Page 12 - Helena Chamber B2B Spring22

HELENA WINS SPRING UPDATE
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By McKinley Winkle
12 BUSINESS TO BUSINESS CONNECTION
VISION: Catalyst for growth; Convener of leaders and influencers; Champion for a thriving community. MISSION: Engaging and supporting businesses to facilitate economic growth and community prosperity.
HELENA WINS- (WORKFORCE INNOVATION NETWORKS) Helena WINS is a growing and thriving program through the Helena Area Chamber of Commerce dedicated to the betterment of our workforce by attracting, developing, and retaining talent in our community. Helena WINS hosts and collaborates with partners to bring programs and events that help to bridge the gap between industry, education, and our labor force. We are thrilled to share success stories and updates with our business community and look forward to growing our support.
CAREER AWARENESS
EVENTS
Helena WINS partners with local educational institutions including Helena College and Carroll College to provide career awareness and pathways events targeted to high school students and their families. The objective of these events is to provide education on pathways for careers within high demand industries in our community. In addition to our PROSPECTS (Promoting Regional Opportunities to Students by Presenting Education, Careers, Training and
Skills) Healthcare event last October, Helena WINS and Helena College hosted a PROSPECTS Manufacturing and Mechanics Night in February. Students and their families were invited to tour Helena College’s manufacturing and mechanics programs, learned about the importance of the industries, and heard from local employers about career paths right here in Helena.
With healthcare being one of the largest private industries in Lewis and Clark County. Helena WINS will also be partnering with Carroll College on April 23rd to host a pathways event for students and their families. Attendees will have the opportunity to hear from both Carroll College and Helena College about their available healthcare programs and hear presentations from local employers about career opportunities. There will also be an employer panel, resource fair and optional facility tours for participants.
In addition to the health- care event this spring, Helena WINS is looking forward to a construction event that will include other trade industries in early summer. Be on the lookout for further details. If you would like to be involved in the construction event, or any other career awareness events hosted by WINS and our
partners, please reach out to Helena WINS Director, McKinley Winkle, at mwinkle@helenachamber.com.
HELENA SUMMER JOBS PROGRAM
Helena WINS has partnered with American Jobs for America’s Youth Montana (AJAY MT) for the fourth year in a row for the Helena Area Summer Jobs Program (HSJP). HSJP helps grow the local workforce, connects employers to motivated young employees, and develops young employees’ work skills while exposing them to potential career paths. Students in the program are matched with a paid summer job or internship, complete a work skills training prior to the summer and meet with a mentor throughout their employment to develop their skills and explore career paths. We are nearing the end of our recruiting process and are looking forward to summer 2022. If you would like to see some of our highlights from the