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Application
48012 - DOC - Big Sky Economic Development Trust Fund (BSTF) - Planning Projects - FY17-02
49704 - Missoula State of the Workforce Study
DOC MTBD BSTF Planning Projects
Status: Under Review
Submitted Date: 10/26/2016 11:07 AM
Primary Contact
Name:*Ms. Nicole Rush
Salutation First Name Middle Name Last Name
Title:
Email: [email protected]
Alternate Email
Address: 200 W Broadway
*Missoula Montana 59802
City State/Province Postal Code/Zip
Phone:*406-594-7874
Phone
###-###-#### Ext.
Alternate Phone
Fax:
Comments:
Organization Information
Name: Missoula Economic Partnership
Organization Type: Non-Profit Organization
Organization Website: missoulapartnership.com
Address: 2501 Catlin Street, Suite 205
*Missoula Montana 59801
City State/Province Postal Code/Zip
Phone: 406-541-6461
Ext.
Alternate Phone
Fax:
Email address [email protected]
Alternate Email
Comments:
Applicant Information -- Eligible Applicant Information
Eligible Applicant
Eligible applicants are CRDC, Tribal Governments and approved EDO, which are located in a county that is not part of a CRDC region and
meet program eligibility requirements. The organization that is preparing the application must match the organization that is selected
below. If the organizations do not match, please withdraw the application and contact the BSTF Program.
From the dropdown list, please identify the CRDC, Tribe or EDO. Missoula Economic Partnership
If your name does not appear on the list and you believe that you meet the program eligibility requirements, please contact the BSTF Program.
Authorized Contract Signatory
Enter full name *James Grunke
First Name Last Name
CEO
Title
Email Address of Contract Signatory [email protected]
Applicant Information -- Project Summary Information
Proposed Use of BSTF Funds: Feasibility Studies
Eligible Activities Listed in Section D.2 of the Application Guidelines.
Physical address of the project 2501 S Catlin St
County Missoula
Type of Assistance Requested Grant
Grant or Loan
Total Project Cost $64,238.00
Leave Blank - this amount will be automatically updated from your submitted budget.
Amount of BSTF Funds Requested $27,000.00
Leave Blank. This amount will be automatically updated based on your submitted budget.
Total Cash Match $37,238.00
Leave blank - as this will automatically update from the submitted budget
Applicant Information -- Assisted Business/Entity
Assisted Entity's Name Missoula Economic Partnership
Who is the work being done for?
What is the mailing address for the Assisted Business/Entity.
Mailing Address
City State
Zip (Use xxxxx-xxxx format) To look up your 4 digit extension, click here USPS Zip Code Look Up
Contact Person for the Assisted Entity
First Name Last Name
Title
Phone Number
Use xxx-xxx-xxxx format
E-Mail Address
North American Industrial Classification System (NAICS) Code 926110
Enter the most appropriate NAICS Code that matches the Assisted Business/Entity. To look-up your NAICS code, click on: NAICS Look Up
Total Number of New Jobs to be Created
Enter a number only. If not applicable, leave blank.
Applicant Information - Partner Organizations
Organization Name N/A
If not applicable, mark the field N/A
Contact Person within the Organization
First Name Last Name
Organization Address
City State
Zip (Use xxxxx-xxxx format) To look up your 4 digit extension, click here USPS Zip Code Look Up
Phone Number
Email Address
What are the partner organization's responsibilities relative to the proposed project?
Project Information - Overview
Please describe, in detail, the proposed project.
Missoula Economic Partnership (MEP) is requesting $27,000 from the Big Sky Economic Development Trust Fund
(BSTF) to hire a professional service provider to conduct a State of the Workforce Study for Missoula.
The study will engage local stakeholders to produce primary and secondary research, identify workforce issues,
establish goals and develop strategies to address workforce needs in Missoula.
Missoula is entering a period of growth. With unemployment at 3.6% as of July 2016, well below the national average,
Missoula requires an influx of skilled workers to keep pace with unemployment demands. As MEP staff meet with local
businesses as part of our business retention and expansion efforts, we know anecdotally that hiring and retaining a
skilled workforce is a challenge across multiple industries. This conclusion is echoed by our partners, investors and
local government leaders.
The Missoula Chamber of Commerce’s Workforce Development and Education Committee (WDEC), which includes
representatives of MEP, the University of Montana, Missoula College, local school districts, Missoula Job Service and
area employers, has determined that a data-driven approach to development of the workforce is needed. The State of
the Workforce report will provide relevant industry data and strategic recommendations that will inform the Committee
and help us to set goals and develop an action plan for workforce development.
Describe the assisted entity or business.
The Missoula Economic Partnership works collaboratively and strategically to facilitate increased prosperity through
business development while enhancing the business environment and quality of life in our community.
