What is ACWA?
The mission of the Addison County Workforce Alliance (ACWA) is to align the Addison County workforce development system to the needs of employers as well as job seekers through systematic and ongoing engagement and partnership.
Goals and Objectives:
- Understand the current and future workforce needs of regional employers.
- Establish and meet regional workforce development outcomes through coordination, collaboration, and networking of employers, employees and service providers.
- Identify and focus workforce development resources available in and to the region to attain established outcomes.
- Identify gaps in workforce availability and training/education in the region.
- Develop strategies to fill gaps and meet the needs and the broader economic development goals of the community through regional workforce planning and regional industry-focused sector strategies.
The Alliance meets virtually every other month via Teams.
ACWA is open to any Addison County workforce development service provider, educators from all levels, other community organizations involved in workforce development, and any Addison County employer. To join, contact Alex Armani-Munn at AArmani-Munn@addisoncountyedc.org
Workforce Expansion Program:
In June, Addison County Economic Development Corporation (ACEDC) was selected for the Workforce Expansion Program by the Vermont Department of Labor (VDOL). This program, which was proposed by the governor and approved by the legislature, is a two-year pilot program with the goal of helping employers fill jobs and to connect job seekers to those opportunities.
To help facilitate the program, Becca Carter joined the Vermont Department of Labor (VDOL) at the end of August as the Workforce Expansion Program Coordinator in Addison County. She brings a wealth of experience to the position, including 10 years in manufacturing and 11 years in workforce development, building job training programs across multiple industries. She looks forward to working with employers, job seekers, and the community.
As the Program Coordinator, Carter will work with Executive Director Alex Armani-Munn and the ACEDC team to help ACEDC and VDOL reach their workforce-building goals. Through the program, employers, schools, education programs, and community groups will come together to improve job training and help more people enter the workforce.
More to come on this program!
Past ACWA Activities:
Current ACWA Membership (Alphabetically)
Alex Armani-Munn, Addison County Economic Development Corporation*
Middlebury College
Sherry Carlson, Let’s Grow Kids
Keith Collins, Middlebury High School
Kim Collins, Vermont Department of Labor
Rachel Cummings, Counseling Service of Addison County
Bill Cunningham, Tri-Valley Transit
Beth Demers, Community College of Vermont
Mary Ellen Giglio, HireAbility Vermont*
Sarah Kearns, VT Small Business Development Center
Charlie Kornman, Vergennes High School
Bill Lucci, ROADS VTSU
Martha McCaughin, VSAC
Dr. Nicole MacTavish, Patricia Hannaford Career Center*
Wendy Morse, Vermont Department of Labor
Erin Reed, United Way of Addison County
Natalie Reigle, Vermont Adult Learning
Steve Riegle, Counseling Services of Addison County
David Roberts, Vermont Adult Education, Hannaford Career Center*
Alan Saltis, Vermont Department of Health
Darla Senecal, Building Bright Futures
Anthony Severo, Northlands Job Corps
Jennifer Stefani, CCV Middlebury*
Phil Summers, Addison County Chamber of Commerce*
Michelle Thompson, Vermont Department of Labor
Helena Van Voorst, United Way of Addison County
*Indicates Member of ACWA Steering Committee