Membership

Our work is driven by the collaborative efforts of urban workforce development boards (WDBs) across the Midwest, working together to strengthen communities and expand economic opportunity.

What is MUS Membership?

Midwest Urban Strategies offers a unique collaborative network that connects urban workforce development organizations across the Midwest, fostering innovative solutions and sharing best practices to enhance regional economic growth.

By joining our organization, members gain access to a wealth of resources, including expert insights, funding opportunities, and powerful partnerships, all aimed at driving meaningful change in their communities.

Together, we are dedicated to creating a more skilled and prosperous workforce, making Midwest Urban Strategies the ideal partner for organizations committed to making a difference in the urban landscape.

Member Resources

Member Categories

Affiliate Member

  • Affiliate members are organizations that share an interest in the work of the public workforce system (and/or operate local systems) and support the vision and mission of MUS. They are aligned with organizations that collaborate with workforce development boards and share the values of the membership.  

MUS Member

  • MUS members are a consortia of Midwest workforce development boards spearheading innovative practices that drive economic prosperity for all. With an intentional focus on underserved/under-resourced communities, the consortium aims to leverage resources, best practices, networking, tools, and technology to advance employment and economic opportunity.
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Our Members

Our Member Organizations

DESC - Detroit Employment Solutions Corporation

Detroit Employment Solutions Corporation (DESC) became the city of Detroit’s workforce agency in 2012. DESC is part of the Michigan Works! Association anda proud partner of the American Job Center network. DESC regularly partners with political and community leaders, employers, community-based organizations, and stakeholders to raise awareness regarding education and workforce issues facing Detroit residents. DESC serves as the fiscal and administrative entity that provides workforce employment and training services for the City of Detroit. DESC reports to the Mayor’s Workforce Development Board (MWDB), which was appointed by the Mayor of the City of Detroit and is responsible for developing the strategy for Detroit’s workforce development service delivery system.

City Of Minneapolis Employment & Training

Minneapolis Employment and Training administers a variety of employment and training programs under the direction of the Mayor, City Council, and Minneapolis Workforce Council. Minneapolis Employment and Training is the administrative entity and staff to the Minneapolis Workforce Council. City programs under the oversight of the Workforce Council include services for low-income adults, dislocated workers, and youth. In Minneapolis, these services are delivered to job seekers and businesses by community-based organizations that have been competitively evaluated and selected based on their ability to effectively serve target groups and achieve employment-related outcomes, including both placement and support for retention in employment.

The Full Employment Council (FEC)

The Full Employment Council Inc. (FEC) is the administrative entity and fiscal agent for two workforce development boards: Kansas City & Vicinity Workforce Development Board and Eastern Jackson County Workforce Development Board. FEC is a business-led private nonprofit corporation whose mission is to obtain public and private sector employment for the unemployed and underemployed residents of the greater Kansas City area. FEC accomplishes this goal by working in collaboration with businesses, local units of government, educational institutions, labor organizations, and community-based organizations. This partnership responds to employer needs while reducing unemployment and underemployment of area residents.

The Northwest Indiana Workforce Board

The Northwest Indiana Workforce Board is a 27-member business member led board representing seven counties of Northwest Indiana including Lake, Porter, LaPorte, Newton, Jasper, Starke, and Pulaski counties. The board incorporated in 2005 as a non-profit board working in partnership with Local Elected Officials covering each of the seven counties. As part of its infrastructure, the Northwest Indiana Workforce Board has contracted with the Center of Workforce Innovations, Inc. to serve as the board staff, as the One Stop Operator, and to provide some services of Title 1 of WIOA.

EmployIndy

EmployIndy has transitioned to focus on target impact areas to create a more community-driven initiative, becoming a hub for targeted populations and those who have given up hope in the possibility of entering or re-entering the workforce. Establishing a more neighborhood-focused form of workforce development will be designed by both increasing the implementation of resources in local community centers and reducing barriers for residents so they may have access to career pathways and gain the necessary skills to excel in the workforce. This strategy presents employers with qualified candidates to fulfill their hiring needs. This ABC (Any Job, Better Job, Career) Approach exemplifies the transitional goal for both workers and employers, realizing that having access to a career and skilled workers is a journey, not just a destination.