The Missoula Economic Partnership officially launched in June 2011; MEP was formed through a collaborative effort
spurred by Mayor John Engen’s Best Place Project, an initiative to expand existing businesses and help draw new
companies to Missoula. A broad coalition of local business leaders spent months developing strategies,
commissioning studies and hosting vision sessions. Out of that effort grew the Missoula Economic Partnership, a
privately led, nonprofit public benefit corporation.
To launch the Partnership, MEP's campaign co-chairs and board raised $3.2 million in pledged investment. The
majority of the Partnership’s budget comes from our private sector investor/members with the balance coming from
the city, county, the University of Montana and Missoula International Airport.
An independent Economic Impact Analysis conducted by National Community Development Services determined that
between 2011 and 2015, MEP assisted 103 companies that created 1,010 new jobs and $120.6 million of new
investment in Missoula. Over the next five years, MEP has identified eight industry sectors in Missoula to target for
business retention and expansion, business attraction and workforce development:
Information Technology•
Professional Services•
Advanced Manufacturing•
Business Support Services•
Life Sciences•
Creative Industries•
Warehousing/Distribution•
Finance and Insurance•
Please describe what activities the BSTF funds will be used for.
Proposed Scope of Work:
Deliverable will be the Missoula State of the Workforce Study
Task 1: Project Launch
Workforce Development and Education Committee will meet with TPMA to gather information, coordinate date for
Kick-Off Meeting, schedule dates and times for regular meetings and status reports.
Task 2: Review of Existing Materials
TPMA will review existing materials, reports and/or studies relevant to workforce development in Missoula. TPMA will
research workforce indicators and benchmarks used by peer communities to measure workforce strengths and gaps.
Task 3: Development of Workforce Indicators and Benchmarks
A) Interviews. TPMA will develop a list of guiding questions with input from MEP and the WDEC and conduct one-on-
one interviews with 20-30 stakeholders in Missoula. Interviews will help TPMA and WDEC gain perspective on skill
development and quantitative measures that will indicate progress toward WDEC's workforce development goals.
B) Focus Groups. TPMA will conduct a series of focus groups with area leadership in business and industry,
education and training providers, economic and community development, and workforce development
representatives.
C) Workforce Indicators and Benchmarks
With information collected from the interviews and focus groups, TPMA will recommend indicators that provide
evidence of existing workforce strengths and weaknesses. Recommendations will be shared with WDEC for review
and feedback.
Task 4: Workforce Development Survey and Analysis Model
TPMA will design a workforce development survey and analysis model focusing on the established indicators. The
survey will include questions to develop a concrete understanding of soft skills sought by Missoula County
employers. TPMA will survey a wide representation of employers of all sizes across industry sectors. TPMA will
conduct the survey and develop an analysis report.
Task 5: Inventory of Training Options and Gap Analysis
A) Inventory Training Options. TPMA will develop an inventory of training options available to support development of
the workforce. The inventory and resulting database will capture: training provider, location, contact information,
dates of training, and program outcomes.
B) Training Gap Analysis. TPMA will create an analysis of training gaps, pulling information collected through the
training inventory, workforce survey and education profiles. Gaps will be identified for soft skills programs based on
soft skill information gathered through the survey.
Task 6: Facilitated Onsite Planning Session
TPMA will facilitate a half-day session with the WDEC and other community partners to identify opportunities to refine
strategic priorities for workforce development in Missoula. During the session, TPMA will present findings from the
survey and training gap analysis and lead an interactive discussion about areas in need of refinement.
Task 7: State of the Workforce Study
TPMA will compile all information and data gathered throughout the project into a complete State of the Workforce
Study for Missoula.
Task 8: Final Study and Presentation
TPMA will create a presentation of the State of the Workforce Study. TPMA will provide onsite presentation to the
WDEC and other community partners.
Identify the entities involved in completing the proposed project, including management of the project/staffing plan.
The professional service provider (Thomas P. Miller & Associates) will prepare the State of the Workforce Study
according to the scope of work outlined above. TPMA comes highly recommended to MEP and the WDEC based on
their ongoing work with BillingsWorks and the review of a similar study for Billings completed in 2015.
MEP will administer the grant and manage the project to meet all BSTF requirements. MEP will work directly with
TPMA to organize collaboration with all stakeholder members of the WDEC. Nicole Rush, MEP Grants Manager be the
project manager and administrator for coordination of the BSTF grant. James Grunke, MEP CEO, will approve and
sign all contracts and payment requests.
Provide an implementation plan or timeline for the project activities from start-up through closeout.
TPMA estimates that the Missoula State of the Workforce Study will be completed within 4 months of the kickoff date.
