The future of Wyoming workforce development looks bright
On July 31, Gov. Mark Gordon awarded $9.63 million in funding to 27 crucial workforce development, innovation and research programs through the Wyoming Innovation Partnership (WIP) to ensure continued sustainability.
WIP is a collaboration aligning education and workforce development to support innovation and entrepreneurship while helping drive Wyoming’s economy.
This innovative partnership strengthens economic growth and diversification while linking community goals with the state’s economic strategy and is data driven to ensure a return on investment for the people of Wyoming.
According to Gordon’s press release, WIP programs are situated across the Cowboy State’s educational infrastructure and are designed to build a highly-skilled workforce needed in nine key industries such as energy, agriculture and software development.
“As WIP moves into its third phase, my focus is on developing the program’s resilience and sustainability. WIP programs are driving our core industries forward, and they have an important place in Wyoming’s future,” Gordon states.
“We want to see students ready to work in fields like precision agriculture, advanced manufacturing and powerline technology,” he continues. “The programs I granted funding to – and all of our ongoing WIP programs – are advancing essential workforce development programs that data shows we need to drive Wyoming’s economy.”
To date, WIP has supported 52 programs at all eight community colleges, the University of Wyoming (UW), the Wyoming Department of Education, the Wyoming Community College Commission, the Wyoming Department of Education, the Wyoming Business Council and the Wyoming Department of Workforce Services.
Phase Three programs
The Wyoming Legislature approved the governor’s request to continue funding for Phase Three of the initiative.
“The $15 million in sustainability funds ensure existing WIP supported workforce programs are firmly established and can stand alone when funding sunsets,” the press release states.
This is the third time the legislature has funded the governor’s workforce initiative request. Over the past three years, $70 million has been invested to develop workforce resiliency through WIP.
WIP is dedicated to drive agricultural innovation, and Phase Three will focus on controlled environmental agriculture (CEA), UW’s Ranch Management and Agricultural Leadership (RMAL) program and a precision agriculture program.
In Phase Three of the WIP initiative, agriculture received substantial funding to support programs which will boost crop yields, enhance food production, increase the state’s agriculture network and inspire interest in agricultural careers by providing essential skills and fostering industry adaptability.
Other areas receiving funding include digital infrastructure programs, energy training programs and strengthening the state’s healthcare workforce through expansion programs.
Entrepreneurship is a vital component of Wyoming’s economy and WIP serves as an essential force in guiding entrepreneurship and innovation across the state by providing support for both the existing workforce and fostering new business sectors.
With continued funding, several new and continuing programs will benefit from the state’s commitment to diverse educational pathways for future entrepreneurs statewide.
WIP is committed to Wyoming manufacturing and supports programs focused on enhancing skill-based training for manufacturing companies, providing agile resources to upskill the current workforce and preparing students for future demands.
Wyoming’s hospitality and tourism industry plays a large role in the state’s economy, and by securing future funding, WIP can expand certificate programs, improve tourism and hospitality training coordination and promote statewide information sharing.
WIP aims to strengthen Wyoming’s offerings, especially in high-tourism areas and regions with workforce challenges.
Receiving additional funding in Phase Three is workforce development, which allows WIP to support students from recruitment to job placement.
The Workforce Development Initiative encompasses various training certificates, degree programs, apprenticeships and internships.
These programs are designed to identify community needs and adapt efficiently to address workforce gaps, ensuring Wyoming’s industries have a steady supply of skilled workers.
Through WIP’s support, local businesses are better able to adapt and meet evolving workforce requirements efficiently.
WIP success
Over the summer, UW launched its first CEA class, which looks at producing food indoors in facilities ranging from standard greenhouses to hydroponic vertical farming complexes.
According to a UW press release published on July 31, the new program was funded by WIP and offered a unique opportunity to start building a skilled workforce in CEA for the state of Wyoming.
Nine undergraduates and one graduate student in fields from agricultural economics to petroleum engineering participated in the new course.
UW states the CEA course was coordinated by UW Associate Director of the CEA Center and Director of the Plant Growth and Phenotyping Facility Carmela Rosaria Guadagno.
Helping teach the course, Guadagno was assisted by a team of faculty members from several departments on campus who helped facilitate and plan lab activities for the class.
UW faculty and staff members, Wyoming CEA business representatives and collaborating institutions hosted lectures for the class.
Students were able to gain firsthand experience in CEA by following the growth of plants in hydroponic vertical towers from seeding to harvesting and deploying different kinds of soilless systems in UW’s Science Initiative greenhouses, the press release states.
Additionally, students created individual projects related to CEA with hosting labs around campus.
The class also partnered with Plenty, a vertical farming business based in Laramie, where the students were exposed to the entire production cycle of hydroponically-grown produce and met with industry researchers during a two-week internship.
Mike Baldwin, facility manager for the Plant Growth and Phenotyping Facility, who served as coinstructor and lab coordinator for the course, says, “We got a very diverse group of individuals who largely knew nothing about the industry or how their areas of study might be relevant. Coming out of it, more and more, the students are getting a feel for the diversity of jobs and roles within the industry and how these skill sets are applicable across the board.”
After completion of the course, several students were hired across campus to continue work on research projects, sparking several interdepartmental collaborations between faculty members.
The course’s impact extends beyond the university, as two Wyoming businesses expressed interest in hiring students who took the class, according to the UW press release.
Guadagno notes she believes the course could expand Wyoming’s capacity to conduct cutting-edge, multidisciplinary research.
She says, “The class actually made the students feel different, not just about CEA, but about Wyoming and potential job opportunities in the state.”
Guadagno and her fellow collaborators plan to teach the course next summer while integrating it with other CEA efforts around campus.
The course will be open to community college students as part of WIP program efforts to support Wyoming workforce development in CEA.
Melissa Anderson is the editor of the Wyoming Livestock Roundup. Send comments on this article to roundup@wylr.net.
