Ensuring a Talented Local Workforce in Huntsville, Alabama

Company/Organization: Huntsville/Madison County Chamber of Commerce & Booz Allen Hamilton
CEO/Board Chair: Brian Hilson, President & CEO, Huntsville/Madison County Chamber of Commerce; Evans Quinlivan, 2008 Board Chair, Huntsville/Madison Chamber of Commerce and CEO, Madison County, First American Bank
State: Alabama
Level of Involvement: Regional
State/Community: Huntsville
Type of Initiative: Advocacy
Target Education Priority: Prepare All High School Graduates Ready for College and Careers

"The fact is, the Tennessee Valley is not providing the resources our schools need relative to economic success we enjoy…We talk a lot about the threat of our nation losing its technological status in the world, but we’re also at risk of losing our status as a top technology region.” – Dave Hargrove, 2006 Chairman of the Huntsville/Madison County Chamber of Commerce

Overview
As the home of Cummings Research Park, the second-largest research park in the United States behind only Triangle Research Park in North Carolina, Huntsville’s regional economy depends on highly skilled and highly educated employees to maintain its vitality. After the national Base Realignment and Closure (BRAC) decided to move about 5,000 new jobs to the area, the Huntsville/Madison Chamber of Commerce, the region’s lead economic development organization, took action to ensure that local schools and communities could produce the workforce needed to meet the demand of this economic growth. Local officials say the area needs to attract thousands of skilled workers, build schools to educate their children, improve roads and increase office space in the area to meet the BRAC challenges. Over the next several years, about 9,000 new students are expected to enter schools throughout the region, primarily in the Huntsville, Madison and Madison County school systems.

Strategies for Success
In collaboration with the U.S. Chamber of Commerce and the North Alabama office of Booz Allen Hamilton, both of which are providing significant in-kind resources, the Huntsville Chamber developed a strategic plan for workforce in 2006. The plan called for the Chamber to engage allies from all sectors – including business, education, government, media and other community interests – to promote a vibrant regional economy by pairing economic development activities with a regional investment in education and workforce development. In implementing the plan, the Chamber learned of a parallel initiative sponsored by NASA’s Marshall Space Flight Center that had been working with the same stakeholders to address the same issues. The Integrated Stakeholder Coalition for Workforce Development (Workforce Coalition) had developed a diagram of dynamics – a systems map – that shows the many interrelated elements of workforce and how they must be aligned to achieve effective results. In October 2006, the Chamber created a Workforce Division, and the Marshall Center has transitioned responsibility of the Workforce Coalition to the Chamber. The strategic plan developed with Booz Allen and the U.S. Chamber and the systems map form the basis for the Huntsville/Madison County workforce program.

• Organize, support and partner with education, civic and political allies
• Provide compelling data and evidence; issue reports and policy briefs
• Take the “long view” (beyond political election cycles) and bring neutrality to politically polarized situations
• Play a convening role to bridge institutional barriers that block reform or make the system incoherent

Indicators of Success
In August 2006, the Chamber hosted an education roundtable with Dr. Francis Harvey, the former Secretary of the U.S. Army. The roundtable provided an opportunity to share compelling data on the region’s needs with a broad audience of state and local policymakers and educators. It was a huge success, attended by more than 125 state and local leaders, including every superintendent and school board president from the region, as well as a number of mayors, U.S. Senator Jeff Sessions (R), U.S. Congressman Bud Cramer (D) and Governor Bob Riley (R).  In late 2006 and throughout 2007, the Chamber convened business, education, government and community leaders for ongoing discussions about workforce dynamics and building consensus around the major issues facing the community. The results are being incorporated into the workforce program, and similar discussions are being planned for communities across the region. Coalition members continue to meet regularly to evaluate their progress and find new ways to support existing partnerships with community organizations and schools.

Next Steps
The Chamber’s program focuses on partnerships to address the broad scope of workforce issues and can serve as a model for community-based action across the country. Building on the strength of organizations like Junior Achievement (JA) and serving as a founding member of the Valley Innovation Alliance, the Chamber is able to capitalize on regional resources – like local Tech Prep community colleges – to encourage more students to enter targeted STEM fields. The Chamber also continues to support the development of new programs, such as an Academies model for bridging the gap between high school and high-growth careers through post-secondary education and work experience. The Chamber’s collaboration with Junior Achievement is the first of its kind nationwide for JA, and it has become a pilot for worldwide expansion of such partnerships.  Through smart, up-front planning, a commitment to and from all the relevant stakeholders and an understanding that this is a regional initiative for a regional economy, the Huntsville/Madison County Chamber of Commerce is off to an impressive start. This is a region to watch in coming months and years.

Related Content
Web site

• Huntsville/Madison County Chamber of Commerce
• Valley Innovation Alliance

Materials for the Public

• “Visit by Army Chief Energizes Education Discussion” Huntsville/Madison County Chamber of Commerce Press Release. Aug 16, 2006.

Updated: June 2008