MEP and the WDEC are planning to kickoff the study in January 2016. MEP expects to receive the final deliverable by
the end of April 2016 and submit close out documentation by the end of May 2016.
Specify if outside professional services will be procured.
A professional service provider will be hired to conduct the Missoula State of the Workforce Study.
Provide any relevant historical information on this project or the region it could support.
Missoula County is a high-poverty county as defined by the Montana Department of Commerce even though it has
high levels of secondary and post-secondary education.
After years of slow recovery from the recession, community and business leaders now believe that Missoula is
entering a cycle of growth. Entrepreneurship is on the rise, existing businesses are expanding and an estimated $190
million in commercial construction will be completed in the next six months. Facing a shortage of workers comes as a
welcome problem for Missoula after the loss of several large employers in the past decade, including Smurfit-Stone
Container Corp. and the Stimson Lumber Co.
Missoula College has been awarded a $1.4 million workforce development grant and an $8 million HealthCARE Grant
from the U.S. Department of Labor to give more students an opportunity for educations in health care fields and
ultimately fill much-needed, high-paying jobs, particularly in nursing.
MEP, the Chamber of Commerce and Missoula Job Service now believe a community-wide approach to workforce
development will be required to fulfill Missoula's labor needs over the next decade. The Chamber's Workforce
Development & Education Committee (WDEC) has so far focused on growing apprenticeships and increased on-the
job training. With the right parties assembled and ready to work on the problem, a data-driven, community-wide
approach to workforce development is needed to set measurable goals for workforce development.
Project Information - Economic Impact Statement
Impact Statement
The Missoula State of the Workforce Study will be a trusted tool and resource for businesses, educators, local
government and organizations working to develop Missoula’s economy as they look to make decisions based on local
workforce needs.
Missoula County’s reported challenges with workforce shortages and lack of qualified applicants are echoed
regionally, statewide and nationally. The Montana Department of Labor reports that there are expected to be at least
120,000 retirements among the baby-boomer population within the next ten years. Nearly 6.5% of Montana’s labor
force is already over 65 years of age, the second highest share in the nation. An additional 96,000 workers are
between the ages of 55 and 64 and close to retirement.
The economy has always relied on an ever increasing supply of labor to fuel economic growth, but the labor force is
expected to be restricted in the future. Assuming Montana’s job growth continues, Montana could see unemployment
rates under 2% by 2025.
Weighing this information, it becomes of vital importance that workforce development efforts in Missoula County
become focused and data-driven, with measured goals across industry sectors. The Missoula Chamber of
Commerce’s Workforce Development and Education Committee (WDEC) has created a forum for educators,
community organizations, local businesses and government to share information, but a focused effort to proactively
develop Missoula’s workforce has not been attempted, due to a lack of data.
Missoula is one of the best-educated communities in the Mountain West region. One in every four adult residents has
earned a bachelor’s degree (compared to 15.5 percent of adults nationally) and 19 percent of adults — more than twice
the national average — have earned a master’s degree or higher. Missoula also has a pool of manufacturing workers,
technicians and other professionals, thanks to the presence of Missoula College and its wide range of one- and two-
year technical degrees.
Missoula has the resources to proactively develop a skilled workforce to meet the expected growth of target
industries. The State of the Workforce Study will provide the data and framework for a collective effort towards
workforce development solutions.
MEP believes that developing Missoula’s workforce is essential to sustaining economic growth. The State of the
Workforce Report will also provide relevant data that will support other economic development activities, such as site
attraction for businesses planning to relocate to Missoula.
MEP anticipates no negative outcomes from the Missoula State of the Workforce Study.
Project Objectives & Deliverables
Objectives
What are the objectives? Please describe, in detail, the objectives of the project
The project objective is to hire a professional service provider to develop a Missoula State of the Workforce Study.
The project will consist of a series of tasks, outlined in the scope of work, to compile, research, perform analysis,
define goals and objectives, and work through a structured planning process to prepare the Study. The result will be
comprehensive data and clearly defined goals that will inform businesses, educators, local government and economic
development organizations as they work together to develop Missoula's workforce.
Deliverables
What will be the deliverable(s)? Provide a bullet list detailing what will be delivered to the Department that demonstrates that the
objectives were met at the end of the project.
Missoula State of the Workforce Study
End Use
What is the intend use of the document to be created with BSTF assistance?
Examples, - The PAR document will be used towards an application to the MT Community Development Block Grant Program. - The
conceptual design drawing will be the basis for an building permit from the City for the construction of the facility.We highly
encourage you to check with the end funders for their specific requirements.
The intended use of the Missoula State of the Workforce study will be to inform businesses, educators, local
government and economic development organizations (members of the WDEC) and provide clearly defined goals and
benchmarks for developing Missoula's workforce.
