Lake County Workforce Development Board

Strategic Plan

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Mission

To ensure a workforce equipped for today and prepared for tomorrow.

Vision

To be a leader in the workforce development system that produces a highly skilled workforce and powers Lake County’s economic vitality and quality of life.

Key Imperatives

Drive Scalable, Industry-Led Workforce Solutions

  • Strengthen partnerships with key industries and small businesses, aligning talent needs with workforce initiatives
  • Drive growth in economic and workforce opportunities through a seamless Lake County Workforce Ecosystem

Create a Culture of Economic Prosperity

  • Establish more service points and opportunities in all communities
  • Tailor programs to meet individuals at their unique starting points and empower all to succeed
  • Unify a strategic network of workforce partners

Accelerate Career Pathways

  • Facilitate meaningful career and job exposure for high school students and young adults
  • Optimize investment in education, training programs, and skill-building programs

Foster Excellence and Accountability Within a High-Impact Workforce Board

  • Increase the workforce board's commitment in regional, state, and national discussions
  • Drive continuous improvement to support sustainable growth and long-term financial stability
  • Empower the board to lead with greater impact and influence

Elevator Pitch

Lake County Workforce Development is the connection between a thriving, local workforce and a robust, innovative economy.

We empower and support our local employers and businesses in growing and retaining a reliable talent pool via customized recruiting events, apprenticeships, and training programs.

We guide and align local job seekers, including youth and young adults, with critical career services via skills training, educational pathways for in-demand occupations, and job search support.

Value / Importance of an Elevator Pitch

An elevator speech is a concise, persuasive pitch used to quickly explain a product, service, or idea. The name comes from the notion that the speech should be delivered in the short time of an elevator ride, and it’s designed to capture attention and leave a lasting impression.

The power of an elevator speech lies in its ability to succinctly convey an organization’s mission, value proposition, and unique selling points. This concise format is crucial in today’s fast-paced world, where attention spans are fleeting. By forcing a clear and focused message, elevator speeches enhance an organization’s ability to communicate effectively.

Beyond its practical benefits, an elevator speech can significantly boost staff confidence. A well-practiced pitch empowers employees to articulate the organization’s value with clarity and conviction, strengthening their ability to connect with potential partners, clients, and community members.

The above Elevator Pitch should be universally shared by board members, workforce staff, partners, and all members of the Lake County Workforce Ecosystem. It can and should be customized by the speaker to feel personalized, organic, and relatable when being delivered to others.

Strategic Plan Top Priority Themes

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Aim to increase services to individuals and businesses

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Address industry needs through improved stakeholder and business relationships

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Promote economic growth

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Streamline data-driven talent development

Youth Development Icon

Expand youth employment by building early connections and career-aligned experiences

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Emphasize the importance of collaboration, engagement and results-oriented action

Key Imperative: Drive Scalable, Industry-Led Workforce Solutions

  • Strengthen partnerships with key industries and small 
 businesses, aligning talent needs with workforce initiatives
  • Drive growth in economic and workforce opportunities 
 through a seamless Lake County Workforce Ecosystem
  1. Facilitate partnerships among economic development, education, and business sectors for a streamlined pathway from training to employment.

    1. Focus on engaging high-demand industries and supporting small businesses with an emphasis on minority and women-owned.
    2. Develop more apprenticeship opportunities across various industries in collaboration with key stakeholders.
    3. Strengthen connections and partnerships with labor and trade organizations.
  2. Strengthen partnerships with high-demand and emerging industries through continuous engagement to align workforce initiatives with employer needs.

      Reinforce partnerships with industry associations and groups including the Manufacturing Alliance.

      Increase availability of employer training grants.

      Foster growth and development with emerging industries to expand the economy.

  3. Build a collaborative ecosystem with education, business, and community partners to deliver seamless and holistic workforce solutions.

    1. Strengthen connections with local chambers and develop collaborative convenings with partners and stakeholders.
    2. Implement action plans, communication strategies, and sustainable data-sharing agreements to optimize business outreach and measure outcomes.

Key Takeaways

  • All business partners must be included in the conversation
  • Regular, continued engagement across all touchpoints is critical
  • Focus on new, emerging industries to remain competitive

Key Imperative: Create a 
Culture of Economic Prosperity

  • Establish more service points and opportunities in all communities
  • Tailor programs to meet individuals at their unique starting points and empower all to succeed
  • Unify a strategic network of workforce partners
  1. Expand workforce services by increasing service points throughout Lake County.

    1. Enhance the Job Center on the Move by leveraging community workers and advanced technology.
    2. Track and manage data to better understand and address community needs.
  2. Create adaptable programs that support participants’ personal and professional growth.

    1. Expand youth services across communities and agencies and formalize a consistent youth voice to inform program delivery.
    2. Ensure a welcoming culture for all job candidates.
    3. Increase programming to digital literacy, financial literacy, mental health, supportive services, and technology.
  3. Drive a communication strategy that emphasizes the work of the Job Center partners and stakeholders.

