At the Tucson Metro Chamber, we know that the key to a thriving workforce lies in meaningful collaborations. As the Director of Workforce Advocacy, I'm excited to share some of the innovative partnerships we've been cultivating to address Pima County’s most pressing workforce challenges. Look at how we're working together to build a stronger, more resilient workforce ecosystem.

Healthcare & Health Science Workforce Collaborative: Nurturing Our Future Caregivers

One of our most dynamic initiatives is the Healthcare and Health Science Workforce Collaborative. What began as a partnership with major hospitals has now expanded to include key educational institutions:

- Pima Community College

- University of Arizona

- Arizona State University

- Grand Canyon University

Our primary focus? Developing an effective preceptorship program. This collaboration aims to bridge the gap between academic learning and real-world healthcare practice, ensuring that our future healthcare professionals are well-prepared to meet the demands of this critical sector. Our next meeting is Oct 22, 2024 from 10:00 am - 11:30 am at the Tucson Metro Chamber office! Register by clicking HERE!

Mining & Construction Workforce Collaborative: Unearthing New Opportunities

Our Mining & Construction Workforce Collaborative started 2024 with a focus on branding direction. We've since invited the Southern Arizona Business Coalition to share the work they’ve been doing to address the negative perception around mining. In next month’s workforce collaborative, the Arizona Mining Association will be sharing their workforce development initiatives with Chamber members. This collaborative allows us to align our efforts and develop targeted strategies to support the mining industry's workforce needs.

Childcare Advocacy: Building the Foundation for a Healthy Workforce

A new analysis by LendingTree finds that Arizona families spend nearly a fifth of their income on child care costs. When parents can’t afford child care, it impacts parents, children, and our economy. Lack of access to affordable childcare increases the risk of parental stress and maternal depression, which is a specific Adverse Childhood Experiences' risk factor for children. Recognizing the crucial role of affordable, quality childcare in workforce development, we've taken big steps this year in building a childcare advocacy coalition. We're starting with two key partners: Erik Hite Foundation and First Things First. Our goal is to collaboratively develop childcare policies that would ultimately support a healthy workforce. By addressing this fundamental need, we aim to remove a significant barrier – unaffordable childcare costs – to workforce participation for many in our community.

Strengthening Community Partnerships

We're also excited about emerging partnerships with other community organizations. The Tucson Metro Chamber is joining forces with Cradle to Career at the United Way of Southern Arizona and the Center for the Future of Arizona.

Together, we're exploring ways to enhance our collaborative workforce efforts. We're planning meetings to discuss how we can work more effectively towards our shared goals of workforce development and community prosperity.

Engaging Small Businesses in Workforce Solutions

Small businesses are the backbone of Pima County’s economy, and we're actively ensuring they have a voice in workforce development. I'm thrilled to announce that Aaron Ball, Director of College and Career Pathways (Southern Region) at the Center for the Future of Arizona, and I are coordinating a webinar in November. The topic? "Engaging Small Business in Workforce Solutions." We hope that this event will provide a platform for small business owners to connect with workforce initiatives and contribute their needed perspectives.

Moving Forward Together

These workforce collaborations represent just the beginning of our efforts to create a more integrated, responsive workforce ecosystem in Tucson and Pima County. By bringing together diverse stakeholders – from educational institutions and healthcare providers to mining companies and childcare advocates – we're creating a comprehensive approach to workforce development.

When we work together, we can address our workforce challenges more effectively than any single organization could alone. These partnerships allow us to leverage our collective expertise, resources, and creativity to develop innovative solutions that benefit our entire community.

As we move forward, we invite other organizations, businesses, and community leaders to join us in these collaborative efforts. Together, we can build a workforce that's not only skilled and adaptable but also inclusive and equitable, ensuring prosperity for all in our region.

Stay tuned for updates on these exciting initiatives, and don't forget to mark your calendars for our upcoming Healthcare & Health Science Workforce Collaborative on October 22! See for yourself what we can accomplish together!

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