First Posted: 1/29/2015
LIMA — Officials and community members have been trying to improve the workforce in Lima and Allen County for 20 years.
But the latest attempt, LINK Lima/Allen County, is different — because it will work, said Doug Arthur, an outside consultant and now director of the Allen Economic Development Group Workforce Vision.
Arthur gave a presentation, or a “call to action,” at the annual Lima/Allen County Chamber of Commerce Breakfast on Thursday. He spoke of the new initiative, LINK Lima/Allen County, the issues it’s identified and why it will work this time when it hasn’t in the past.
“This is one degree more effective than anything we’ve ever done before,” he said. “Now our job is to build this framework and reach out into the community and get every single business involved, get every school involved.”
After listing workforce issues like a lack of qualified people, pre-employment hiccups and more, and conceding that “the challenges are pretty daunting” for the area, he went on to applaud those in attendance and the community for the reasons LINK will succeed.
“One phone call between David Berger and me and it launched an entire community response,” he said. “This isn’t typical … this community is simply amazing.”
The reasons LINK will succeed are because the legwork is done, everyone is already “at the table,” everyone has a job already, LINK’s framework supports collaboration, the employer is the customer and workforce is at the top of the list, Arthur said.
“I think this was an exciting introduction to LINK,” said Karen Grothouse, with Spherion Lima, who attended the event and is on a LINK committee. “I think it touched on all the positive aspects Lima has that we don’t always think of because we live here every day.”
Next, the committees that comprise LINK will work to gather feedback from local companies on the issues they face and their priorities, as the employer is the customer, and focus, of LINK.
“It’s time for you to get selfish,” he said to the business people who attended.
From employer’s priorities, Arthur plans to build LINK’s agenda.
“If we can cause the collaboration that this community is clearly ready for, LINK Lima/Allen County can make a significant difference in the way our region thrives,” Arthur said.