    1. Increase outreach and recruitment through meaningful and robust communication tools.
    2. Create a unified message and strategies that resonate with all job candidates.
    3. Maintain an up-to-date information and engaging social media presence.
  4. Execute the Service Integration Action Plan to strengthen partner collaboration and deliver cohesive services.

    1. Engage partners in the creation of sustainable progress plans to ensure the long-term success and impact of workforce development efforts.
    2. Foster a unified commitment to ongoing success and community growth.

Key Takeaways

  • Remain focused on impactful outreach to underserved communities
  • Ensure programs and services are built around attainable goals
  • Maintain consistent, cohesive outreach via structured communications strategies

Key Imperative: Accelerate Career Pathways

  • Facilitate meaningful career and job exposure for high school students and young adults
  • Optimize investment in education, training programs, and skill-building programs
  1. Expand the Summer Youth Employment Program to offer comprehensive job experiences and career readiness for youth countywide.

    1. Develop strategies to connect students to workforce opportunities early.
    2. Align summer job programs with internship opportunities and career-oriented experiences.
    3. Increase the availability of summer jobs by securing employer commitments and hands-on experiences.
  2. Expand partnerships with high schools to develop STEM internships and career exploration opportunities for students.

    1. Introduce and support pre-apprenticeship and work-based learning programs to help youth gain foundational skills.
    2. Promote career awareness and early workforce readiness.
  3. Work with educators and industry partners to deliver flexible programming.

    1. Expand short-term training programs that provide credentialing to meet immediate workforce needs.
    2. Ensure training programs are designed to lead to employment opportunities and high wages.
    3. Support training and education that connects individuals with high-growth industries, good job pathways, and skill-building for career progression.
  4. Deploy job readiness and workplace essential skills training and framework.

    1. Promote instructor-led workshops and provide tools and technology to prepare individuals for the workforce.
    2. Collaborate with partners and stakeholders to deliver literacy programs.

Key Takeaways

  • SYEP is a valuable offering, prime for increased scaling and expansion
  • Sustainable, achievable employment is critical for all job seekers
  • A wide range of career and educational programs must be readily available

Key Imperative: Foster Excellence and Accountability Within a High-Impact Workforce Board

  • Increase the workforce board’s commitment in regional, state, and national discussions
  • Drive continuous improvement to support sustainable growth and long-term financial stability
  • Empower the board to lead with greater impact and influence
  1. Prioritize engagement strategies with board members, legislators, community leaders, and peers to drive impactful workforce policies and practices.

    1. Cultivate a pipeline of visionary leaders who bring expertise, insight, and unwavering commitment to the mission.
    2. Empower high-potential leaders through mentorship and cross-function experiences.
    3. Board members and directors are committed to influencing policy and driving change by serving on influential boards and committees.
    4. Establish the board as a key partner in policy discussions through proactive, transparent, and data-driven communications with legislators and local elected officials.
  2. Proactively secure funding from federal, state, and private sources to support workforce initiatives and ensure program sustainability.

    1. Diversify funding, reduce dependency on a single source, and ensure financial flexibility to enable advanced workforce solutions.
    2. Committed to maintaining the highest standards of financial integrity and compliance.
  3. Drive a communication strategy that reinforces the Board and its members’ role in shaping workforce development strategies.

    1. Develop and deploy meaningful communication tools that foster genuine engagement and inspire action.
    2. Establish a cohesive and unified messaging framework reinforcing our brand, increase awareness, and drive action.
    3. Maintain an active, responsive, and up-to-date presence across key platforms.
  4. Create opportunities to share data, insights, and successful practices.

    1. Bring together industry, government, education, and community to ensure initiatives remain relevant and responsive.
    2. Ensure every meeting is purposeful, designed to maximize engagement through thoughtful discussion and with a focus on actionable outcomes.

Key Takeaways

  • Regular, continued engagement across all touchpoints is critical

  • Diversified, sustainable funding streams are necessary for long-term viability

  • Maintain consistent, cohesive outreach via structured communications strategies

IWIB Priority Areas

The Illinois Workforce Innovation Board (IWIB) is Governor-appointed leaders from state, business, industry, labor, education, and community-based organizations with the goal of evaluating and meeting Illinois workforce needs.

IWIB will focus on four priority areas:
  1. An inclusive workforce system that advances economic prosperity for job seekers and businesses.
  2. Clear understanding of and improved use and impact of the workforce system on job seekers and businesses / employers.
  3. Strategic and close alignment between education, economic development, and workforce development.
  4. WIOA-funded services provide customers with more service points for quality jobs in leading and emerging industries and sectors.

The Lake County Workforce Development Board 2024-2028 Strategic Plan supports, expands, and reinforces the IWIB priority areas.

The Lake County Workforce Development Board 2025-2029 Strategic Plan supports, expands, and reinforces the IWIB priority areas.

Download Strategic Plan →

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