This cluster found that three of its four action initiatives were shared in common with other groups and would be undertaken collaboratively as regional Flagship Initiatives.

1. Skilled Worker Initiative (Flagship)

Objectives: A partnership between higher education and regional industry to shape future training goals, curricula and delivery systems based on continuous feedback from companies about their needs and educational system performance.

Activities:

1. Enhance Preparation and Higher Education

• Communicate to higher education institutions that college education is not simply for acquiring a degree but also training for work.
• Encourage graduates to communicate the capabilities of their educational institutions to their employers to enhance linkages.
• Develop improved ways for students to complete their degrees beyond traditional programs (e.g., flexible curricula and remote delivery, short-term courses).
• Recognize that production manufacturing is becoming increasingly technically oriented requiring more sophisticated training for both entry level and professional workers.
• Accelerate preparatory and continuing education programs to replace increasing numbers of workers lost due to retirement.
• Focus regional educational institution attention on achieving basic skills requirements and performance.
2. Improve Continuing Education and Retraining

• Help educational institutions to advertise "what they can do" on behalf of industry.
• Organize a collaborative network to enable educational institutions to work closely with industry to fill short-term gaps.
• Link educational institutions and companies together to better understand the impact of technology change on work force training and retraining requirements.
• Organize improved "on-site" based offerings of classes and programs (in person, computer aided training or distance education).
• Examine training needs and emerging information technology to better enable use of shared instruction in the workplace or training center.
3. "One-Stop Shop" Initiative (Flagship)

Objectives: Establish a single point of contact (system) for expansion and attraction of industry in the region to ensure that development takes place with the least complexity and highest quality.

Activities: Establish coordinated and integrated services for expansion and attraction.

• Evaluate how other successful regions, such as South Carolina, Pennsylvania, and Grand Rapids have accomplished their goals in coordinated economic development.
• Establish a one source clearing house for all development activities.
• Secure government cooperation in managing this activity.
• Create awareness with the public sector and press concerning the regions "real picture."
4. Air Transportation Improvement (Flagship)

Objective: Improve air service at the Kalamazoo/Battle Creek Airport and increase non-stop service across the region.

Activities: Assess performance of airlines

• Capture data on airline performance.
• Have monthly airline performance data reported through local media outlets.
• Compile a database of regional businesses to determine common struggles and possible solutions.
5. Regional Image Development Initiative

Objectives: Improve regional image to recruit professional workers.

Activities: Regional image promotion effort

• Define the "region."
• Bring Battle Creek and Kalamazoo together to pursue shared concerns and opportunities for the region.
• Organize continuing cluster meetings for an Image Development Team.
• Determine and evaluate the "image" of the region from a professional, outside-the-region applicant perspective.
Health Care