Helping Communities Shine

Whether researching and implementing ways to shape a community's economic development plan or partnering to create ways to put people to work, CREC connects researchers and policymakers with:

     • Data training
     • Custom portfolios that aid regional competitiveness

Project Profile

The 7 Rivers Alliance Regional Wise Talent Strategy

The 7 Rivers Alliance
Start Date: Feb 2017 — End Date: Dec 2017

CREC is collaborating with the Institute for Decision Making (IDM) at the University of Northern Iowa, Upper Explorerland Regional Planning Commission, and First Children’s Finance on this effort. CREC and its partners is developing a Regional Talent Plan comprised of workforce preparation, attraction and retention strategies, a roadmap for implementing key initiatives, and an asset and gap analysis of the region’s capacity to provide childcare, housing, and transportation amenities to workers. The team met with more than 200 local leaders and citizens, including conducting focus groups with students and career advisors as well as employers and intermediary service providers. To support the plan, the team develop a workforce profile and issues briefing, including identifying best practices from across the country.  For each strategy, CREC is creating a template for action – leveraging as much as possible initiatives already underway – to guide local economic development, workforce development, and education leaders.

Plan Your Economic FutureResearch & Planning

About the Client

The 7 Rivers Alliance

The 7 Rivers Alliance is a tri-state leadership council dedicated to regional economic growth by fostering collaboration in Southwest Wisconsin, Southeast Minnesota, and Northeast Iowa. The 7 Rivers Alliance brings together public and private resources to forge entrepreneurial growth and serves as a clearinghouse of vital information to enhance quality of life in the region.

Project Updates

The 7 Rivers Alliance Regional Wise Talent Strategy
February 9, 2017

CREC is collaborating with the Institute for Decision Making (IDM) at the University of Northern Iowa, Upper Explorerland Regional Planning Commission, and First Children’s Finance on this effort. CREC and its partners will develop a Regional Talent Plan comprised of workforce preparation, attraction and retention strategies, a roadmap for implementing key initiatives, and an asset […]