospace, advanced manufacturing, AI infrastructure, and more. This investment will power next-gen workforce pipelines and connect education with real employer needs. Can't wait to get started with our partners! Read our full press release here: https://lnkd.in/g5KZJuAv

Excited to help design and launch the new Oklahoma Talent Accelerator! After more than a decade of partnering with the nation’s most forward-thinking employers and learning providers, Guild is expanding its impact — bringing our expertise to state and local workforce initiatives that strengthen communities and unlock opportunity at scale. Oklahoma Governor Kevin Stitt has demonstrated a strong commitment to increasing economic opportunity and reigniting the American Dream — including through his National Governors Association Chair’s Initiative. We’re excited to build on that vision by working with leaders and employers across Oklahoma to help more workers access the skills and opportunities they need to thrive. This partnership will focus on training in aerospace and defense, advanced manufacturing, and AI infrastructure. If your company operates in one of these industries in OK, let’s connect!

GE Aerospace knows what we know -- community colleges are essential to building a skilled workforce! Exciting news for Monica Posey, Ed. D. and the team at Cincinnati State Technical and Community College! Today, GE Aerospace Foundation announced a $30 million, multi-year workforce investment to expand access to education and training for the next generation of aerospace and advanced manufacturing talent. ✈️A portion of the funding will directly support Cincinnati State's Aviation Maintenance program, helping the college grow enrollment and prepare more students for high-demand careers in the industry. The announcement, made by GE Aerospace Chairman and CEO H. Lawrence Culp, Jr., at an Axios workforce event, also featured Chancellor Mike Duffey of the Ohio Department of Higher Education and Delta Air Lines Executive Vice President and President – International Alain Bellemare. Dr. Posey, Ohio State Rep. Adam Mathews, and Cincinnati Regional Chamber President and CEO Brendon Cull joined the discussion to share how educators, employers, and government leaders can work together to meet workforce needs and strengthen Ohio’s talent pipeline. Read more here: https://lnkd.in/gDN6ABn9

“One of the things that community colleges can offer is somebody a chance to get some real world workforce training without the full commitment of a four-year degree,” said Danny Fisher via Phoenix Business Journal. https://lnkd.in/gimTg5wN

The introduction of Workforce Pell Grants represents more than new federal dollars — it’s an accountability challenge and an opportunity to rethink how states define and deliver quality in short-term workforce training. The @Alabama Talent Triad, built on a competency-based model, demonstrates what it takes: industry-informed, data-driven systems that connect education to actual labor market needs and create pathways to family-sustaining wages. Amber Garrison Duncan, PhD and I dig into what states can learn from Alabama — and why now is the time to act. Read more in Community College Daily: https://lnkd.in/evXAkKMD

Eighty percent of employers say industry-recognized credentials are a key factor in hiring. When learners earn credentials aligned with workforce demand, they gain a clear pathway to opportunity and economic mobility. Colorado is making meaningful progress to ensure every credential counts. Colorado Succeeds’ Credentials of Value blog series explores how stronger data, alignment, and policy can help learners, employers, and communities thrive. Explore the series here: https://ow.ly/7mPy50XbnuQ #edcolo #workforcedevelopment #credentials #talentpipeline #educationtoemployment

Op-ed: Skills England chair Phil Smith outlines how the new body is working with partners to support the opportunity and growth missions https://lnkd.in/epvDGXti

Latest from FE News: Energy and Utility Skills: Skills, Training and Professional Development Must Fuel the Future: The link between employers and training providers is vital to ensuring access to high-quality skills and professional development. With nearly one million young people currently… Energy and Utility Skills: Skills, Training and Professional Development Must Fuel the Future was published on FE News by AELP #ExclusivetoFENews #EducationNewsFENews Read more here:

Workforce Pell marks a milestone in advancing access to high-quality short-term training. But implementation will determine impact. As states work to align programs with federal requirements and employer needs, Alabama’s skills-based, competency-driven ecosystem offers valuable lessons. C-BEN’s Amber Garrison Duncan, PhD and Nathaniel Rankin from Alabama’s Office of Education and Workforce Statistics share in Community College Daily how states can build the data, partnerships, and frameworks needed to ensure these programs lead to real opportunity for learners. You can read their full piece here: https://lnkd.in/eTD8mki6

New blog post: Why the UK’s Skills Vision Needs a Digital Spine The Government’s new Skills White Paper sets out big ambitions — flexibility, lifelong learning, regional growth. But without the digital infrastructure to hold it together, much of that promise risks slipping through the cracks. In this piece, I explore what it would take to make flexibility real — from national digital infrastructure to cross-sector partnerships that turn policy into practice. https://lnkd.in/ew6BwZGU