Ready to Work Recovery Response Coalition

The headlines about COVID-19’s economic impact continue to shock us. Millions continue to be out of work and businesses remain shuttered, significantly impacted as a result of the COVID-19 health crisis.

We know the health crisis will cause lasting damage to our region’s economy and workforce. It will undeniably change our region’s economic landscape beyond its terrible immediate impact. There have been calls for a coalition of broad-based representation to lead and execute a recovery plan for the region’s businesses and workers.

That is where our commitment to creating permanent, positive change begins.

The Partner4Work Board of Directors – appointed representatives of business, labor, economic development, government, education, philanthropy, and human services – unanimously answered the call to bring about regional recovery.

As the leader of the workforce development system for the City of Pittsburgh and Allegheny County, Partner4Work serves as a conduit for federal, state, and philanthropic dollars for the region and taps into a vast national network of workforce and economic development experts. As such, P4W is uniquely positioned to lead now and as the region emerges from the crisis. We know:

The work ahead requires the efforts and energy of many. Business, labor, philanthropy, education, economic development, policymakers, and nonprofits have stepped up to act strategically and synergistically, determining that diversity, equity, and inclusion can no longer be a talking point. It must be part of the fabric of the strategy to ensure an economy for all.

Partner4Work convened a small planning group of business, labor, philanthropy, education, and economic development leaders to develop the blueprint, prioritize action steps and outline a strategy to lead the region through the crisis and in the days ahead. This group established the framework for mobilizing leadership, resources, and action across the city and county.

Numerous coalition subgroups tasked with developing and delivering strategic efforts to address immediate, intermediate and long-term needs relative to the crisis have taken shape and action steps to address systemic barriers including childcare and transportation and providing the support and advancement of small black-owned business, job quality, and diversity, equity, inclusion. This region will emerge stronger than before.

We know it will require grit, sacrifice, hard work, and the big thinking of many. Together, we will drive the region’s future through thoughtful planning, deliberate prioritization, and intentional intersecting. Our objective is to make this coalition as dynamic and forward-thinking as possible — directly reflecting the productive, innovative, and unique spirit that makes our city and region so resilient.

We urge corporate leaders to help us shape and bring about a more vibrant, more inclusive region now and in the future.

Now is the time. Let’s get to work.