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The Kittitas County Chamber of Commerce fills this role by serving as a connector, convener, and implementation <br />partner. Continued investment ensures that economic development efforts remain coordinated, responsive to <br />business needs, and focused on long-term resilience and growth across the entire county. <br />Current Workforce Development Activities <br />The Chamber currently supports workforce development through the following activities: <br />Talent Pipeline Alignment <br />o Connecting employers with K-12, Career & Technical Education (CTE) programs, and higher <br />education to better align training with workforce needs. <br />o Promoting awareness of local career pathways to retain talent within the county. <br />Employer Engagement <br />o Conducting direct outreach to employers to identify workforce challenges and opportunities. <br />o Convening employers, educators, and workforce partners to support shared, countywide solutions. <br />Workforce Programming <br />o Hosting workshops, forums, and conferences focused on recruitment, retention, benefits, <br />workplace culture, and work -life harmony. <br />o Providing tools and best practices that help employers adapt to evolving workforce expectations. <br />Use of Funds / Project Activities <br />Funding will be used to support consultant services that expand capacity and improve workforce outcomes: <br />Strategic Communications Consultant <br />o Develop consistent messaging around workforce initiatives, career pathways, and employer needs. <br />o Increase awareness, participation, and alignment with county -led workforce priorities. <br />• Small Business Development Center (SBDC) Programming Support <br />o Deliver workforce -focused programming for small businesses related to hiring, onboarding, <br />retention, and team development. <br />o Integrate workforce readiness into broader business sustainability initiatives. <br />Grant Writing Consultant (Countywide Resource) <br />Provide professional grant writing services accessible to county municipalities. <br />Support workforce, economic development, and infrastructure projects identified by local <br />jurisdictions. <br />Increase countywide capacitywithout duplicating municipal staffing resources. <br />