Employ Milwaukee

Employ Milwaukee (EMI) was established in 1989 and is the largest Workforce Development Board in Wisconsin, serving the most diverse racial and economic area in the state. Governed by a board of 36 leaders from the public, private, and nonprofit sectors, EMI employs 72 workforce development professionals, coordinates industry leaders across five sector-based advisory boards, and administers an annual budget of over $20 million. The board conducts data tracking and case management for its monthly quantitative and narrative reports to its 20+ funding and government partners. EMI has established an Industry Advisory Board (IAB) operating model around key industry sectors and occupations. Employer and industry representatives drive the alignment of EMI’s talent sourcing and skill development strategies to respond to the current workforce and labor market needs.

Chicago Cook Workforce Partnership

Created in 2012, The Chicago Cook Workforce Partnership (The Partnership) is an umbrella organization operating the public workforce system in the City of Chicago and Cook County. The Partnership combines federal and philanthropic resources to broaden the reach and impact of workforce development services for both employers and job seekers. As the largest non-profit workforce development system in the nation, The Partnership has helped place more than 70,000 individuals in employment, collaborated with more than 2,000 employers, and administers more than $300 million in federal and philanthropic funds. The Partnership’s network of more than 50 community-based organizations, 10 American Job Centers, and sector-driven workforce centers serve 132 municipalities.

https://chicookworks.org/

Stark Tuscarawas Workforce Development Board

The mission of the Stark Tuscarawas Workforce Development Board is to assist area businesses in meeting their workforce needs by coordinating the workforce development activities of the numerous employment, education, and economic development entities in the region. The OhioMeansJobs One-Stop System strives to act as a consolidated employment resource for all partner programs, employers, and job seeker customers while supporting the mission of the Workforce Development Board. These platforms provide free services made possible through funds provided by the U.S. Department of Labor and operated locally by the Stark Tuscarawas Workforce Development Board and the Stark and Tuscarawas Boards of County Commissioners.

ASPYR Workforce Innovation

The Workforce Development Board of Central Ohio serves the city of Columbus and Franklin county. The Board serves the residents and employers in their workforce region, connecting them to training and supportive services and coordinating the planning and convening of workforce system partners from throughout the region. Operating in a collaborative service delivery model, the Board contracts with ResCare to convene three trusted workforce system partners to deliver services to job seekers and incumbent workers. Those system partners include the Urban League, Goodwill, and Jewish Family Services.

St. Louis Agency on Training and Employment (SLATE)

The St. Louis Agency on Training and Employment (SLATE) offers job seekers and businesses a variety of no-cost employment services, including job training and career counseling. It is the City of St. Louis government agency that offers job seekers and businesses a variety of no-cost services related to employment, training, and career advancement. SLATE, in coordination with the Missouri State Department of Economic Development (DED), Division of Workforce Development (DWD), the City of St. Louis Mayor's office and several partners, operates SLATE Missouri Career Centers, which connect employers to a skilled workforce and provide training and placement services to the City's adult workforce.

Workforce Council of Southwest Ohio

The Workforce Council of Southwest Ohio is a 501c3 Ohio chartered nonprofit organization. The Workforce Council of Southwest Ohio implements the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) in the City of Cincinnati and Hamilton County. The board is responsible for developing strategies to engage employers, employees, government, education, organized labor and community-based organizations in a partnership to strengthen and expand the workforce resources of the region for the benefit of all the participants and communities where we live, work and raise our families. The SWORWIB sets the vision, policy, and performance expectations for the regional OhioMeansJobs (OMJ) workforce development system In Cincinnati-Hamilton County.

Center of Workforce Innovations

Center of Workforce Innovations is a multi-management nonprofit workforce development organization with its finger on the pulse of employment, education, and economic development. They are a catalyst for community and business investment in workforce, education, and economic development building and enhancing collective capacity to succeed in a new global economy.

Understanding challenges associated with aligning workforce skills to meet the needs of employers, and elevating talent for emerging next generation jobs, CWI is poised and ready to provide solutions and implementation processes.

Consider this.  As an organization CWI has a dual purpose.

