Results from the January 2019 employer needs study conducted by Cook County Higher Education were surprising in a number of ways.
For instance, the top three jobs employers said their employees needed more training in was accounting, advertising/ marketing, and basic bookkeeping.
The last two areas cited on the top 20 requested training list were for ServSafe, a training and certification program offered for restaurant and commercial cooks, and for management skills.
Also asked on the questionnaire were four other questions.
What is the most convenient way to receive training? The top three answers were to attend training at the Cook County Higher Education building, take classes online, and train onsite at the business.
What time of day is the most convenient for training? Employers replied afternoons 1-5 p.m., mornings 9-11 a.m., and over lunch from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.
What month is the most convenient for training? The top three responses in order were November, January and Feb./ March/April.
What is the best way to be contacted by CCHE? Recipients replied direct mail, CCHE website and CCHE Facebook page.
Although operating out of a very small facility—a converted Baptist Church with about 6,000 square feet— and four full-time employees, Cook County Higher Education has had a big impact on the county.
Since 2005 Cook County Higher Education has helped train and offered support to 10,141 individuals. Those students attended college, received certifications, or were given workforce training.
Currently 47 employees at North Shore Health have received training and support from CCHE.
In 2018 Higher Education offered 35 Lifelong Learning events with 636 people attending. Cook County Higher Education also conducted 61 workforce development/ professional development events with a total enrollment of 858 last year.
When added up, the total of individuals served in 2018 was 1,494. Or another way to look at that number is to realize that it represents over 27 percent of the county’s 5,398 population.
Who funds CCHE?
CCHE has an annual budget of just under $500,000. Sixty percent ($300,000) is funded by the State of Minnesota through the Higher Education Fund. Grants are about 20 percent and local donations by members and businesses are 10 percent. Workshop fees and facility rentals generate the remaining income.
“Right now our board and committee member ambassadors are contacting Cook County businesses. We offer some great return on your sponsorship dollars,” said director Karen Blackburn. If you are interested in becoming a business sponsor and partner, contact Blackburn at 218- 387-3411 or kblackburn@northshorecampus.org.
About the program
Started in 1996, CCHE’s mission is to, “Provide local access to and support for college education, and training on the North Shore of Lake Superior.”
As it has grown and increased its services, CCHE has more than lived up to its vision to build a sustainable higher education and workforce training process in Cook County that meets the needs of the individual students and local organizations.
“We serve as an alternative to a college campus by collaborating with regional colleges and universities to bring you high quality degree, certificate programs, and training,” reads the mission statement.
One of CCHE’s biggest challenges is to convince every individual and business in Cook County that CCHE is for them. “We know that we can offer programming and support that will interest and/or help individuals or businesses grow,” said Blackburn.
To help get the word out, CCHE recently hired a new outreach coordinator, Carly Puch. Carly will visit with businesses, organizations and community groups to ask, “what can CCHE do for you” and educate them about CCHE current services and programming.
Cook County Higher Education is like The Little Engine That Could. It’s taken a lot of effort, a lot of belief in spite of its small size to accomplish big things.
To that end, if graded over its 23 year history, CCHE would have to be given straight A’s for results, effort, and dedication to the community.
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