Niagara Networks & Industry Collaborative: Follow up Action Meeting

We were honored to participate again in this initiative, bringing a diverse and dedicated group of industry professionals together to discuss how we can build a better Niagara workforce.

On September 29, 2023, the South Niagara Chambers of Commerce gathered attendees of the Niagara Networks & Industry Collaborative Meeting (which took place on May 24, 2023).  A range of industries, roles and perspectives were represented.  They looked at the ideas that came from the May24 meeting and broke into smaller groups to discuss six action areas including

• how might we support employers’ learning and/or capacity-building? 
• how might we centralize health in our workforce development? 
• how might we develop an affordable housing task force?
• how might we support succession planning? 
• how might we modernize employee recruitment?
• how might we support established small businesses (as the ecosystem supports startups)? 

Attendees selected the questions they wanted to focus on. This allowed people to engage with others that they may not be connected with. The facilitated discussions focused on how to approach these topics.  The goal was to understand what might be needed to allow progress.  Specifically, the discussions included highlighting 2-3 goals for each topic, actions that need to be taken to move forward, and who needs to be involved for change to be possible.

Many solutions were explored. Some of them included

• helping employers access resources through tailored strategies; this supports both small businesses and employer learning/capacity building
• piloting new ways of working that support mental health and well-being
• defining affordable housing and ensuring there is a streamlined housing process
• focusing on building retention strategies to support succession planning
• creating and promoting workplace culture and values as a piece of employee recruitment