GREATER TALENT

Together, we build, champion, and retain a talented workforce.

One of the key elements to a successful business and a thriving regional economy is talent - a workforce with individuals who have the skills and background that businesses need to be successful. GSI works to bring educators and employers together for the benefit of students and businesses to build talent for the future and has several committees to develop education strategies and programs.

We work with the community to:

• Lead strategies and programming that supports our goal of increasing the proportion of residents in Spokane County with high-quality degrees or certificates from 40 percent to 60 percent by 2025.
• Connect the education and business community to help identify workforce gaps and provide programming and solutions to support a highly educated, available and technically skilled workforce.
• Staff Spokane STEM Network, in partnership with NorthEast Washington Education Service District 101, which works to transform the way we think. learn, work and live through STEM by enhancing STEM education opportunities for all youth in the region.
• GSI organizes and leads the regional Education Grows Economies campaign to support the passage of 13 local K-12 public school districts bonds and levies.

Reaching Underserved Populations
GSI also represents the Spokane region as one of five communities across the United States to join the Inclusive Development Network, an ambitious new initiative designed to advance inclusive workforce development within communities through a focus on reaching underserved populations and closing equity gaps for working adults. Read more here.

What Does This Mean to Your Business?

• Your membership supports our work to help ensure you can access and employ individuals with the educational background you need to be successful.
• Each new job created means more money spent on housing, groceries, transportation, child care, entertainment and for more - directly impacting your business.
• Our advocacy efforts in support of K-12 and higher education are critical to maintaining funding for academic programs and infrastructure needed for student success, as well as helping to attract new business to our region.

For more information or details on how you can get involved and be part of our Education and Talent efforts, contact Cassidy Peterson, Director, Education and Talent and Executive Director, Spokane STEM at 509.321.3611.