Nampa investigates workforce training

Nampa organizations are surveying local business leaders to see what workforce training they need.

The survey will be open until June 10.

Nampa’s Chamber of Commerce, public library, and economic development department and Northwest Nazarene University are working to build curriculum for about five classes that will take place at the library in the fall. The groups are also trying to figure out a digital badge certification process that will allow employees to add the classes to their resumes.

“This process is trying to capture what the workforce is lacking,” said Amy Bowman, director of membership development with the Nampa Chamber of Commerce. “We are looking to identify what the greatest needs are.”

Each class will be free and will last between 60 minutes and 90 minutes. The classes will focus on soft skills such as communication, strategic planning, computer skills and business etiquette.

Soft-skills are non-technical skills  that are not used for any one position, but are transferable  to most professions.

“The idea is to offer a series of classes that help prepare employees to be more effective,” said Chris Cooper, director of the Nampa Library. “We want to make them better at communication, getting along with people, managing time — things like that.”

Cooper began working on the project shortly after joining the library in July. He met with the Idaho Department of Labor, Nampa Chamber of Commerce, Nampa City Council and several other organizations and learned that most existing workforce training focuses on highly technical skills. Businesses need workers who have learned more basic skills.

Cooper will look for instructors and business experts to teach the classes after the Nampa Job Skills Survey is closed and the results are processed.