GreenLight Fund’s Post

Want to know what 5 Years of Places2040 means for Lancaster County? Read all about it in the Spring 2024 issue of Lancaster Thriving! - Lancaster Chamber’s magazine! An article in that issue tells the story of places2040 – from its start in rethinking how we do planning to working regionally to make the plan’s goals a reality. https://lnkd.in/ejH_4mvs

Need a reason to consider Limbach as your next career opportunity? The Best Practice Institute just gave you SIX! We asked and our employees spoke… ranking as a Top Company for 1) Career Advancement, 2)Young Professionals, 3)Volunteering, 4)Parents/Caregivers, 5) Wellness, 6) CEO Leadership Check out this month’s 1901 blog below to learn a little more!

Great article on Zoho! #gozoho

“being part of something bigger but also having the courage to stand alone, and to belong to yourself above all else.” According to research by Coqual, a nonprofit think tank, as sense of belonging at work is rooted in four elements: 1) being seen for your unique contributions; 2) connected to your coworkers; 3) supported in your daily work and career development; and 4) proud of your organization's values and purpose.

On October 5 2023, I was honored to be able to present on NOCO Works to the National Council on Workforce Education (NCWE) at the 2023 yearly summit. Our regional model was met with interest and several folks who attended the session I led were able to share their experiences with regional workforce and economic development collaborations with which they have been involved.  An interesting theme emerged regarding the discomfort and challenges that arise when we bring greater structure and organization to the work. There was a general sense that collaborations, such as ours, need to move in this direction of alignment for shared progress. However, the attendees did not have successful experiences to share in making the leap from being a loose collection of like minded individuals and entities to an organized coalition that will bring its shared energy to bear on key shared themes, with structure, resources, and shared goals. I am grateful to have been able to attend the NCWE meeting and bring these other experiences back to our fold. I am encouraged by the strong planning work that NOCO Works is doing - having a fiscal entity to work with  (Community Foundation of Northern Colorado),  support from Larimer and Weld County Leadership, regional Chambers of Commerce, seed funds from the Weld Trust, intense engagement of so many partners and so much more. I firmly believe NOCO Works is making essential progress in developing the required reporting structures, shared goals, shared data, as well as organizational principles and practices. NOCO Works will soon have tangible successes to report, and examples to share in other forums such as NCWE. Dr. Nicholas Spezza Co-Chair, NOCO Works @NoCo Works @NationalCouncilonWorkforceEducatoin @CommunityFoundation @LarimerCountyEconomicandworkforcedevelopment @WeldCounty @TheWeldTrust

The FPF US Policy team had a two-day retreat last week to start our planning process for 2025, connect with one another, and think through challenges and strategy. It was such an amazing opportunity to spend time with the folks I work with every day to think beyond the immediate needs ahead to what is possible. I highly recommend these conscious planning sessions to any teams trying to act intentionally in their work (note: they don’t have to be in person, or even synchronous if there are logistical road blocks to doing so - but should be structured and responsive to current needs). If folks are interested in ways to think about team planning — forming goals and work plans toward achieving them — I’d be happy to share insights and lessons learned. For fun- The most divisive question turned out to be: would you rather spend a year in Europe with a $2,000 stipend, or spend 10 minutes on the moon? Which would you say? I’m 100% team 🌕.

Rise and Shine! Raleigh area Coffee with Leaders hosted by the Raleigh Chamber was such an incredible event yesterday morning. I was able to share more of my story and introduce ways to be inspired by nature in growing and analyzing the health of your business and ecosystem. Here were some of the takeaways that resonated with the more than 60 area leaders who joined: 1. Ecosystems and systems-thinking inspired by nature to fuel business health and growth. 2. #coexisting in a space where #holistic health + living boldly can coexist structurally. 3. For those structural engineers in the audience - a correlation of keystone species in an ecosystem with the keystone in a structural arch to all business leaders identifying the keystones in your business! 4. Be a beaver. Strategically working to impact and engineer their ecosystem! 5. Driving Population Health as a community priority is possible on all projects, thanks to a tool @Perkins&Will launched entitled Precede. 6. Design your career - intentionality plus setting goals 7. Invest in an annual solo ‘MEtreat’ to focus on goal setting towards your Life’s Work! 8. Celebrate Milestones There was the buzz that carried folks into their day with a charge to ‘BEE the Change!’ Let’s keep focused on bringing more life and vitality to our community. Photo credit Kristen M. Hess, FAIA #raleighchamber #ChamberCoffee #raleighnc #networking

Thank you Kimberly Riley for the thoughtful Op-Ed in Crain's Cleveland Business describing some of Team NEO's recent successes. While business expansion announcements often get a quick mention in local media, people outside the economic development community don't always realize the immense amount of work that takes place to get these projects across the finish line: Our Business Development team (team I am a member of) often spends months and years fostering relationships with companies to set the groundwork for an attraction or expansion opportunity. Team NEO's Sites Team spends countless hours working with city officials, developers, and engineering firms to get sites and buildings ready for use. The Talent Team can spend months collaborating with higher-ed, workforce development, and HR professionals to assemble staffing, hiring and training plans. Our Project Management team works quickly and efficiently with the company and JobsOhio to structure programs to make a project feasible. Along the way we work side by side with government officials, nonprofit economic development partners, professional services organizations, utility and infrastructure providers, and many others to make a project happen. Ribbons are cut, local employees are hired, and we move on to the next opportunity to grow prosperity in our region. Economic development is an exciting and rewarding business to be a part of, and it is great to be a member of the organization moving the needle on this in Northeast Ohio. #economicdevelopment #northeastohio https://lnkd.in/gpm-MraY

Just watched Steven Hill's Opening Plenary from Engage 2024 (on National Co-ordinating Centre for Public Engagement (NCCPE)'s YouTube channel - glad to see this resource for those of us who were not able to attend). Really interesting watch for those in the REF and impact communities... take homes for me are: > more action-orientated research is needed to deliver change not just publications; > need to increase engagement and co-creation with society; > bringing together teams that are not just about researchers, but diverse expertise from across society used in an integrated way and without knowledge hierarchies within that; > an increased focus on people in the research system, the conditions to allow them to thrive. #researchimpact #impactliteracy #REF #theHiddenREF

Championing Excellence: Soul District Business Association Established in 1977, the SDBA is one of the oldest and largest business districts in inner N/NE Portland. Their mission? To ignite economic growth, empower local businesses, and create a vibrant community. As a voice, advocate, facilitator, and catalyst, the SDBA champions approximately 5,000 businesses and 64,000 residents within its district boundaries. What They Do: 🔸 Small Business Advocacy & Sustainability: Supporting entrepreneurs and fostering sustainable business practices. 🔸 Urban Renewal & Economic Development: Revitalizing neighborhoods and creating opportunities. 🔸 Resource Identification & Referral: Connecting businesses with essential resources. 🔸 Marketing, Events & Tourism: Showcasing the soulful spirit of Portland. 🔸 Youth Entrepreneurial Career Leadership Development: Nurturing the next generation of business leaders. 🔸 Neighborhood Beautification: Making our streets more vibrant and welcoming. 🔸 Strategic Planning & Collaborative Relationships: Building bridges for success. 🔸 Transportation Progression: Enhancing accessibility. 🔸 Workforce Development & Healthy Work Environments: Ensuring thriving workplaces. Join their mission by following the Soul District Business Association. Support their cause, and be part of the positive change. Let’s celebrate the soul of Portland together!