Business Strategy: Final ARPA funds allocated to skills and training for job seekers

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The Alliance for Economic Development of Oklahoma City has recently launched two new workforce development programs, Center for Employment Opportunities (CEO) and gener8tor Skills Accelerator. The programs focus on providing free, effective and comprehensive employment services to unemployed and underemployed job seekers.

CEO provides comprehensive employment services to people recently released from incarceration, ensuring that justice-impacted job seekers have opportunities to achieve social and economic mobility. gener8tor, a virtual skills training and job placement support program for people looking for jobs in high-demand roles, will launch its first cohort on July 1 for individuals seeking employment in Project Management and Sales roles. Since its inception in 2020, gener8tor has trained over 3,300 participants with more than half of graduates landing roles within three months.

Both programs are designed to drive local economic growth and nurture the backbone of our workforce. The Alliance oversees several workforce development programs to support Oklahomans with job training, especially those in underserved communities as they fight to recover from the economic downturn. The Alliance administers ARPA recovery funds directly to community partners to invest in workers through training and credentials, or new skills to advance their careers. In most cases, the cost for career training is underwritten by The Alliance.

We’ve heard from many graduates that participation is both challenging and rewarding. Zach Mays, head of engineering at Apricot, graduated from OK Coders’ full-stack web development boot camp in 2014. Zach discovered that classes at OK Coders allowed him to enter a field that is traditionally difficult to break into. Computer and information technology skills are in-demand. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reports employment is projected to grow 25% from 2022 to 2032, much faster than the average for all other occupations.

Through strategic investment of ARPA funds, we are addressing critical workforce gaps by equipping job seekers with the skills and training needed to meet the workforce needs. CEO and gener8tor are two of the newest additions to our ever-expanding list of workforce development and accelerator programs for individuals and businesses; learn more at www.theallianceokc.org/arpa-programs.

The next time you visit a locally-owned Oklahoma City-based business, please tell them about our programs and encourage them to apply.

Kenton Tsoodle is the president of The Alliance for Economic Development of Oklahoma City.