The Client
Our client provides its partners with workforce education solutions through agreements with education institutions across the U.S. In collaboration with academic institutions, our client enables employers to provide career-aligned, debt-free education to their workforces.
The Opportunity
The client approached us to explore opportunities in the public workforce development sector. As a leading human capital management service provider in the private sector, the company aimed to help their corporate partners secure workforce development grants.
Forge conducted a comprehensive grant landscape assessment for a select group of the client’s corporate partners. Utilizing a blend of research and public policy analysis, we examined the current grant processes and pinpointed key areas for the company to focus on.
Our Approach
The goal was to identify which of our client’s prioritized states would be most beneficial to explore workforce development grants in.
In recognition of federal workforce development guidelines and requirements provided through the Workforce Innovation Opportunity Act 2014 (WIOA), Forge developed two relevant criteria with which to examine a state’s compatibility with the company’s services:
Collaborative Partnerships
Flexibility & Customization
Our team also developed an “ease” ranking system for states. States with a high “ease” ranking were highly likely and compatible for the company or its corporate partners to pursue.
The Outcome
Forge analysis detailed states with workforce development grants characterized as having high-accountability and reporting requirements and limited eligibility criteria that would place limits on the provision of innovative education attainment methods relevant to the company.
The Forge team also provided a deep dive into states with a high likelihood of relevant workforce development grants, including a funding analysis, grant opportunities, and pursuit process considerations. Our team also provided recommendations about the provision of human capital management services to local workforce agencies, and capacity requirements for post-grant administrative activities.
Value Added
The insights will serve as a starting point for future grant pursuits with corporate clients. Partnering with our team to develop a go-to-market strategy for winning government grants, our client is better positioned to achieve its mission and maximize its impact with corporate clients.