Overall Project Budget
Deliverable Activity BSTF Request Other Funding
Source Total Project Cost
Administration Administration $2,000.00 $0.00 $2,000.00
Missoula State of
the Workforce
Study
Professional
Services $25,000.00 $37,238.00 $62,238.00
$27,000.00 $37,238.00 $64,238.00
Budget Narrative - Other Funding Sources
Other Funding Source Amount Status
Funding SourceMissoula Economic
Partnership $37,238.00 Committed
Funding Source $0.00
Funding Source $0.00
Funding Source $0.00
Funding Source $0.00
Funding Source $0.00
Funding Source $0.00
Funding Source $0.00
Totals $37,238.00
Budget Narrative - Checkpoint
Total Other Funding
From budget form $37,238.00
This is the total other funding source as reported on the Budget form.
From above $37,238.00
This is the total other funding source amount as shown above.
Difference $0.00
If this amount is NOT $0.00, then please recheck your numbers.
Budget Narrative - All Funds
Professional Services
Provide a description with documentation that details how all project costs were verified, specifying how and by whom they are
determined (i.e. who prepared the cost estimates, equipment lists, etc.) and describe that the cost estimates are reasonable and
complete.
Please provide a detailed narrative describing how you derived at the Professional Services budget. Cost proposals should be
attached below.
The cost estimate was prepared by Thomas P. Miller & Associates.
MEP is committed to providing the entirety of the match if required, although some matching funds may be solicited
from WDEC stakeholders. The City of Missoula and Missoula County are also committed to supporting the project and
MEP is planning to ask both local governments to contribute to the cost of the study.
Other
If you included "Other" in your budget, please provide a detailed narrative describing how you derived at the "Other" budget.Cost
proposals should be attached below.
In-kind Contributions
Although in-kind contributions are not considered match, applicants may elect to provide a narrative of their proposed in-kind
contributions to the project.
Budget Narrative - Attachments
Cost Estimates or Quotes
Please attach the cost estimates and/or quotes for any professional services or vendors to be utilized.
Cost Estimates UPDATED TPMA Proposal for Missoula State of the
Workforce Study 10-26-16.pdf
Cost Estimates
Letters of Commitment
Please attach any letters of commitment for the other funding sources.
Letters MEP Committment Letter.pdf
Letters
Supporting Documentation
File Name Description File Size
2016-10-25 MEP Workforce Study.pdf Senator Tester LOS 202 KB
MEP Committment Letter.pdf MEP LOS 323 KB
MEPBSTFAppWorkForceStudy2016Oc
t.pdfMissoula Downtown Partnership LOS 389 KB
Missoula County LOS.pdf Missoula County LOS 431 KB
Missoula Economic Partnership
LOS.pdfSenator Daines LOS 190 KB
MslaChamberLOS.pdf Missoula Chamber of Commerce LOS 876 KB
Support for State of the Workforc
Study BREDD 2016.pdfCity of Missoula LOS 141 KB
Certification
Attachment Description File Name File Size Type
Certification Form CertificationApplication
Certification.pdf34.5 MB pdf
Tribal Government
ApplicationsTribal Resolution
Other Documentation
P a g e | 1
The project will consist of a series of tasks to compile, research and perform analysis, define goals and
objectives, and work through a structured planning process to prepare a State of the Workforce Study
for the Missoula Economic Partnership (MEP). We estimated the timeline for the project to be four
months (tentatively January – April 2017).
Thomas P. Miller & Associates (TPMA) will hold a conference call with MEP leadership and its project
partners. The main goal of the call will be to develop a deeper understanding of the context and
background for the project and to gather any existing information necessary prior to the first on-site
visit. We will also present a project work plan, containing an overview of the services to be completed
and a project timeline.
During the initial conference call, TPMA and MEP leadership and staff will coordinate an on-site Kick-Off
Meeting for the project. The Kick-Off Meeting will be facilitated by TPMA and will focus on identifying
goals and priorities for the project as well as beginning to define what success looks like in relation to
the existing workforce development activities tied to MEP’s mission.
Project Management: In addition to the work plan which will be shared during the initial conference call
and Kick-Off Meeting, TPMA suggest scheduling bi-weekly calls for the duration of the project to
maintain momentum and provide a regular time to answer questions. During the launch call, we will
determine preferred days and times for these calls. We will also provide regular status reports, as
directed by staff.
TPMA will review any existing materials, reports, and/or studies that are relevant to the project. We
have familiarized ourselves with the current activities of the MEP, but will seek additional background
documents, supplemental materials, or other materials that may provide context for the project.
