Displaced Workers’ Guide: Local Gems for Reskilling and Career Advancement

Shana OrtoFreelance Writer, STx3 Content

6 min read

Local and state governments offer hidden gems for those wishing to further their education. With increasing unemployment and new advances in technology, many workers are feeling displaced. Whether they be programs at the Ag extension office, community colleges, or the public library, resources abound - but many don’t know how to find them. Let’s list some of the resources that residents of a community may not have considered in their preparation for a new or lateral career placement.

Leveraging Workforce Development Boards and One-Stop Centers

Workforce development boards play a central role in connecting residents to training and employment opportunities. These boards, established under the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA), coordinate services through local One-Stop Career Centers. These centers, often housed in libraries, community centers, or stand-alone offices, offer career counseling, job placement assistance, skills assessments, and access to short-term training programs that are aligned with regional labor market demands¹.

Residents may not realize that many of these services are available at no cost. For instance, dislocated workers and low-income adults can receive Individual Training Accounts (ITAs) to fund certifications in high-demand fields such as healthcare, logistics, and information technology. These programs are designed in partnership with local employers to ensure that training aligns with current job openings, making them a practical and efficient path to reemployment².

Community Colleges as Anchors for Career Transitions

Community colleges are increasingly recognized as agile institutions capable of responding to workforce shifts. Many offer non-credit, short-term credentialing programs that appeal to adult learners and career changers. Examples include certified nursing assistant (CNA) training, commercial driver’s license (CDL) certification, and cybersecurity boot camps. These programs are typically developed in collaboration with local employers and economic development agencies, ensuring they are relevant and focused on job placement³.

Municipal governments can support access to these programs through tuition subsidies, transportation vouchers, or childcare assistance. In some jurisdictions, local governments have formalized partnerships with colleges to co-create workforce academies or training hubs. These initiatives reflect a strategic investment in local talent and provide a practical model for replicating success in other communities⁴.

Libraries as Lifelong Learning Hubs

Public libraries have evolved beyond books and storytime. Many now offer digital literacy courses, resume workshops, and access to online learning platforms such as LinkedIn Learning or Coursera. These resources are particularly valuable for individuals who may lack reliable internet or computer access at home. Libraries also provide a supportive environment for self-paced learning and peer support⁵.

Some libraries partner with local workforce agencies or nonprofits to host career fairs, employer panels, and mock interviews. Others serve as satellite testing centers for professional certifications or GED completion. Municipal staff can enhance outreach by promoting these offerings during community events, utility bill inserts, or through neighborhood associations. Raising awareness is a low-cost strategy that can have a high return in terms of community engagement and economic mobility⁶.

Cooperative Extension and Agricultural Training Programs

University-affiliated Cooperative Extension offices offer a surprising array of adult education programs, especially in rural or semi-rural communities. While traditionally focused on agriculture, these offices now provide training in business development, food safety certification, natural resource management, and digital marketing for small enterprises. These programs are often grant-funded and open to the public, making them an accessible option for residents seeking to upskill or pivot professionally⁷.

In partnership with municipal governments, extension offices can also support local workforce initiatives by providing technical assistance or facilitating peer learning networks. For instance, a city economic development department might collaborate with the extension office to train food truck operators on health codes or help local farmers navigate e-commerce platforms. These practical skills can lead directly to income-generating activities and foster a more resilient local economy⁸.

Municipal Staff Development as a Community Model

Municipal governments can serve as models of professional development by investing in their own workforce. Offering tuition reimbursement, internal training academies, and cross-departmental mentorship programs not only enhances service delivery but also signals a commitment to lifelong learning. These internal systems can inspire similar efforts in the private and nonprofit sectors, reinforcing a community-wide culture of development⁹.

Programs like the International City/County Management Association (ICMA) Leadership Institute or the National League of Cities' REAL (Race, Equity, and Leadership) initiative offer structured pathways for municipal staff to build leadership and equity-focused competencies. These opportunities can be extended to residents through public workshops or volunteer advisory roles, creating a feedback loop between civic engagement and professional growth¹⁰.

Digital Tools and Microcredentialing Platforms

As more learning moves online, microcredentialing platforms have emerged as a flexible way to gain verified skills. Programs like Credly, Coursera, or Google's Career Certificates offer stackable credentials in areas such as project management, IT support, and data analytics. Many local governments have begun to recognize these credentials in hiring or promotion decisions, especially for entry-level positions¹¹.

Municipal practitioners can help residents engage with these tools by hosting orientation sessions, offering digital navigation support, or even co-branding local learning pathways. For example, a city might partner with a platform to offer a “Digital Skills for Civic Jobs” badge that prepares residents for roles in customer service, community outreach, or administrative support. These credentials add real value to a resume and can often be completed in a matter of weeks¹².

Connecting Training to Local Economic Development Goals

For professional development efforts to be sustainable, they must be tied to broader economic development strategies. This means aligning training programs with existing employers' needs, anticipated industry trends, and infrastructure investments. Municipal governments can convene workforce advisory councils that include educators, employers, and training providers to ensure programs remain relevant and responsive¹³.

Additionally, cities can use labor market data to identify skills gaps and prioritize training in sectors with strong growth potential. For example, if a municipality is investing in green infrastructure, it should also promote training in energy auditing, stormwater management, or solar installation. This alignment ensures that professional development is not just reactive but strategic, helping residents move into meaningful, long-term employment¹⁴.

Bibliography

U.S. Department of Labor, “Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA),” Employment and Training Administration, 2023, https://www.dol.gov/agencies/eta/wioa.
National Association of Workforce Boards, “The Workforce System Explained,” 2023, https://www.nawb.org/system-explained.
American Association of Community Colleges, “Fast Facts 2023,” 2023, https://www.aacc.nche.edu/research-trends/fast-facts/.
Center for Law and Social Policy (CLASP), “Partnerships That Deliver: Promising Approaches to Workforce Training,” 2022, https://www.clasp.org/publications/report/partnerships-deliver-workforce-training/.
Urban Libraries Council, “Libraries Supporting Workforce Development,” 2023, https://www.urbanlibraries.org/initiatives/workforce-development.
Institute of Museum and Library Services, “Public Libraries Survey Fiscal Year 2021,” 2023, https://www.imls.gov/publications/public-libraries-survey-fiscal-year-2021.
U.S. Department of Agriculture, “Cooperative Extension System,” National Institute of Food and Agriculture, 2023, https://nifa.usda.gov/cooperative-extension-system.
University of Wisconsin Extension, “Community Economic Development Programs,” 2023, https://economicdevelopment.extension.wisc.edu/.
International City/County Management Association (ICMA), “Professional Development,” 2023, https://icma.org/professional-development.
National League of Cities, “REAL Initiative,” 2023, https://www.nlc.org/initiative/race-equity-and-leadership-real/.
Credential Engine, “Counting U.S. Postsecondary and Secondary Credentials,” 2023, https://credentialengine.org/report/2023countingcredentials/.
Google Career Certificates, “Google Career Certificates,” 2023, https://grow.google/certificates/.
National Governors Association, “Aligning State Workforce and Economic Development Strategies,” 2022, https://www.nga.org/publications/workforce-economic-alignment/.
Burning Glass Institute, “Rebuilding the Workforce: The Role of Skills in a Post-Pandemic Economy,” 2022, https://www.burningglassinstitute.org/reports/rebuilding-the-workforce/.