The National Governors Association has chosen Hawaii to participate in the second phase of its Workforce Innovation Network, or NGA WIN, a program in which states deploy teams to implement digital skill development strategies.
As part of being selected for phase two, the state of Hawaii will receive $100,000 to create a plan and policies for building advanced digital skills in the state’s workforce. The State Public Library System will lead the team which includes representatives from the Office of the Governor, Office of Broadband and Digital Equity, Workforce Development Council, and community-based nonprofit organizations with expertise in digital literacy.
The Friends of the Library is the fiscal agent for the grant.
“We know that the future success of our communities will rely on technology and how digitally literate we are as a state," said State Librarian Stacey Aldrich in a statement. "This funding allows Hawaii to focus on supporting the digital literacy skills and economic success of our 21st Century workforce."
The NGA Center will provide sub-grants and technical assistance to Hawaii’s team with support from the program's founding sponsor, the Cognizant Foundation, and additional sponsors Intel, Microsoft, Western Governors University and Walmart. States will utilize tools likes the Digital Equity Scorecard to identify and address digital skill gaps in priority industries.
“We have a strong team that includes diverse stakeholders with expertise to advance a coordinated strategic approach to digital equity throughout the state. This grant supports our shared vision of a diversified economy with a focus on digital access and equity,” said Gov. David Ige in a statement.
An initiative of the NGA Center’s Workforce Development and Economic Policy Program, NGA WIN was founded in January as a collaborative for state leaders committed to building an inclusive and resilient workforce.
In March, NGA WIN awarded 10 states up to $100,000 each, and provided their multi-agency state teams with customized technical assistance. The goal is to improve employment outcomes in response to the economic impacts of Covid-19 by connecting job seekers to jobs, education or training opportunities, as well as essential support services.
“Governors are leading with creative solutions to help workers and job seekers access the tools they need to succeed in a rapidly changing economy, and NGA is honored to support them,” said Timothy Blute, director of the NGA Center, in a statement. “We look forward to working with these six states to help them develop and implement strategies to improve access to the digital skills that are increasingly essential to both workers and businesses.”