They serve as an intermediary which is known for its convening community and industry groups to facilitate solutions, providing data and labor market information, offering information about resources, and seeding best practices that help in formulating the solutions. They also directly deliver services such as career advising, provide credit recovery programming, have community learning centers for adult education services while overseeing a network of adult education providers, and they provide oversight for the American Job Centers, known as WorkOne in Indiana.

Commonly known for identifying and implementing best practices, CWI has administered more than 40 public and private ventures intended to improve the quality of the workforce, enhance the business climate, and ensure the realization of a higher quality of life.

While remaining a driver of workforce development in NW Indiana, CWI strategic priorities are on empowering its regional workforce through high quality career advising, skill building and efforts to increase post-secondary credential attainment.

The Workforce Alliance

The Workforce Alliance, initially established in 2016 among six workforce boards in North Florida and South Georgia to break down barriers for job seekers while helping employers hire and retain skilled workers, expanded in FY 2020-2021 with two additional Florida boards and Southeast AlabamaWorks.

The Workforce Alliance is now the first tri-state alliance in the southeast, with nine workforce boards serving 76 counties, thoughout North Florida, South Georgia and Southeast Alabama.

Southwest Indiana Workforce Board

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INDIANA
in.gov/dwd

The Southwest Indiana Workforce Board is comprised of business and community organization representatives in Southwest Indiana. The Board oversees the workforce development initiatives and the WorkOne Southwest offices in Dubois, Gibson, Knox, Perry, Pike, Posey, Spencer, Vanderburgh and Warrick counties.

South Central Region 8 Workforce Board, Inc.

The South Central Region 8 Workforce Board, Inc. (WDB) is a registered 501(c)(3) not-for-profit corporation which has oversight of employment and training programs in the following eight counties: Brown, Daviess, Greene, Lawrence, Martin, Monroe, Orange and Owen. The WDB serves as a pass through entity providing employment and training programs in the Economic Growth Region 8 using a variety of state and federal grant resources, including those available through the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA), Re-employment Services and Eligibility Assessment (RESEA), Adult Education WorkINdiana Training Program, Jobs for America’s Graduates (JAG), Business Services.The WDB is governed by a volunteer board that will initiate program directives and provide oversight and guidance on program operations. Crowe, LLP serves as the Board's Fiscal Agent.

https://www.in.gov/dwd/workonesouthcentral/resources/

Kentuckiana Works

KentuckianaWorks is the workforce development board for the Louisville region, which includes Bullitt, Henry, Jefferson, Oldham, Shelby, Spencer, and Trimble counties. We are funded primarily by the U.S. Department of Labor and the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) (through the Kentucky Education Workforce Development Cabinet) and Louisville Metro Government.

We operate a regional network of Kentucky Career Center services that includes job and career counseling, training, resume-building and direct referral to employers.

Our 2021 Strategic Plan lays out our priorities as an organization. We have also developed a Regional Plan for the Central Kentucky region's workforce as well as a Local Plan, both of which are required by the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA).

In January (Indiana) and May 2021 (Kentucky), we submitted a draft Bi-State Regional Plan for review. This plan, among the first of its kind in the nation, lays out a framework for KentuckianaWorks and Southern Indiana Works to share data and collaborate across the 13 counties that comprise the Louisville region. It is designed to improve the responsiveness to the needs of the region's employers, job seekers, and students. 

Visionz | Support Education Empowerment

Urban and low income youth, especially in Detroit, face a staggering, potentially life-threatening life skills and technology gap. They have lower internet connectivity, fewer computers at home, abysmal access to technology in schools, and they shoulder significant opportunity challenges outside the classroom. Acquiring the life skills that will close these gaps, unfortunately, is a luxury. The Visionz Project plans to close this gap by providing these youth with skills training, education and life support, direct work experience and mentoring relationships.The Visionz Project is a highly interactive training, experiential learning and support program that uses technology, instructor-led classroom training and career exploration activities to teach low income and at-risk youth life skills to help them succeed in life

Career Solutions

Career Solutions is an employment and training organization. For over thirty years, through career counseling, job training, and business relationships, we’ve helped entry-level to experienced workers – youth to adults – train for and gain meaningful self-sustaining employment.

