Building Tomorrow’s Workforce: CCW’s Impact Across Washington
From clean energy job training in King County to fostering the adoption of impactful hiring practices, Career Connect Washington (CCW) continues to create transformative opportunities for students and workers across the state. Here’s how CCW partners are building sustainable career pathways and strengthening Washington’s workforce ecosystem.
King County JumpStart is Building Tomorrow’s Clean Energy Workforce
The impact of career connected learning programs in Washington state is exemplified by King County JumpStart, which is transforming the future for 18 to 24-year-olds while developing the workforce needed for regional clean energy initiatives. Participants receive specialized training in electrical systems, HVAC, solar installation, and project management, followed by 240 hours of paid work-based learning with local contractors.
“We create opportunities for folks interested in combating climate change while also earning a living wage and learning a trade,” explains Michael Carter, Climate Workforce Manager at King County Executive Climate Office. For employers like Forecast Solar, the program delivers immediate value. “Having people come in prepared with training and set up with tools and a paying job allows small companies like ours to train workers without hurting our overhead,” notes Morgan Zehrung.
This bridge between training and employment highlights why Carter calls career connected learning “one of the best tools in our toolkit to advance our hiring and climate goals.”
Building Sustainable Practices for Organizational Success
CCW recently shared a new employer engagement video, which features City of Tacoma Environmental Services Department leaders sharing proven strategies for equitable hiring.
“This is about access and opportunity,” says Lewis Griffith, Division Manager of Solid Waste Management for the City of Tacoma. “Making the playing field equal so that anybody who wants to compete for this job can compete for the job.”
The video highlights how the Tacoma team is improving its organizational culture through interview panels, bias awareness training, expanded community engagement, and creating supportive workplace environments. As Kurt Fremont, Division Manager of Business Operations, puts it: “It’s not a thing that we do. It’s the way we do things.”
Building Sustainable Career Connected Learning Programs in Washington State
CCW is transforming workforce development by supporting the shift of career connected learning programs from grant dependency to sustainable models. Building program sustainability involves evaluating four essential areas: organizational infrastructure, diverse funding streams, strategic partnerships, and continuous improvement processes. The U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation’s Talent Pipeline Management Academy supports this work by helping align training with industry needs.
Employer investment is crucial for sustainability. After proving effectiveness, organizations can transition to membership models or direct employer-paid training arrangements. Successful programs prioritize maintaining essential core staff for management, finances, data, and communications, while allowing other positions to adjust based on funding cycles.
Achieving sustainability requires diverse funding sources to complement employer contributions. The JFF/Google.org Apprenticeship Fund provides up to $2,800 per apprentice through November 2026 for registered apprenticeships. Other funding sources include:
- State and local workforce development funding
- Partnerships with regional workforce training boards
- Specialized grants for wraparound services
CCW’s approach centers on effective employer engagement through sectoral partnerships that create training to meet real workforce needs. By embracing these strategies and implementing feedback mechanisms, CCW is helping temporary initiatives evolve into enduring career pathways that will strengthen Washington’s workforce ecosystem.
Regional Workforce Development Event Recap
The recent Regional Equity Lab Mixer in Tukwila, sponsored by Eight Twenty-Eight, brought together Washington Jobs Initiative partners, community organizations, employers, and career connected learning program leaders to strengthen pathways for underserved populations. The event focused on justice-impacted youth, multilingual learners, and neurodivergent individuals through workshops on culturally responsive instruction and barrier removal.
“There’s energy in the room here,” said James Ramirez from Seattle Jobs Initiative, capturing the spirit of partnership that drives this work forward and strengthens WJI’s mission to create meaningful workforce opportunities for all Washingtonians.
CCW Preserves Critical Funding for Students During 2025 Legislative Session
The 2025 state legislative session ended on April 27, and Governor Ferguson signed the 2025-2027 operating budget on May 20. In a year of tough fiscal decisions, CCW retained $4.684 million in grant funding through the Employment Security Department—a meaningful outcome that’s a direct result of your voices and collective action.
While we celebrate this victory, we must also acknowledge that several other key investments in career connected learning were not preserved, including funding for Career Connected Learning Coordinators and Career Launch enrollment. Despite reduced funding, the CCW leadership team remains deeply committed to working with all partners to maximize available resources and communicate clearly with stakeholders about the value of creating career pathways for Washington students.
Empowering Washington’s Future Through Strategic Partnerships
By forging meaningful relationships between learning institutions and industry partners, CCW is helping cultivate resilient communities where every person has the opportunity to thrive. The work continues, and together, we’re building tomorrow’s workforce today.