Dubuque Works 2012 Annual ReportG
January 8, 2013
Michael C. Van Milligen
City of Dubuque
50 West 13th Street
Dubuque, Iowa 52001
Dear Mike:
eaterDubuque
Less than four short years ago, the Greater Dubuque community was in need of streamlined and effective
workforce strategies to meet the demand of existing employers and future prospects. The City of Dubuque,
Mystique Casino and Dubuque County generously funded the collaborative effort that is now known as
"Dubuque Works ". This regional partnership has brought employers, investors, workforce experts, and
educators together to lock arms and share the vision of becoming a model community for innovative
workforce solutions.
The enclosed Dubuque Works Annual Report highlights bits and pieces of the work that has been
accomplished over the past four years. This past September, Iowa Workforce Development released an
analysis of the Greater Dubuque Laborshed. Our regions #1 recruiting tool, AccessDubuqueiobs.com, once
again outperformed recruiting powerhouse Monster.com by a margin of 2 -to -1 in our laborshed area. This
speaks volumes to the 122 employers who invest in this workforce initiative and further validates our
community's commitment to workforce recruitment. For a comprehensive look at the 2012 Laborshed
Analysis, go to http:// www. greaterdubuque .org /workforce_custom.cfm.
As 2013 begins, Dubuque is better prepared to meet the changing workforce needs of our local economy. Our
work is far from complete, but we have made significant strides. Today, "Dubuque Works" has not only built
trust among partners and the community for which it serves, it has impacted thousands of individuals. We are
humbled to be a partner and appreciate your commitment to building a skilled workforce for the future.
Sincerely,
Sarah Harris
Vice President of Workforce Solutions
300 Main Street, Suite 120, Dubuque, Iowa 52001
www.greaterdubuque.org
e= savage gddc @greaterdubuque.org
phone 563.557.9049
fax 563.557.1059
I
2012 annual repo
dubuque
rt
a workforce initiative
dubuque
a workforce initiative
RECOGNIZED NATIONALLY...
Dubuque Works was awarded top honors by the
Mid - America Economic Development Council
(MAEDC) for the collaborative efforts of its seven
local partners in addressing workforce issues
and developing innovative solutions to overcome
workforce challenges. Their economic development
awards competition recognizes and stimulates
the creative use of quality marketing by economic
development organizations throughout the ten - state,
Mid - America region in promoting their respective
communities.
GreaterDubuque
/ ■
COMMUNITY FOUNDATION
aNORTHEAST IOWA
COMMUNITY COLLEGE
DUBUQUE AREA
CHAMBER
Iowa WORKS
Northeast Iowa
table of contents
Our Funding Partners
Dear Dubuque Works Supporter
Recruiting & Retaining a Talented Workforce
Improving the Image of Skilled Trades
Connecting Students to Employment
1 ,il� -,���
Training & Career Development
Iowa WORKS & Northeast Iowa Community College
Building Bridges to Employment
Community Foundation of Greater Dubuque
ROY D. BUOL [ Mayor ]
CITY OF DUBUQUE
"The City of Dubuque is proud to support Dubuque Works and the vital services
this partnership is providing. Workforce development is a critical component of our
community's sustainability and prosperity and requires a collaborative approach
and continued support."
JESUS AVILES [ President & CEO ]
MYSTIQUE CASINO
"Effective business leaders understand that human capital is their most important asset;
it is also the only true core competency. As we integrate our new hires into our community,
the talented and dedicated professionals of Dubuque Works make our jobs so much easier.
I applaud their efforts and dedication!"
DARYL KLEIN [ Chair]
DUBUQUE COUNTY BOARD OF SUPERVISORS
"We are proud to support the Dubuque Works partners in their effort to recruit and retain
a talented workforce. Their collaborative approach to workforce development is both
unique nationally and effective locally. The ripple effect of Dubuque Works is felt
throughout Dubuque County."
4 I DUBUQUE WORKS a workforce initiative
1HE CITY
DUB
Masterpiece on the Mississippi
MYSTIQUE
C A S I N O
DEAR dubuque works SUPPORTER,
Three short years ago, our community was in need
of streamlined and effective workforce solutions to
meet the demand of existing employers and future
prospects. Dubuque Works partners stepped up to
the challenge - collaborating under one umbrella and
approaching workforce issues from many angles to
address local needs. Today, the group has not only
built trust among partners and the community in
which they serve, they have impacted thousands of
individuals through their work.
