Do you know exactly what the Williams is one of the most prestigious We have been hearing throughout the state region is planning to do next? colleges in the nation, yet the document that the level of preparation required for that only 8% of its students stay in the CNA certification (state certification) is Has the region articulated how it Berkshires. Could there be a marketing insufficient to prepare completers for will maintain communication campaign to keep them? They represent a employment in acute care settings as well as across systems and sub-regions? valuable group in terms of age, education, rehab settings. Did this come up during the innovativeness and entrepreneurship; they discussions with employers? And if so, will spent 4 years in the Berkshires and are this be addressed in the CNA day program to already familiar with it. Could a stronger be established? partnership with Williams be established? --- --- If are multiple programs for priority There are $ billions of investment in occupations that are granting credentials Albany/Malta area in semiconductor and that are not recognized by all employers in nanotechnology research, development the region, should there be a strategy to and manufacturing. Is there some way to address this? incorporate some thinking about this into --- the plan? For example, could the One of the top three challenges identified on Berkshires be marketed as the innovation page 7 is lack the essential job “Employees bridge that connects Albany and Greater skills, work readiness skills and overall work Boston with respect to semiconductor and ethic and motivation to be successful in nanotechnology innovation…perhaps many of the jobs available within Berkshire spawning new businesses that would value County.” What are the strategies related to the location as connectivity to both? this issue? And how might it be connected to --- the issue noted above about credentials not Is there an opportunity to leverage the being recognized by all employers in the intersection of the creative/innovation region? sector and the hospitality sector to --- promote the region to millennials through Similar to note in goals and at the beginning tourism and highlight generation” of this section - If there is an emphasis on “next careers? Engineering, design, increasing internship opportunities, entrepreneurism and cross-disciplinary shouldn’t there be baseline data for each collaboration could be a theme promoted program and growth targets associated with through tourism of this emerging sector. each of them? Maybe establishing the
Do you know exactly what the region is planning to do next? Has the region articulated how it will maintain communication across systems and sub-regions? Williams is one of the most prestigious colleges in the nation, yet the document that only 8% of its students stay in the Berkshires. Could there be a marketing campaign to keep them? They represent a valuable group in terms of age, education, innovativeness and entrepreneurship; they spent 4 years in the Berkshires and are already familiar with it. Could a stronger partnership with Williams be established? --- There are $ billions of investment in Albany/Malta area in semiconductor and nanotechnology research, development and manufacturing. Is there some way to incorporate some thinking about this into the plan? For example, could the Berkshires be marketed as the innovation bridge that connects Albany and Greater Boston with respect to semiconductor and nanotechnology innovation…perhaps spawning new businesses that would value the location as connectivity to both? --- Is there an opportunity to leverage the intersection of the creative/innovation sector and the hospitality sector to promote the region to millennials through tourism and highlight “next generation” careers? Engineering, design, entrepreneurism and cross-disciplinary collaboration could be a theme promoted through tourism of this emerging sector. We have been hearing throughout the state that the level of preparation required for CNA certification (state certification) is insufficient to prepare completers for employment in acute care settings as well as rehab settings. Did this come up during the discussions with employers? And if so, will this be addressed in the CNA day program to be established? --- If are multiple programs for priority occupations that are granting credentials that are not recognized by all employers in the region, should there be a strategy to address this? --- One of the top three challenges identified on page 7 is “Employees lack the essential job skills, work readiness skills and overall work ethic and motivation to be successful in many of the jobs available within Berkshire County.” What are the strategies related to this issue? And how might it be connected to the issue noted above about credentials not being recognized by all employers in the region? --- Similar to note in goals and at the beginning of this section - If there is an emphasis on increasing internship opportunities, shouldn’t there be baseline data for each program and growth targets associated with each of them? Maybe establishing the
Berkshire%20Blueprint%20FINAL%202018%203-30-18.docx