Denton City group elevates workforce development as a distinct economic development goal

Facilitators and attendees at the Denton City economic development retreat agreed that workforce development should be a separate, explicit goal rather than a subset of recruitment or partnership work.

Britney explained that workforce initiatives can include university partnerships, certifications and upskilling programs and recommended leveraging college programs and corporate‑concierge efforts to funnel students into internships and credential programs. She said certified programs and targeted credentialing can help employers find candidates with specific skill sets.

Several participants described employer priorities in simple terms: the number one hiring challenge is soft skills and practical experience; internships, apprenticeships and mini‑credential programs can close that gap. One speaker summarized employer feedback as a need for “internships” and “soft skills” that help new hires function on day one.

The group proposed (1) a workforce task force that meets regularly and includes education partners and employers, (2) mapping existing training and credential offerings before building new programs, and (3) using university partnerships to scale employer‑tailored pipelines. Facilitator Alicia suggested the EDP can influence and coordinate these efforts even if the board does not directly fund every program.

Next steps included drafting specific strategies, estimating start and completion quarters for each step, and identifying responsible partners for follow‑up.