RESOLUTION NO. 250423
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Sponsor: Mayor Pro Tem Ryana Parks-Shaw
RESOLUTION - Directing the City Manager to establish a citywide workforce development pipeline initiative (the “Initiative”) by engaging with key multi-sector workforce stakeholders to align and expand career opportunities for Kansas City residents; identifying interested stakeholders to provide input on the Initiative; further directing the City Manager to develop a comprehensive workforce needs and asset assessment and report back to Council within 120 days; coordinating the City’s involvement in the North American Workforce Initiative (NAWI); and directing the City Manager to prepare an implementation plan, timeline, and funding strategy for the Initiative within 180 days.
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WHEREAS, the City of Kansas City, Missouri recognizes that workforce development is essential to promoting economic mobility, reducing poverty, and ensuring the City’s continued competitiveness; and
WHEREAS, an inclusive and effective workforce development ecosystem requires coordinated investments in supportive infrastructure-particularly round-the-clock childcare, affordable workforce housing, and reliable transportation. Kansas City’s 24-hour economy includes critical sectors such as manufacturing, healthcare, logistics, IT, and public safety, which require workers across all three shifts; and
WHEREAS, local chambers of commerce, including but not limited to the Greater Kansas City Chamber of Commerce, the Northland Chamber, Hispanic Chamber, Heartland Black Chamber, South KC Chamber, LGBTQ Chamber, Black Chamber, Asian American Chamber, and Prospect Business Association represent a broad spectrum of businesses and can guide employer engagement and industry alignment; and
WHEREAS, Kansas City’s higher education institutions, including the University of Missouri-Kansas City (UMKC), Metropolitan Community College (MCC), Rockhurst University, and others, provide the postsecondary training, credentialing, and research capacity to support long-term career development; and
WHEREAS, Kansas City’s largest employers in healthcare, construction, logistics, advanced manufacturing, information technology, education, and public service have a critical role in offering internships, apprenticeships, and employment opportunities; and
WHEREAS, workforce preparation begins well before adulthood, and Kansas City benefits from strong partners in Real World Learning Centers, Manual Career & Technical Center, Herndon Career Center, and the Northland Workforce Development Center who serve youth and young adults with career pathways, certifications, and hands-on training; and
WHEREAS, research consistently shows that access to meaningful employment and living-wage jobs is directly linked to reductions in crime and improvements in public safety; cities with strong workforce development systems experience lower rates of violence and recidivism, as employment provides economic stability, purpose, and alternatives to criminal activity-demonstrating that investment in workforce pipelines is also an investment in safer communities; and
WHEREAS, the North American Workforce Initiative (NAWI), a collaborative effort between the United States, Mexico, and Canada, offers Kansas City a unique opportunity to pilot high-skill workforce development strategies that can strengthen regional competitiveness and attract global investment; NOW, THEREFORE,
BE IT RESOLVED BY THE COUNCIL OF KANSAS CITY:
Section 1. That the City Manager is hereby directed to establish a coordinated citywide workforce development pipeline initiative to prepare residents of all ages for high-demand careers through aligned training, education, employer partnerships, and supportive services.
Section 2. That the City Manager shall engage key community stakeholders and solicit their input regarding the design, implementation, and oversight of the initiative. The stakeholders shall include representatives from:
• The Full Employment Council (FEC)
• Prospect Business Association
• The Greater Kansas City Chamber of Commerce and affiliated chambers
• Colleges and universities serving Kansas City residents
• Kansas City’s largest employers
• Real World Learning and Career Centers serving Kansas City residents
• Relevant City departments and a designee from the City Council
• The Building and Construction Trades
Section 3. The City Manager shall, within 120 days:
• Evaluate or conduct a comprehensive workforce needs and asset assessment;
• Identify priority sectors, target populations, and geographic focus areas;
• Recommend strategies for integrating education, training, wraparound services, and employer engagement; and
• Develop a shared outcomes framework with measurable goals for credential attainment, job placement, and wage growth.
Section 4. That the City Manager is further directed to coordinate the City’s involvement in the North American Workforce Initiative (NAWI), and to establish the City of Kansas City NAWI Pilot Project, identifying key industries, employers, and education/training partners who can collaborate in testing innovative, high-skill, cross-border workforce development strategies. The City Manager shall ensure alignment between this pilot project and the broader citywide workforce development initiative.
Section 5. That the City Manager shall report to the City Council within 180 days of this resolution’s adoption with an implementation plan, timeline, and funding strategy for the workforce development pipeline initiative and the NAWI Pilot Project and continue to provide semiannual progress updates thereafter.
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