In May 2010, a grant of $404,950 was awarded to the Detroit Regional Chamber Foundation to serve as an intermediary for regional transportation, distribution and logistics leadership to build a workforce development hub for that sector.

Specifically, the DRC will bring employers, workers and training providers together in the following ways:

• Create a TDL employer council, composed of large and small firms in the sector that will devise strategies to align workforce development with employer needs.
• Create a TDL workforce hub that facilitates communication between employers, education and training providers, workers and economic development agencies.  The hub will provide a mechanism through which the employer council can work with other stakeholders to put its strategies into practice.
• Create a website – or “virtual hub” – through which those involved can search for or share information about their needs and training/job opportunities.
• Help employers establish TDL internship programs.
• Determine key growth subsectors within TDL and recruit firms from these subsectors to the employer council.
• Align workforce and development strategies.
• Continue to research and document needs and progress across the sector.
• Benchmark the workforce development programs in other regions with strong TDL sectors.

This grant was made as one of four grants made by NEI to intermediary organizations to help organize and grow workforce opportunities in specific, high-growth sectors.