Additionally, TPMA will research the workforce indicators and benchmarks used by peer communities to
measure workforce strengths and gaps. These promising practices may be useful in determining
benchmarks where local data do not currently exist or to set future targets.
TPMA is aware of the housing affordability study that is tentatively scheduled to occurring during the
same timeframe as the State of the Workforce Study. We will coordinate our activities with the selected
consultant for the project to avoid duplication of data gathering and research.
TPMA will conduct one-on-one interviews with key stakeholders in Missoula to understand their
perspectives on skill development and quantitative measures that will indicate progress toward MEP’s
workforce development goals. With information from the Kick-Off Meeting and after reviewing existing
materials, TPMA will develop a list of standard guiding questions for the interviews to ensure input is
gather consistently from all stakeholders. We will look to MEP staff and project leadership to identify
the most appropriate stakeholders to interview. The Project Team will aim to interview approximately
P a g e | 2
25-30 stakeholders. We expect interviews will be primarily conducted via phone, but when possible,
TPMA will conduct interviews in person. Aggregate findings from the interviews will be shared with
project leadership and staff.
In order to collect information from additional stakeholders, TPMA will conduct a series of focus groups
with area leadership in business and industry, education and training providers, economic and
community development, and workforce development representatives. In the focus groups, TPMA will
provide a brief overview of the project goals, but we plan to keep the sessions as interactive as possible
so stakeholders have ample opportunity to share ideas, insights, and potential obstacles.
TPMA will conduct three focus groups. Each focus group will be facilitated by two members of the
Project Team to encourage lively discussion while ensuring thorough notes are captured. We will work
with MEP staff to coordinate dates and location details for the focus groups. All notes will be
summarized and provided back to MEP.
With information collected from interviews and focus groups, TPMA will recommend indicators that
provide evidence of existing workforce strengths and weaknesses. Recommendations will be shared
with the MEP staff and its project partners for review and feedback.
With the indicators established, TPMA will design a workforce development survey and analysis model.
TPMA will work with project staff to determine the most appropriate format for the survey (e.g. online,
paper response) so it can be easily replicated and updated by MEP in the future. The survey model will
not only focus on the indicators established, but will also include strategies to ensure an appropriate
representation of among Missoula County’s industry sectors and sizes are engaged. It will also include
questions that will help to develop a more concrete understanding of the soft skills sought by
employers.
TPMA will share the draft survey with project leadership and staff for review and feedback. Once
feedback has been incorporated, TPMA will conduct the survey and develop an analysis report for the
MEP’s use.
TPMA has extensive experience developing asset maps for communities across the country. We will
bring this expertise to bear to develop an inventory of the training options available to support the
development of the local workforce. We recognize that MEP has already made significant progress in
identifying training providers. TPMA will use this as a foundation and dive deeply into the specific
training programs, enrollment cycles, credentials and degrees offered, and program outcomes.
Specifically, the inventory and resulting database will capture the following information: training
provider, location, contact information, and dates of training. We will also collect information about
program outcomes (degree/certifications, age, average time to complete, placement and employment
rate).
P a g e | 3
To the extent possible, TPMA will collect this data from publically available data sets (e.g. National
Center for Education Statistics, Montana University System reports, etc.). For example, we will review
the findings from the Labor Market Outcomes for Missoula College report released in 2016 by the
Montana Department of Labor and Industry and the Office of the Commissioner of Higher Education.
Additional data gathering might require working with partners at Missoula College, Missoula Job Service,
the Lifelong Learning Center, Missoula County Public Schools, and the University of Montana. In addition
to the academic and technical training programs available, the training inventory will include
information about the existing programs aimed at developing soft skills in the local workforce.
The information collected will be included in a database created to capture training gaps. The Training
Gap Analysis will pull from information collected not only through the training inventory, but also the
workforce survey and education profiles. Gaps will also be identified for soft skills programs based on
the soft skill information gathered through the survey. TPMA will work with the project staff to
determine the most appropriate format for the database to ensure it can be updated easily after the
project is completed.
TPMA will facilitate a half-day session with the MEP and its project partners to identify opportunities to
refine strategic priorities for workforce development in Missoula. During the session, TPMA will present
findings from the survey and training gap analysis and then lead an interactive discussion about areas in
need of refinement.
During the facilitated session, questions may include, but are not limited to:
Based on the survey and training analysis, what are our greatest workforce strengths? How can
we best leverage these strengths? What workforce factors do we need to strengthen most?
What workforce development efforts have been the most difficult to accomplish over the past
few years?
What opportunities are there to accelerate our current efforts?
What new or emerging factors should we consider as we prioritize workforce development
strategic goals for Missoula?
What approaches have been undertaken to address affordable housing in Missoula? What can
be strengthened to overcome this challenge?