Skilltrade

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Region 4 Workforce Board

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Educational Data Systems, Inc. (EDSI)

Dearborn
,
Michigan

EDSI (Educational Data Systems, Inc.) is a national workforce development, training solutions and consulting company with a passion for helping great companies and communities train and retain great people. EDSI works with regions, employers and jobseekers to overcome their most challenging obstacles. Founded in 1979 and headquartered in Dearborn, Michigan, the company employs more than 800 people across the country. EDSI is a National Best and Brightest® Companies To Work For award winner.

CAEL (Council for Adult and Experiential Learning)

Indianapolis
,
Indiana

CAEL is a national nonprofit membership organization that aligns educators, employers, and community leaders to build inclusive systems where adult learners and workers can thrive. Through its expertise in recognizing prior learning, mapping career pathways, and fostering industry-education partnerships, CAEL supports the creation of resilient talent pipelines and sustainable economic outcomes.

Workforce Partnership

Kansas City
,
Missouri

Workforce Partnership is committed to building a workforce development system that meets the needs of both job seekers and employers throughout the Kansas City area. We operate a network of career centers in Johnson, Leavenworth, and Wyandotte counties offering professional expertise and funding resources to employers and eligible job seekers.

YWCA Metro St. Louis

St. Louis
,
Missouri

Founded in 1904, YWCA Metro St. Louis is the region’s largest and oldest organization dedicated to empowering women and eliminating racism. We meet people where they are, offering critical support and opportunity through programs in crisis intervention and housing, early childhood education, and economic empowerment. From helping survivors of domestic violence find safety, to preparing children for lifelong learning, to connecting women with meaningful careers, YWCA Metro St. Louis provides wrap-around services that transform lives and strengthen communities. Every year, we serve more than 10,000 women and families across the region — helping create a future where all people can thrive with dignity, equality, and hope.

St. Louis Development Corporation (SLDC)

St. Louis
,
Missouri

SLDC is the independent economic development agency serving the City of St. Louis, Missouri. It is an action-oriented organization that exists to empower, develop and transform St. Louis through a vibrant, just and growing economy where all people can thrive.

MUS Member Spotlight:
Stark Tuscarawas Workforce Development Board

Organization Name: Stark Tuscarawas Workforce Development Board
Executive Leader / Title: JoAnn Breedlove - Executive Director
Website: www.stwdb.org

Tell us about your organization’s mission and the communities you serve.
Stark Tuscarawas Workforce Development Board is committed to strengthening the local workforce by connecting individuals to meaningful employment opportunities and helping businesses find the talent they need to grow. Our mission centers on building a skilled, resilient workforce that supports long-term economic success across the region.Through partnerships with local employers, education providers, and community organizations, we work to align workforce needs with in-demand career opportunities while strengthening the workforce system as a whole. We provide oversight of the OhioMeansJobs centers in Stark and Tuscarawas Counties, located in northeast Ohio, and also known as American Job Centers, which deliver career services such as resume support, job search guidance, and training opportunities to job seekers, as well such employer services that include talent acquisition assistance and incumbent worker training opportunities. We support and participate in sector partnership activities and other collaborative workforce-focused initiatives and strive to address the evolving needs of our regional economy—allowing us to drive solutions that benefit businesses, individuals, and the broader community.

What are the key services and programs you offer?
Stark Tuscarawas Workforce Development Board (STWDB) provides oversight of the OhioMeansJobs Stark & Tuscarawas Counties centers, which deliver direct services to job seekers and employers across the region.

Through these centers, individuals can access support as they navigate the workforce—including resume assistance, job search guidance, interview preparation, and job leads tailored to their strengths. The centers also offer funding support for training opportunities leading to in-demand careers for eligible individuals, along with specialized programs for youth facing barriers to employment, as well as services to assist individuals receiving unemployment insurance benefits to create a customized plan to connect to employment opportunities quickly.

For employers, talent acquisition services/support help connect employers with qualified candidates. Resources to assist eligible employers with incumbent worker training services are available.STWDB's strategic work focuses on strengthening the workforce system by expanding resources, coordinating efforts among local partners, and leading initiatives that respond to the region's evolving workforce needs.

