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WYOMING - WYOMING INNOVATION PARTNERSHIP NOVEMBER NEWSLETTER

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    Welcome to the monthly newsletter for the Wyoming Innovation Partnership (WIP).

    WIP is making significant strides to drive workforce development and align Wyoming’s higher educational institutions to meet today’s – and tomorrow’s – industry needs. This newsletter aims to keep Wyoming informed about ongoing efforts and achievements of this transformative program.

    What is WIP?

    WIP is an initiative of Governor Mark Gordon that invests in modernizing and refocusing Wyoming's endeavors to cultivate a resilient workforce and economy. The initiative is committed to fostering collaboration between state entities and local partners, strategically aligning Wyoming's economic development agenda. WIP’s strength is collaboration, encompassing the University of Wyoming, the state's eight community colleges, the Wyoming Business Council, the Wyoming Department of Workforce Service and the Wyoming Department of Education.

    Placing a strong emphasis on creating innovative solutions that bolster Wyoming's economy, workforce, and sources of revenue, WIP is building upon and complementing existing state initiatives related to economic development and ensuring the sustainability of these efforts.

     

     

    View Our WIP Partners
    Phase 1 success
     

    Wyoming Innovation Partnership is making an impact for Wyoming. WIP is deeply committed to tracking key metrics and data to guide decisions and demonstrate success. Data-driven strategies are essential for the long-term prosperity of Wyoming and its communities. Having recently completed the first of three planned phases for the initiative, Phase I metrics include:

    • Projected industry job growth: 19% (from 70,429 jobs in 2020 to 83,788 jobs by 2030)
    • New education programs developed or in-progress: 29
    • WIP program enrollment: 294 high school students and 192 Postsecondary students
    • Workforce training participants: 469

    To learn more about these successes, please read the full Phase I report at https://wip.wyo.gov/reports

    One of WIP’s primary goals is to increase enrollment and graduate retention, ensuring that individuals who earn postsecondary credentials from WIP institutions remain in and get a job in Wyoming to contribute to its workforce.
     
     

    Key Initiatives

    WIP is making significant strides in targeted critical areas for workforce development:
     

    Entrepreneurship: WIP is fostering an entrepreneurial ecosystem and offering support for innovative ideas through makerspaces and innovation workshops. The goal is to make Wyoming an attractive hub for entrepreneurs. Entrepreneurship Tourism and Hospitality: WIP is expanding workforce training programs and resource-sharing initiatives to boost Wyoming's tourism and hospitality sector. Tourism & Hospitality Digital Infrastructure and Technology: WIP is supporting education and training for a highly-skilled workforce to meet the growing demands of the digital economy. This includes the establishment of the School of Computing at the University of Wyoming, reaching students from elementary school onwards. Digital Infrastructure & Tech Energy Workforce: Wyoming, as the largest exporter of energy in the nation, is expanding its ability. The state’s powerline technology program is setting a model for successful partnerships between education and industry – and students are already using their WIP-supported training to get jobs in the field. Energy Workforce Healthcare Workforce: Phase I focused on addressing Wyoming's healthcare workforce shortages, including programs for Certified Nursing Assistants and Echocardiography specialization. Healthcare Workforce Applied Software Development: WIP enabled the development of Wyoming's first applied software development degrees, providing educational opportunities to address the state's tech workforce needs. Applied Software Development

     

     

    WIP is currently in Phase II, a larger effort that concentrates on significant workforce development programming, facilitating collaboration among WIP institutions, and launching large-scale initiatives to enhance institutional productivity and outcomes. The commitment is to drive measurable results and positive impacts.

    See the Phase II funded projects on the WIP website, linked below.

    Phase II Updates
     

    Thank you for your support and involvement in the Wyoming Innovation Partnership. Together, we are shaping a brighter future for Wyoming.