Will additional resources and/or partners be needed to accomplish the new Strategic Goals?
TPMA envisions a highly interactive session with the MEP and its project partners. We will provide two
facilitators for the session. We will work with MEP staff to coordinate logistics.
TPMA will compile all information and data gathered through the project into a complete State of the
Workforce Study for Missoula. The study will highlight the benchmarks for the region, identify current
training and skill programs, document training and soft skill needs, provide appropriate gaps analysis
and evaluate the overall competitiveness of the Missoula workforce.
P a g e | 4
In addition to the final study, TPMA will craft a clear and concise presentation of the MEP State of the
Workforce Study using PowerPoint, or another appropriate application. A member of the team will
provide one on-site presentation to the MEP Board of Directors and other relevant stakeholders, as
identified by the project leadership.
The estimated project budget is $62,238.00 for the tasks outlined in the scope of work. Details on costs
associated with each task are provided below.
Task Amount
1. Project Launch and Kick-Off Meeting (includes prep and follow up)
$4,839.00
2. Review of Existing Materials $2,271.00
3. Development of Indicators and Benchmarks $18,717.00
4. Workforce Development Survey and Analysis Model $3,891.00
5. Inventory of Training Options and Gap Analysis $4,371.00
6. Facilitated On-site Strategic Planning Session (includes prep and follow up)
$4,431.00
7. State of the Workforce Study $12,747.00
8. Final Report and Presentation $2,151.00
Travel $8,820.00
TOTAL $62,238.00
P a g e | 5
TPMA has a long history of partnering with public, private, and nonprofit organizations to develop
actionable workforce development and economic development plans. We have been privileged to work
with workforce development, economic development, higher education, and industry association clients
in more than 40 states.
TPMA provides a range of services, including:
Strategic Planning
Program Design and Evaluation
Sector and Cluster-based Strategy
Development
Labor Market and Industry Analysis
Asset Mapping
Professional Development and Training
Services
Business Services Capacity Building
Grant Writing and Funding Research
TPMA has more than a quarter of a century of experience in improving the workforce of our partner
communities. There has been no time that economic development and workforce development have
influenced each other more than they do now. We have designed and implemented demand-driven and
client-centric talent development systems on a state, regional, and local basis. An economy cannot
thrive without a prepared employment base, which is a core area of expertise at TPMA.
We view our clients as partners and take pride in working with them to move items from ideas to
written goals to tangible results. TPMA has been particularly successful at translating completed
research, analysis, and planning efforts into implementation activities tailored to the assets and
opportunities of each client. We will utilize this strength as we prepare the State of the Workforce Study
for the Missoula Economic Partnership.
In addition to workforce expertise, we pride ourselves in the following strengths:
Being Data Driven – The State of the Workforce Study will be built on a foundation of quantifiable
information, not anecdotes and conjecture. This invaluable information will inform our interactions and
lead toward final recommendations that come from Missoula. By producing a good baseline of hard
data during planning, Missoula will also have a tool to measure success as it implements workforce
development strategies.
Consensus Building – TPMA prides itself on ensuring our reports come from our partner communities,
not our preconceived notions. Throughout our history in economic development, TPMA has developed
strategies for robust stakeholder engagement and the inclusion of education, community organization,
and industry voices to build an inclusive planning process.
Building Plans for Implementation – TPMA will customize recommendations for Missoula from relevant
regional data and personal interaction with the MEP, business and industry leaders, and residents.
Securing Funding – TPMA has a long track record of securing grants for clients from foundation, state,
and federal sources. In the past five years, TPMA has helped our clients be awarded $177 million to put
their plans into action.
P a g e | 6
Greater Lafayette Commerce hired TPMA to develop a regional workforce attraction and retention
action plan for the Indiana Technology Corridor (ITC), a coalition of nine Indiana counties centered on
Lafayette. Employers within ITC are interested in improving the competitiveness of the local workforce
and expanding the pool of qualified employees.
TPMA hosted several focus groups, surveyed ITC employers, and interviewed many leaders from local
businesses and community development organizations. Overall, more than 90 stakeholders provided
input on the region’s talent needs, current recruitment methods, successes, challenges, and community
assets. TPMA also performed a scan of national best practices for talent attraction and retention.
The study’s final recommendations included:
Developing a regional workforce attraction campaign including the development of a brand,
Web portal, recruitment toolkit, and outreach strategy. By sharing resources, the campaign will
enable small- and middle-sized businesses to participate and increase the talent pool. Pooling
resources will also allow the attraction effort to defray costs of pre-screening interested
workers.
Once the broad campaign is underway, further develop existing activities targeted at attracting
targeted populations through veteran recruitment, internship support, and ambassador
networks.
Develop a plan to foster community development to maximize amenities and attractiveness to
existing and potential residents.
