NINE A WORKFORCE Floyd Brown and Timothy Robinson set up a job site outside of Baltimore, MD. Mandatory infrastructure upgrades are forcing contractors and utilities to rapidly increase work capacity. However, this is completely dependent upon companies having the trained staff available to tackle a growing list of projects. According to the Bureau of Labor and Statistics, Pennsylvania alone needs to add about 137,000 construction workers by 2021 in order to keep up with demand. Not only does this require hiring new employees, but also retaining and developing them to keep pace with the needs of the nation’s infrastructure. To meet the demand, the industry is turning toward workforce development partnerships and collaborations—bringing connections to individuals who previously may not have had access to these work opportunities but are eager to build careers in this sector. A COMPANY PERSPECTIVE We at Flagger Force view workforce development as providing opportunities for employment and leading-edge training for a career that, in our way, keeps communities moving. This can be accomplished through continuous education, leadership development, and partnerships with other organizations. This is one way Flagger Force gives back to the communities we serve. However, with growing a workforce comes both opportunities and challenges. Every job has base level requirements and sometimes innovative measures will provide access to new candidates. For instance, Flagger Force requires applicants to have a valid driver’s license and a personal vehicle. For one reason or another there are scores of potential employees that don’t have those resources available. Lacking these fundamentals automatically excludes candidates from careers at many organizations. With the unemployment rate at a record low, finding new sources of employees requires nimble thinking and a positive belief in the future. Meeting our clients’ demand is a top priority for us as well. Recruiting from this pool of individuals means more man power in our back pocket and more opportunities for our clients to lean on our industry-leading resources—in turn, providing necessary hours to our workforce. Developing partnerships outside of our organization is an organic next step to use business to help fill a need and change lives. DISRUPTING THE CYCLE Enter the Living Classrooms Foundation. Founded in 1985 in Baltimore, Maryland, the nonprofit focuses on disrupting the cycle of poverty and making the community safer, stronger, and healthier. The organization has helped nearly 25,000 children, youth, and adults in the last year, with hands-on education, workforce development, and health & wellness programs. Currently, Living Classrooms has close to 20 programs