As one example, the Business Resource Network (BRN) is a workforce-centric solutions initiative designed to provide stakeholders and the community Employer Insight through aggregated, hyper-local and current insights on employer needs, Comprehensive Resources in the form of local and up-to-date access to workforce programs, training opportunities, and business support services, and Strategic Connections between employers and workforce solution providers. Additionally, Data Analysis provides partners an opportunity to convene and discuss aggregate workforce data to discuss how best to serve area businesses, along with Workforce Insight to inform future program and service needs.

STWDB also publishes a Workforce Trends Dashboard on its website which is powered by e-IMPACT, a Lightcast Company, to better inform the community and stakeholders on the population and available talent in the region, available jobs and employer needs, and alignment and talent gaps.

These are a few examples of efforts to create a more connected and effective system that supports businesses, job seekers, and long-term economic growth

Can you share a success story or impactful moment from your work?
Through the OhioMeansJobs centers that are at the epicenter of providing services and resources to individuals and employers, we are happy to share Saizya's story, which is one of many, where  individuals and employers have connected with resources that have changed the trajectory of their lives and helped to support their business.

Saizya was served through OhioMeansJobs Stark County and desired to pursue her goal of becoming a Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN), a path she had been working toward since graduating in 2010. Previous life and financial barriers had delayed her plans, but with a renewed focus, she took the next step forward.

With support from WIOA Title 1 funding made available through OhioMeansJobs Stark & Tuscarawas Counties, Saizya enrolled in the Canton City Schools LPN program. Throughout the program, she navigated challenges including transportation and childcare, while maintaining a 90% GPA and steadily building confidence in her abilities. As she shared, “Not only was I making it, I was also doing pretty well in my classes." After successfully passing the NCLEX, Saizya secured employment at Belden Village Nursing and Rehab, earning $30 per hour. She credits OhioMeansJobs Stark County for helping her move past barriers, complete her training, and establish a more stable future for herself and her son.

Additionally, Dover Chemical Company in Tuscarawas County utilized the Incumbent Worker Training Program (IWTP) to provide leadership and workplace skills training for 15 employees. By completing the ten-session program, participants gained key skills, earned $96,000 in combined raises, and accessed new promotional opportunities within the company which strengthened current leaders and prepared the next generation to fill critical roles, supporting a stronger, more sustainable workforce.

MUS Membership & Collaboration:
Stark Tuscarawas Workforce Development Board joined MUS prior to its formal creation as a 501C-3 nonprofit and has been considered one of its "founding" members. An opportunity to learn from workforce development board peers in the midwest region was of great interest. Best practice sharing, the "innovation lab" concept, and participation in consortium grant applications, if appropriate, fueled the  application submission when a member opening presented itself. 

How has being a part of MUS benefited your organization so far?We have learned so much from our peer MUS member organizations both through our membership as well as through MUS convenings, which provide an opportunity to visit a member community and fully learn/embrace the public workforce system in that community, along with the partnerships and collaborations that make the system work. Workforce is "local" and to learn how systems are serving individuals and employers in those specific regions/communities is always eye-opening and continues to reaffirm the workforce system and its importance in changing lives and communities.We are also a part of a collaborative Pathway Home 6 grant through MUS that has provided us leverage to participate in this important work.

Are there any partnerships or collaborations that have grown from your MUS membership?Our membership has provided access to many different resources and relationships.  Member colleagues have been a wealth of information and support over the years. MUS staff are committed to engaging and fostering opportunities for partnerships, collaborations, introductions and resources for their members and affiliate members. Our Workforce Trends Dashboards were made available through a connection/partnership with Lightcast and we appreciate the opportunity to access labor market information through MUS's partnership with Chmura and their JobsEQ platform.

Fun Fact - Share something unique about your organization, team, or history that people may not know.
Just over a year ago, we were a mighty team of three staffers. Currently, we are a staff of six and soon will onboard a seventh team member and excited for the future.

JoAnn Breedlove

President & CEO
Stark Tuscarawas Workforce Development Board

Membership

Midwest Urban Strategies offers a unique collaborative network that connects urban workforce development organizations across the Midwest, fostering innovative solutions and sharing best practices to enhance regional economic growth.

Our organization's members gain access to a wealth of resources, including expert insights, funding opportunities, and powerful partnerships, all aimed at driving meaningful change in their communities.

Apply for Membership

Is your organization ready to join us in building a more skilled, inclusive, and prosperous workforce for the communities we serve?