Much has been accomplished in the past three years
of collaboration, and this document highlights bits
and pieces of the work that has been completed;
however; numbers cannot ultimately define the
group's success. It became immediately apparent
that the work being done by Dubuque Works had
many life- changing success stories that go far beyond
what is on paper— touching the lives of many high
school and college students as they make career
decisions, connecting talented job seekers from
across the country to local employers, helping
newcomers explore the community they will call
home for years to come and helping those that
are down on their luck receive a fresh start in life.
Although quantitative results are important, it is the
unexpected and intangible successes that instill the
greatest sense of accomplishment.
As technology in the workplace grows, the need for
talented human capital becomes even more critical.
The workforce of our future is not built tomorrow,
but today. Dubuque Works continues to proactively
recruit, relocate, retain and train the workforce that
will shape our community for decades to come.
Presi�-
Greater Dubuque Development Corporation
5 DUBUQUE WORKS annual report 2012
Sarah Harris
Vice President of Workforce
Solutions, Greater Dubuque
Development Corporation
Shannon Gaherty
Newcomer Relations
Coordinator, Greater
Dubuque Development
Corporation
Joan Schuster
Recruitment Specialist
Telegraph Herald
RECRUITING & RETAINING
a talented workforce
ACCESSDUBUQUEJOBS.COM
• AccessDubuqueJobs.com, the region's cutting -edge
recruitment website, received top honors from the
Mid - America Economic Development Council for its
role in assisting millions of job seekers in their search
for Dubuque area jobs, while also enhancing local
employers' ability to attract qualified talent.
• AccessDubuqueJobs.com launched a Facebook page to
increase site traffic through social media. By following
AccessDubuqueJobs.com on Facebook, individuals have
access to job- seeker tips, community information and
the ability to receive mobile job postings in the Greater
Dubuque area.
In 2012, AccessDubuqueJobs.com averaged over
100,000 visitors per month and hosted 2,500+ resumes
for individuals who wish to live and work in the Greater
Dubuque area.
The Telegraph Herald implemented several key site
enhancements to AccessDubuqueJobs.com, creating
a more user - friendly interface for job seekers and
employers.
• A new workforce video was released for distribution
in both print and online relocation guides utilized
by local employers for recruitment. The video
highlights AccessDubuqueJobs.com as the gateway to
employment opportunities in the Tri -State area.
Greater Dubuque Development Corporation attended
10 career fairs throughout Iowa and Wisconsin
promoting AccessDubuqueJobs.com and the job
opportunities of local employers.
Like AccessDubuqueJobs
on facebook®
6 I DUBUQUE WORKS a workforce initiative
investor
GROWTH
u „i
116
EMPLOYERS ARE TALKING...
"We get a ton of hits from posting jobs on AccessDubuqueJobs.com
and it's extremely easy to use and navigate. From an HR standpoint,
I love being able to see how may people have viewed the ads we
have posted. Our most recent job was viewed by over 1,000 people!
Great exposure!”
"When we post on AccessDubuqueJobs.com we have qualified
applicants within the hour, with both local and national
job - seekers. The site is our primary recruiting tool in the
Greater Dubuque area."
AccessDubuquefobs.corn has been critical to our company's
recruiting plan. What a benefit to know thatyou can upload
your position to just one place, and then watch the resume and
candidates come in."
RELOCATION GUIDE
• The Relocation Guide, Greater Dubuque Development
Corporation's community recruiting package, is sent
nationally and internationally to individuals considering
relocation to the Greater Dubuque area. A total of 642
Relocation Guides were sent around the world in 2011.
NEWCOMER SERVICES
• Since the inception of the Newcomer Relations program
in the spring of 2009, Greater Dubuque Development
Corporation has worked with local businesses to help
recruit, relocate and retain potential and existing
employees.
Assisted 420 candidates in 2011 with relocation needs and
more than 1,045 candidates since 2009.
Partnered with 81 businesses representing many sectors
of the business community including: A.Y. McDonald
Manufacturing Company, Cottingham & Butler Insurance
Inc., Peninsula Gaming, Flexsteel Industries Inc., IBM, John
Deere Dubuque Works, The McGraw -Hill Companies,
Medical Associates Clinic & Health Plans, Prudential,
Rentech Energy Midwest Corporation, The Finley Hospital,
University of Dubuque and more.
