For the first time, a powerful team of leading foundations, local governments, businesses, educators and other groups are working closely together to help employers and underemployed people get what they need so that the economy can thrive.

Rather than work in competition for resources and credibility, stakeholders are tapping into the power of connection — the connection of communicating and working together in a way that reflects the deeply interdependent nature of success:

We know a better future depends on a strong economy,
which depends on a highly-trained workforce,
which depends on effective training,
which depends on individuals ready to learn and able to get to the place where training is offered.

SkillUp is driven by a proven model and brings stakeholders together to question and improve upon each level in the development of economic success.

Most of all, SkillUp is about taking action. Within the next 5 years, its goal is to double the amount of students, in King County, who graduate from postsecondary education programs. The initial target is the 92,000 people living in King County who have no postsecondary education credential and household incomes at or below 200% of the federal poverty level.

Already, prominent state and national foundations have invested in a series of demonstration projects by community colleges, with the ambitious goal of retooling job training to meet the needs of working adults.

Progress on all SkillUp efforts is updated frequently here. You can view our Primary Goals, our Strategies, and our Action Plan by clicking on the respective content.

Last, but not least, SkillUp is about benefiting all of us by challenging each of us to take part. Please email us with your questions or comments on any information listed on our web site.