With the Rocky Mountains rising majestically in the distance, Denver set the stage for a momentous celebration–the five-year anniversary of National Skills Coalition’s SkillSPAN network. Leaders and staff from across the country gathered to mark this milestone and engage in meaningful peer learning.
SkillSPAN was born out of a vision for a united, state-led approach to meet the diverse workforce needs of our country. Today, this vision has become a reality as SkillSPAN leaders continue to drive efforts to create a more diverse talent pipeline and expand and sustain access to education and training for quality, in-demand jobs.
Below, we celebrate selected achievements and milestones SkillSPAN has reached over the past five years across several key areas: coalition-building, digital equity, college access, training opportunities, and supportive services.
Building and Strengthening Coalitions
One of SkillSPAN’s most remarkable achievements is building coalitions that unify and amplify voices and ensure that workforce policies address local and regional needs.
- California: Since 2019, the Skills for California Network has grown from 218 to 1,069 members. Members receive regular updates on state policies, budget developments, events, and advocacy opportunities aligned with the group’s policy goals.
- Tennessee: Tennessee Skills Coalition launched a co-leadership model, integrating both Business Leaders United and SkillSPAN. This model brings together a wide range of stakeholders to meet Tennessee’s regional needs, with voices from community organizations, training providers, government agencies, and businesses.
- North Carolina: North Carolina’s Digital Inclusion & Employment Equity Working Group has built strong agency relationships and guided the allocation of federal funds, despite limited state legislative progress. Their key accomplishment includes bringing diverse stakeholders together to form a Digital Inclusion Working Group, and their work has now expanded its focus to infrastructure and climate workforce policy.
Closing the Digital Skill Divide: Advancing Skills and Equity in the Digital Age
As digital skills and literacy become increasingly essential, SkillSPAN has made noteworthy progress in promoting digital equity. SkillSPAN coalitions across several states have championed policies and initiatives to increase access to digital resources and skills training:
- Michigan: Michigan SkillSPAN partnered with the state’s High-Speed Internet Office to shape the implementation of the BEAD Program, aiming for high-speed internet access statewide.
- Texas: Texas WORKS prioritized advancing digital literacy efforts which resulted in the legislature committing $3.75 million to digital inclusion and workforce initiatives. Additionally, Texas WORKS engaged with the Broadband Development Office, contributing to the inclusion of digital equity indicators in the state’s broadband plan.
- Washington: Washington SkillSPAN made strides in the digital equity space by mapping the entities who are engaged in digital equity work, connecting people to resources, and using data to drive strategies, all with the aim of building an inclusive, resilient digital ecosystem.
- Alabama: Alabama SkillSPAN coalition successfully advocated for Senate Bill 215, a landmark piece of legislation that addresses the critical need for broadband expansion across the state. This bill led to the creation of the Alabama Digital Expansion Authority (ADEA), tasked with overseeing the deployment of high-speed internet services to underserved areas. The coalition’s support of this bill was rooted in the understanding that reliable internet access is essential for accessing workforce training, education, and digital job opportunities.
Making College Work: Higher Education Access and Support
SkillSPAN has strategically advocated for improvements in college affordability and access, working to ensure that students and workers can overcome obstacles and pursue the education and training they need to thrive:
- Georgia: Thanks to the advocacy of Georgia SkillSPAN, Georgia lawmakers voted to establish the Georgia College Completion Grant program in 2022, to address the needs of students with low incomes; a step in a long-term strategy to establish a needs-based financial aid program in the state.
- Michigan: Michigan SkillSPAN advocates successfully advocated for a limited time expansion of the Michigan Reconnect program to cover those aged 21-24. The expansion was coupled with an expansion of wraparound supports to help with the costs of childcare and transportation.
- Oregon: The Oregon Pathways to Opportunity Coalition continued to center the voices and needs of students which led to the passage of the landmark Benefits Navigator Bill. The bill funds a full-time Benefits Navigator position at every community college and public university to assist students in maximizing public benefits and resources such as SNAP food benefits, STEP (SNAP E&T program), housing assistance, and other basic need supports.
- Maryland: Maryland SkillSPAN successfully advocated for the passage of the Maryland New Start Act of 2022, which allocates $500,000 annually to support training programs that assist returning citizens in gaining valuable skills and starting businesses. The funding enables training providers to offer specialized courses focused on business plan development, work readiness, and entrepreneurial management. In addition to skills training, the Act provides returning citizens with access to loans of up to $50,000 for launching their own businesses, empowering them to rebuild their lives and contribute economically.
Advancing Training and Jobs for Opportunity Youth
Expanding access to skills training and creating employment pathways is at the core of SkillSPAN’s mission. The network has introduced policies that address training needs and support workforce opportunities:
- Connecticut: Connecticut SkillSPAN engaged community providers who support opportunity youth, bringing them into conversations for collective advocacy and policy development.
- Louisiana: Louisiana Opportunity Youth Skills Coalition successfully advocated for the passage of Senate Resolution 47, which was passed unopposed in the Senate Labor Committee and on the Senate Floor. It created a task force charged with studying opportunity youth within the state to determine the best way to maximize resources offered by state agencies and community service organizations. The task force includes state agency leadership, community-based organizations and, most importantly, actual youth or former youth with lived experience.
Unlocking Potential: The Critical Role of Supportive Services
Access to supportive services plays a critical role in workforce stability and economic mobility. SkillSPAN has achieved notable wins in this area:
- Colorado: Colorado SkillSPAN advocated for the passage of HB 1270, which allocated $3 million in state funding to the Department of Human Services to enhance SNAP employment and training (called Employment First in Colorado), creating innovative opportunities for recipients. The legislation achieved strong bipartisan support, and allowed greater flexibility in deploying these funds, which was emphasized through CCLP’s close work and collaboration with SNAP office staff.
- Illinois: Following research with over 50 Illinois job training providers which found that funding limitations were a major obstacle to supporting clients, Illinois SkillSPAN collaborated with the Illinois Department of Human Services to create a Barrier Reduction Fund Pilot Program with $2 million from Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (CARES Act). The fund seeks to address the barriers faced by job seekers, such as financial strain, childcare, mental health, and transportation challenges.
- Indiana: Indiana Skills2Compete Coalition supported successful childcare legislation expanding eligibility including eligibility for childcare workers at 85 percent of state median income, establishing a childcare worker compensation study, and creating new licensure for employer micro-sites.
- New York: New York SkillSPAN worked to include language in the state budget that established a six-month income disregard for individuals participating in state or federally subsidized employment programs. Participants of qualified work activities can now retain full public benefits for six months as a strategy to mitigate a benefits cliff.
- Ohio: Ohio SkillSPAN released a report, “When Working Isn’t Enough,” revealing that many Ohioans working full-time still require benefit assistance to cover basic needs. This report has drawn attention to the need for stronger wage policies and access to support services.
- Iowa: Iowa Skills2Compete Coalition successfully advocated for the expansion of Iowa’s SNAP Employment & Training (SNAP E&T) program to nonprofit training providers—a key win for skills-based training in the state. Their advocacy for supportive services like childcare has also improved access for Iowans, and they remain committed to addressing Iowa’s childcare crisis by supporting industry professionalization to ensure quality, affordable care for all.
Looking to the Future
SkillSPAN’s progress is a testament to the power of collaboration and advocacy. As we look ahead, National Skills Coalition is committed to breaking down barriers to education and training, advocating for equitable policies and inclusive pathways. Together, we are building a future where every worker has access to the skills, support, and opportunities they need to thrive.