Provided 161 personal tours of the community.
Tracked and maintained a rental database of available
housing which is updated monthly and distributed to those
looking to relocate to the area.
In the hope of removing any barriers to a welcoming
experience in Dubuque, Greater Dubuque Development
Corporation offered its signature Welcoming Program,
Distinctively Dubuque, at no charge to participants in 2012.
Facilitated four, sold -out, sessions of Distinctively Dubuque,
the area's premier welcoming and retention program in
2011.
COMMENTS FROM DISTINCTIVELY DUBUQUE
PARTICIPANTS...
"I enjoyed Distinctively Dubuque tremendously. It is amazing
all the life that goes on in this city. I don't think I would have
been able to find a better place to come, enjoy life and raise my
daughter."
"Knowing what goes on at the higher education institutes tells a
lot about the community itself. I can see the city is very vibrant: a
word I rarefy use but identifies very well with Dubuque."
"I enjoyed being able to relax and chat with new friends, learning
about places and seeing them in person. This program helped me
create a network I would not have had otherwise."
"It really doesn't matter ifyou just moved here, lived hereyour
entire life or are a "'boomeranger, "Distinctivey Dubuque can
benefit all; I am one person that it has definitely helped ."
GreaterDubuque
Contact Sarah Harris at:
563.557.9049 / sarah @greaterdubuque.org
www.greaterdubuque.org
Contact Shannon Gaherty at:
563.557.9049 / shannong@greaterdubuque.org
www.greaterdubuque.org
Contact Joan Sc!lustar at:
563.588.5765 / jschuster @wcinet.com
www.thonline.com
7 DUBUQUE WORKS annual report 2012
Kelly Cooper
Executive Director,
Dubuque Area Labor -
Management Council
IMPROVING THE IMAGE
of skill ed trades
HIGH SCHOOL CAREER EXPLORATION
A new Computer Numerical Controlled (CNC) Exploring
Post was created in the Fall. Nine students, from
sophomores to seniors, attended the six evening after
school programs. The programs were held at Northeast
Iowa Community College (NICC), Bodine Electric, Decker
Precision Machining and A.Y. McDonald Manufacturing
Company.
• High School Career Days were held at Hempstead and
Senior High Schools in which 70 classes learned about a
variety of careers throughout the region.
• Additional careers were added to AccessMyFuture.com.
The website continues to be marketed through Facebook
advertising, print advertising and career exploration
events. The website is a collaborative effort shared with
East Central Intergovernmental Association.
CAREER AND TECHNICAL FAIR
• Over 500 students from eight area schools attended the
Career & Technical Fair held at the Grand River Center
on November 15th and 16th.
• Eight manufacturing and construction careers were
highlighted including: Virtual Technology, CNC Operators,
Carpentry, Plumbers and Fitters, Welding, Construction
Management, Electricians, and Engineering.
• Eight health care careers were highlighted including:
Radiologist; Home Health Aide; Clinical Nurse; Hospital
Nurse; Pharmacist; Laboratory Technician; and Respiratory,
Speech, Physical and Occupational Therapists.
Information Technology was converted to a hands -on
event. Students participated in a software and hardware
challenge. Woodward Communications Inc., Dubuque
Data Services Company, John Deere Dubuque Works and
McKesson Corporation assisted students with the activities.
8 I DUBUQUE WORKS a workforce initiative
MANUFACTURERS AND DUBUQUE
COMMUNITY SCHOOLS PARTNERSHIP
• A new committee, consisting of local manufacturers,
representatives from Dubuque Community Schools, and
NICC, was formed to discuss workforce needs.
• The committee assisted in creating a new Machine
Operations class at Hempstead and Senior High Schools.
High school teacher training is also being provided to
educate faculty on the equipment used at NICC and in the
industry.
Alumni from Hempstead and Senior High Schools
have been highlighted on posters promoting careers in
advanced manufacturing. The alumni are now working
for employees such as Decker Precision Machining, John
Deere Dubuque Works and Giese Companies.
Science and industrial technology teachers toured local
advanced manufacturing facilities to learn more about
the industry.
INDUSTRY TOURS
• Freshmen and Sophomore Project Lead the Way (PLTW)
students from Western Dubuque High School toured
Bodine Electric and Premier Tooling & Manufacturing to
learn more about the manufacturing process.
