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Challenge Solution
Outcomes
Challenge
Despite rapid economic growth driven by the
regional information technology industry cluster,
the city of Austin, Texas, recognized that its
residents were not benefiting equally in the region's
prosperity. As with other communities, wage and
income disparities actually increased with regional
economic growth. In response to this concern,
the city launched an initiative to understand
and address the impediments faced by minorities
in achieving higher levels of social equity in
the region.
Solution
ICF International was engaged to assist the initiative,
continuing a series of projects started in 1983,
with a major follow-up in 1997-1998, aimed at
launching Austin toward a "next century"
economy. The previous projects, mounted by the
Austin Chamber of Commerce, required ICF International
to work with leaders in high-tech industries and
supporting educational institutions to find new
ways to sustain growth in the region.
In this Equitable Region project, we worked with
local firms to assess skills needs. Then the team
helped firms determine alternative mechanisms
for meeting those skill needs. Additionally we
helped the firms address recruitment, retention,
and other such labor skills issues so that firms
in an industry cluster could understand the challenges
faced by all firms, and thereafter, the different
challenges faced by different firms depending
on size, technology, role in the cluster, and
other factors. Development-related organizations,
universities, community colleges, and training
institutions, as well as representatives of K-12
school systems, were interviewed to understand
the services they provide, their decision-making
processes, and their degree of engagement with
the private sector.
Outcomes
ICF International developed a comprehensive report
that provides recommendations on using public
dollars more effectively and mobilizing private-sector
dollars for workforce development to achieve more
equity in the region.
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