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Workforce Expansion Program

Background

The Vermont Department of Labor is launching the application for communities to participate in the Workforce Expansion Program, a two-year policy initiative proposed by the Governor and passed by the General Assembly. The overarching goal of this program is to help employers fill their available jobs and to connect job seekers who experience barriers to those opportunities. We are seeking applicants in communities/regions willing to lead this effort, with support from the Vermont Department of Labor’s Workforce Expansion Program staff. There is no direct funding for organizations attached to this opportunity. Selected applicants will receive support from a dedicated VDOL staff member in their community, who will work with and support them to manage the Workforce Expansion Program over the two-year period.

Applicants for this opportunity are expected to be in a lead role in Economic or Workforce Development in their region. This includes Regional Development Corporations, municipalities, or other community-based organizations who fit the description. Please download and review the full Application Description in the Relevant Document Downloads for additional information.

The Workforce Expansion Program is designed to expand opportunities for workforce education, training and development for Vermonters and to make meaningful investments to support and expand the workforce across the State. As outlined in Act 183 of 2022, the purpose of this program is to launch and lead a coordinated regional system to work toward these four broad goals:

  1. increase local labor participation rate;

  1. decrease the number of open positions reported by local employers;

  1. increase the wages of workers as they transition to new jobs; and

  1. collect, organize, develop, and share information related to local career pathways with workforce development partners.

The Workforce Expansion Program, part of Vermont Department of Labor’s Workforce Development Division, will work with up to three selected communities (Workforce Expansion Areas) to promote employer practices that lead to good jobs and expand workforce opportunities to priority populations through sector partnerships between business and the community.