• Junior and Senior PLTW students from Western
Dubuque High School toured the John Deere Dubuque
Works factory and virtual reality lab.
• EIMCo and Bodine Electric hosted the Iowa Jobs for
America's Graduates students from Hempstead High
School for a company tour.
• Students from the Jo Carroll Vocational Center traveled
to John Deere Dubuque Works to learn more about the
manufacturing process.
Cc
563.582.8804 / kellycooper @dalmc.net
www.dalmc.com
CONNECTING STUDENTS
to employment
INTERNSHIP CONNECT
• Internship Connect recruited over 75
businesses to create and post internships on
AccessDubuqueJobs.com. Complimentary internship
postings are offered for all employers.
• The Dubuque Area Chamber of Commerce & Tourism
hosted a Total Internship Management Workshop
featuring Alexandria Levitt, author, presidential advisor
and generational expert. The event sold out to 50
individuals representing 32 businesses.
ENHANCING COLLEGE TO EMPLOYMENT
CONNECTIONS
• Classroom presentations on "Standing Out" were
conducted on a semester basis to give students insight
on resume and interview readiness. Standing Out
encompasses tips and observations from local hiring
professionals on how to impress and intrigue a potential
employer on paper and in person.
The Dubuque Area Chamber of Commerce &
Tourism distributed over 1,500 DBQ 101
guides to incoming and transfer students. These
community resource guides highlight services for
students new to the area as well as useful web
resources including DubuqueChamber.com,
FYPDubuque.org, AccessDubuqueJobs.com,
GreaterDubuque.org, CityofDubuque.org,
AccessDubuque.com, and AccessMyFuture.com.
DUBUOIJE AREA
CHAMBER antelnsl ipconnect
leatn.intern. employ.
Contact the Dubuque Area Chamber of
Commerce & Tourism at:
563.557.9200 / office@dubuquechambercom
www.dubuquechambercom
9 DUBUQUE WORKS annual report 2012
Melissa Rakow
Community Development
Director, Dubuque Area
Chamber of Commerce &
Touism
Peggy Murray
Business Marketing
Specialist, Iowa WORKS
Wendy Knight
Executive Director of
Business & Community Solutions,
Northeast Iowa
Community College
TRAINING & CAREER
development
YOU'RE HIRED!
The third annual "You're Hired!" event was held on
October 6, 2011 with over 75 job seekers in attendance.
Twelve Human Resource (HR) professionals from the
community participated as panel members or facilitators
providing tips and insights to job seekers on today's job
market (skills, resumes and interview process).
NATIONAL CAREER READINESS CERTIFICATE (NCRC)
The NCRC is a validated credentialing tool for businesses
to use as a part of their recruitment and hiring screening
process or for incumbent employee promotion. The
NCRC gives job seekers the opportunity to validate
their core employability workplace skills in the areas
of: Applied Mathematics, Reading for Information and
Locating Information.
• Over 60 businesses in the region have signed a letter of
agreement to support the NCRC workforce initiative.
• NCRC is being integrated into training for high - growth
middle - skills jobs in the community including: machine
operators, CNC operators and other career and technical
skills education.
95% of students in the Advanced Manufacturing CNC pilot
achieved their NCRC.
417 high school students completed their NCRC testing with
79% achieving their NCRC credential.
BUSINESS WORKFORCE ALLIANCE
The Iowa WORKS Business Workforce Alliance continues
to meet bi- annually in the spring and fall. The Alliance
members receive updates on workforce trends and
business services; provide feedback on recruitment
challenges, education and training needs; and share
ideas to assist in meeting the workforce needs of our
business community. As a result of this year's event,
Iowa WORKS partnered with Northeast Iowa Community
College (NICC) to offer an advanced manufacturing
sector job fair. Business and job seeker attendance and
feedback was extremely positive.
10 DUBUQUE WORKS a workforce initiative
CERTIFICATE PROGRAMS
A new non - credit certificate training program offered
by NICC aims to increase the skill levels of available
employees by training over 200 individuals in the next
18 -24 months in the manufacturing and IT sectors.
Partners include Dubuque Works, Dubuque Community
Schools, East Central Intergovernmental Association
(ECIA), Iowa Works, NICC and Project H.O.P.E.
