City of Omaha Mayor’s Office

December 13, 2010 –

Partners including Mayor Suttle, Councilmembers Chris Jerram and Ben Gray, David Brown–CEO of Greater Omaha Chamber of Commerce, Wendy Boyer–Chamber of Commerce, Randy Schmailzl–President Metropolitan Community College, Jan Kauk–Executive Director of Heartland Workforce Solutions, Virgil Keller–United Way of the Midlands

Mayor Jim Suttle announced a joint public / private partnership that is expected to revolutionize workforce development and unemployment in Omaha.  The Greater Omaha Chamber of Commerce, City Council members, Metropolitan Community College, United Way of the Midlands, other educational institutions, private nonprofits and the business community have come together to create an innovative solution addressing 21^st century workforce demands in our region.

The Workforce Opportunity Task Force was created by the City Council under the leadership of Councilman Chris Jerram more than a year ago. “We asked the Task Force to review the current workforce development delivery system in the Omaha Tri-County Area and make recommendations to the City Council,” said Councilman
Chris Jerram. “The recommendations included an overhaul of the current Workforce System.”

The local workforce investment board began working closely with Mayor Suttle’s office and the Greater Omaha Chamber to examine best practices and identify opportunities for creating a workforce that meets employers’ needs.

“It was determined that the formation of a new nonprofit, called Heartland Workforce Solutions, and election of a tri-county board overseeing workforce innovations could effectively match employers with unemployed individuals skilled in areas that are essential to their specific business,” said Executive Director, Jan Kauk. Kauk will be responsible for transitioning oversight of workforce investment activities from the State of Nebraska to this new public / private partnership. The first phase of that transition will occur January 1, 2011 and by July 1 the complete transfer of operations to a new one-stop career center will take place and the HWS oversight board will assume full operation.

“The Nebraska Department of Labor Workforce Investment Board is supportive of the move and believes it will enhance economic activity in the region and support the citizens of the state who are unemployed, displaced or underemployed,” said Cathy Lang, Commissioner, Nebraska Department of Labor.

“Heartland Workforce Solutions will continue to develop a dual customer approach to jobs by addressing the needs of both the employee and the employer,” said Mike Abramson, board chairman of the former Workforce Investment Board as well the new organization. Abramson says, “Heartland Workforce Solutions will revolutionize the way we address the unemployed in Omaha.

“What makes this great for Omaha is that now individuals will be matched with real jobs that offer future and living wages,” said Mayor Jim Suttle. “It will transform families and communities as it helps to move people out of poverty into productivity.”

“Ensuring businesses have the talent they need is key to economic success in Greater Omaha. Heartland Workforce Solutions will be a great partner in meeting that goal,” said David G. Brown, president of the Greater Omaha Chamber.

To date, multiple employers have been helping to lead and create new workforce delivery models in a variety of industries key to economic development in the local area. They are: Mutual of Omaha, Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Nebraska, Distefano Tool and Manufacturing, Valmont Industries, Midwest Eye Care, UNMC Physicians Eye Specialties, The Nebraska Medical Center, Prudent Technologies, Environmental Restoration, Roloff Construction, and Hawkins Construction.