RACINE – Racine County continues to engage with area employers, educational institutions and community partners in an IT Collaborative focused on preparing our regional workforce for the opportunities of tomorrow.
In 2019, Racine County collaborated with ManpowerGroup to develop a STARTS (Service, Technology, Advanced Manufacturing and Production, Rehabilitation and Health Care, Trades and Supervisors) Model to set workforce strategies and goals surrounding the fastest growing occupations. Since this initial report, the County has incorporated its findings into a plan to attract, develop and retain its workforce.
In response to the growing number of opportunities within the technology industry detailed in the ManpowerGroup study and in partnership with RAMAC (Racine Area Manufacturing and Commerce) using the Talent Pipeline Management framework developed by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, the County has developed and championed an IT Collaborative to align community needs and develop a valuable talent pipeline.
"One of the top priorities of the IT Collaborative was to break down the silos that exist in our community," said Racine County IT Director Shuchi Wadhwa and co-chair for the IT Collaborative. "By leveraging our relationships with community partners and area businesses, we believe by investing in our local talent that we are laying the foundation for our workforce of the future."
As Racine County's IT Collaborative began to take shape with RAMAC serving as its host, Wadhwa discovered that more than 80 organizations were attempting to create technology-focused workforce development opportunities within the community.
"We want to bring everyone to the table because the County can't accomplish this effort alone," said Wadhwa. "I'm grateful to have the support of our County Executive, someone who sees the big picture and has a vision for our region's long-term talent needs, especially in technology."
To showcase the many opportunities within the technology field, Racine County has teamed up with the Tech-Prize initiative, educators within Racine Unified Schools, Gateway Technical College, Siena Schools and the University of Wisconsin-Parkside as well as top companies within our County including Twin Disc, Modine and others.
"How do we engage this generation of tech-savvy young people?" Wadhwa asked. "We have to show them the full array of IT career options. Technology plays a role in everything we do, from the medical field, sports, manufacturing, and even the music industry."
If you are interested in getting involved, contact Director Wadhwa at shuchi.wadhwa@racinecounty.gov.