BillingsWorks, a partnership of Big Sky Economic
Development, Montana State University Billings
(MSUB), Rocky Mountain College, the Billings Chamber
of Commerce, the Regional Job Service, and public and
private sector community stakeholders, aimed to
develop workforce indicators and a road map for
future work to enhance the community’s talent pool.
TPMA conducted stakeholder interviews, industry
focus groups, a young professional’s focus group to
understand the workforce dynamics and opportunities
within the community.
With this information, TPMA worked with BillingsWorks to develop workforce indicators and an
employer survey that will be updated annually to measure progress toward goals. The goals and
strategies laid out in the BillingsWorks Action Plan were developed after a full-day strategic planning
session and were informed by reviewing data from a training gap analysis and benchmarking data for
peer communities.
“In the short timeframe of three years, this
workforce development effort that began
as a group of concerned employers has
grown to a fully formed program,
BillingsWorks, with a defined strategy and
organized effort that is receiving national
recognition.”
- Brittney Souza, Director, BillingsWorks
P a g e | 7
See link to access the final report: http://www.bigskyeconomicdevelopment.org/wp-
content/uploads/BillingsWorks-Workforce-Council-State-of-the-Workforce-Report-Appendices.pdf
Today in Billings, more than 80 private employers are actively engaged, a community-wide talent
attraction campaign has been launched, and collaboration is stronger than ever with the final formation
of the BillingsWorks Workforce Council. For more information, see:
http://www.billingsworks.org/yourdreamcareerishere/.
The association hired TPMA to help them define two target markets for the Association to begin
marketing for talent attraction. Several markets were analyzed to find the right fit in terms of skilled
labor and unemployment. Then TPMA designed two surveys for the Association. The first asks regional
businesses about their talent attraction needs while the second survey asks those who relocated to the
region about their motivations. The latter survey gathers testimonials about life in the region that the
association can use in marketing materials.
TPMA prepared a one-page marketing piece describing local amenities and jobs for non-residents. TPMA
also provided the group with a social media marketing guide and case studies on best practices.
President
Aimee McQuilkin Betty’s Divine
Vice President: Advocacy Anders Brooker Runner’s Edge
Vice President: Marketing & Events Mario Schulzke
University of Montana
Vice President: Master Plan Ellen Buchanan
Missoula Redevelopment Agency
Vice President: Membership Julie Tomasik
AAA Mountain West
Treasurer Rick Eneas
Montana CDC
Past President Heidi Starrett
Missoula Independent
Trent Baker Datsopoulos, MacDonald & Lind
Larry Brehm Brehm Architecture
Lynda Brown Brown HR Consulting
Dan Cederberg Cederberg Law Offices, P.C.
Emily Costello-Kannady Treasure State Bank
Matt Ellis Missoula Osprey/Uptown Diner
Anne Guest Retiree
John Horner First Interstate Bank
Kim Klages-Johns MSO Hub
Diane Lanning Providence St. Patrick Hospital
Scott MacIntyre Badlander Complex/GPA ATM
Brooke Redpath METTLE Strategic Marketing Solutions
Chad Strickland Liquid Planet Downtown
Ex-Officio Representatives
Corey Aldridge Mountain Line
Rod Austin Missoula Parking Commission
James Grunke
Missoula Economic Partnership
Shane Stack Montana Dept. of Transportation
218 East Main St., Suite C Missoula, MT 59802 Phone: 406-543-4238
October 12, 2016 Big Sky Trust Fund Selection Committee Big Sky Economic Development Trust Fund Montana Department of Commerce 301 South Park Ave, Room 107 P.O. Box 200505 Helena, MT 59620-0505 BSTF Committee Members, On behalf of the Missoula Downtown Association, I am writing to support the Missoula Economic Partnership’s application for a Big Sky Economic Development Trust Fund Category II planning grant. We are collaborating with MEP to conduct a State of the Workforce Analysis for Missoula County. Our goal is to engage local employers to identify the workforce issues in the marketplace and establish goals and strategies to address those issues in Missoula. With the unemployment rate at 3.6% and projected growth on the horizon, Missoula may need to consider recruiting an influx of skilled workers to keep pace with unemployment demands. This study will help us understand the community’s needs with a comprehensive analysis, as well as a targeted strategic plan that encompasses a multi-faceted approach to investigate employment needs in the areas of business, industry, education, economic development, local government, tourism entities, and community organizations. Through the Missoula Chamber of Commerce’s Workforce Development and Education Committee, key stakeholders, including University of Montana, Missoula College, Missoula County Public Schools and the Missoula Job Service are working collaboratively to address the real and perceived workforce development challenges for Missoula County. We believe the Missoula State of the Workforce Analysis will provide relevant industry data and strategic recommendations that will inform us and our partners, establish attainable goals, and develop an action plan. The Missoula Downtown Association (MDA) represents nearly 500 employers in Missoula, primarily in the urban core. As a primary economic driver for Downtown Missoula, the MDA leads the efforts of implementation of