Scholarships to cover the cost of tuition for the training
are supported by Dubuque Works, ECIA and Iowa Works.
20 individuals were accepted into the first pilot training
program. Of the 19 participants who successfully
completed training, nearly all will be employed with
employee partners while the remaining have chosen
to continue on to earn a degree at NICC. The pilot class
graduated on May 22, 2012.
An orientation for the second round of the certificate
program was held May 30th at the NICC Peosta
Campus Conference Center with 64 individuals in
attendance. Attendees learned about the welding,
modern manufacturing and CNC professions; met
representatives from employer partners; toured
facilities and learned about the application process
for acceptance into Welding, Intro to Modern
Manufacturing or CNC training programs.
Iowa WORKS NORTHEAST IOWA
Uortheast Iowa
NATIONAL.
CAREER REARINE s
CERTnGTE'
Contact Peggy Murray at
563.556.5895 x130 j peggy.murray @iwd.iowa.gov
www.iowaworks.org
Contact Wendy Knight at:
563.557.8271 J knightw @nicc.edu
www.nicc.edu
BUILDING BRIDGES
to employment
PROJECT H.O.P.E.
Project H.O.P.E. works to improve inter - agency
collaboration systems and reduce policy /program
barriers to service, or simply, make the system easier
to access and navigate, in order to connect disengaged
youth and adults to education and employment
opportunities.
SUPPORTING WORKING FAMILIES
• To improve access to childcare within the community,
Project H.O.P.E. partnered with Resources Unite to
develop a child care service mapping project and
website that helps working families and employers
connect to child care. In May of 2012, a site launched
that features a searchable directory of child care
providers and information to support working parents.
The Circles Initiative, an innovative model now in its
third year, encompasses Bridges out of Poverty, Getting
Ahead in a Just - Gettin' -By World and Circles. The
initiative helps low- income families create more stable,
secure lives by connecting to the middle class.
• 2 completed circles, 4 active circles and 8 more beginning in
summer of 2012.
Bridges Out of Poverty builds a more welcoming
community by teaching middle -class individuals about
the hidden rules of each socio- economic class and how
these differences can be barriers to communication.
More than 100 people were trained in 2011.
Getting Ahead in a Just - Gettin' -By World is a curriculum
that helps low income families learn the hidden rules of
the middle -class in order to create more stable secure
lives.
• 52 individuals participated in Getting Ahead in a Just -
Gettin'-By World; 40 graduated from the program.
• Four now participate in the Circles Program that provides
continued support and connections to resources for Getting
Ahead in a Just- Gettin' -By World graduates.
FINANCIAL LITERACY
Project H.O.P.E. supported the Earned Income Tax Credit
program facilitated by Operation New View. The project
helped low- income individuals in Dubuque receive
$223,961 in federal income tax refunds.
Bank On offers low and moderate income residents free
or low -cost checking accounts and access to financial
education. Access to a bank or credit union account can
help residents avoid costly alternative financial services
(check cashers, payday lenders, pawn shops and rent -
to -own stores) and enable families to build and protect
their assets. Bank On established new accounts for 55
families in 2011.
OPPORTUNITY DUBUQUE
In support of our objective to improve collaboration and
connect disengaged youth and adults to employment
opportunities, Project H.O.P.E. facilitates a dedicated set
of partners who work together to address the skills gap
facing employers and the unemployed. The partners
include, Dubuque Works, Dubuque Community Schools,
East Central Intergovernmental Association, Iowa Works,
and Northeast Iowa Community College. Together,
these partners have successfully launched Opportunity
Dubuque, an initiative that takes a dual customer
approach, that meets the needs of employers and
unemployed workers by providing scholarships, training
and connections to manufacturing employers.
Today, Project H.O.P.E. continues to facilitate the effort
and identifies ongoing funding for scholarships and
other costs through its partnership with the Community
Foundation of Greater Dubuque.
COMMUNr t FouNDAnoN
PROTECT
HOPE
Contact Eric Dregne at:
563.588.2700 / eric@dbqfoundation.org
www.dbqfoundation.org
11 I DUBUQUE WORKS annual report 2012
Eric Dregne
Vice President of Programs,
Community Foundation of
Greater Dubuque
funding partners
THE CITY OF
DUB
co
Masterpiece on the Mississippi
MYSTIQUE
C A S I N O
i