the Greater Downtown Missoula Master Plan (DTMP), a plan that was funded by the Big Sky Economic Development Trust Fund in 2008. We have been very successful at implementation, and we have more than $800 million dollars of development on the horizon for Downtown Missoula. It is important for our community members to meet the needs of those new investors and employers, and this study will help us prepare for the pending employment demand in our market. The proposed Missoula State of the Workforce Analysis is an important part of Missoula Economic Partnership’s efforts to ensure successful, long-term, planned job creation, business development, and workforce retention for Western Montana. Your consideration and support of this application would be greatly appreciated by the Missoula Downtown Association, the Missoula Economic Partnership, and the Missoula Chamber of Commerce. Thank you in advance for your service and your consideration. Warm Regards, Aimee McQuilkin Board President
October 4, 2016 Dear Committee Members, The Missoula Area Chamber of Commerce supports Missoula Economic Partnership’s application for a Big Sky Economic Development Trust Fund Category II planning grant to conduct a State of the Workforce Report for Missoula County. The study will engage local stakeholders to produce primary and secondary research, identify workforce issues, establish goals and develop strategies to address workforce needs in Missoula. Missoula is entering a period of growth. With unemployment at 3.6%, Missoula requires an influx of skilled workers to keep pace with unemployment demands. Development of the workforce through a targeted strategic plan will require a multi-faceted approach engaging partners from business and industry, education, economic development, local government and community organizations. Through the Missoula Chamber of Commerce’s Workforce Development and Education Committee, key stakeholders, including University of Montana, Missoula College, local school districts and the Missoula Job Service, have come together to address Missoula’s workforce development challenges. The State of the Workforce report will provide relevant industry data and strategic recommendations that will inform the Committee and help them to set goals and develop an action plan for workforce development. We support this project because Missoula businesses often struggle to find qualified applicants for open positions. This struggle creates barriers to success for local businesses and slows the growth of the local economy. As the voice of business in Missoula, the Chamber of Commerce recognizes the importance of a skilled workforce for local businesses. The proposed State of the Workforce Report for Missoula County would improve the alignment of the education sector with current and future workforce demands. The report’s findings would also illustrate the immediate needs for workforce development and attraction needs of Missoula businesses. The data provided by the report will allow education to more effectively train future workforce participants and give business tools for attracting qualified talent. The proposed Big Sky Trust Fund investment in the State of the Workforce Report is an important part of Missoula Economic Partnership’s efforts to ensure long-term, planned economic growth and job creation. This application carries our full support and we hope you will consider it favorably. Sincerely, Kim Latrielle President/CEO
Big Sky Trust Fund Selection Committee Big Sky Economic Development Trust Fund Montana Department of Commerce 301 South Park Ave, Room 107 PO Box 200505 Helena, MT 59620-0505
October 13, 2016
Big Sky Trust Fund Selection Committee
Big Sky Economic Development Trust Fund
Montana Department of Commerce
301 South Park Ave, Room 107
PO Box 200505
Helena, MT 59620-0505
Dear Committee Members:
The City of Missoula fully supports Missoula Economic Partnership’s application for a Big Sky
Economic Development Trust Fund Category II planning grant to conduct a State of the
Workforce Report for Missoula County. The study will engage local stakeholders to produce
primary and secondary research, identify workforce issues, establish goals and develop strategies
to address workforce needs in Missoula.
Missoula is entering a period of growth. With unemployment at 3.6%, Missoula requires an
influx of skilled workers to keep pace with unemployment demands. Development of the
workforce through a targeted strategic plan will require a multi-faceted approach engaging
partners from business and industry, education, economic development, local government and
community organizations.
Through the Missoula Chamber of Commerce’s Workforce Development and Education
Committee, key stakeholders, including University of Montana, Missoula College, local school
districts and the Missoula Job Service, have come together to address Missoula’s workforce
development challenges. The State of the Workforce report will provide relevant industry data
and strategic recommendations that will inform the Committee and help them to set goals and
develop an action plan for workforce development.
The proposed Big Sky Trust Fund investment in the State of the Workforce Report is an
important part of Missoula Economic Partnership’s efforts to ensure long-term, planned
economic growth and job creation. This application carries our full support and we hope you will
consider it favorably.
Sincerely,
John Engen,
Mayor
OFFICE OF THE MAYOR 435 RYMAN MISSOULA, MONTANA 59802-4297 (406) 552-6001
