The NGA Center for Best Practices (NGA Center) hosted its Biannual Workforce Development Policy Institute in Billings, Montana from August 13th – 15th.
The Institute convened Governor’s workforce development policy advisors, leaders of state workforce agencies, and Governors’ workforce development board chairs from 37 states and territories. Attendees discussed recent workforce development policy changes made in their states and territories, engaged in issue-specific dialogue with national experts and industry leaders, and shared best practices for strategic investment in workforce development.
During the Institute, Montana Governor Greg Gianforte highlighted his recently released 406 JOBS initiative, a unifying framework for the state workforce system launched by executive order on August 11, 2025. 406 JOBS seeks to create 4 pathways to employment and 0 barriers to work, focused on 6 high-demand sectors.
The plan will help industry, government, and community groups better align for the advancement of these goals. Governor Gianforte also stressed the unique challenges faced by states and territories with rural populations and emphasized his commitment to lowering barriers to work for those who have left the labor force.
Following Governor Gianforte’s remarks, Montana Department of Labor and Industry Commissioner Sarah Swanson joined Heather Hudson, Deputy Policy Director for Washington Governor Bob Ferguson, to discuss their states’ efforts to engage young people in education and employment opportunities that provide pathways sustainable careers. The discussion also included remarks and insights from Kris Goddard, Program Officer at the Schultz Family Foundation, on a new report – The Broken Marketplace – that details misalignment between employers and education in the context of how today’s youth view opportunities for work. The discussion highlighted how different types of pathways, including apprenticeship, can be used to engage disconnected youth in career opportunities.
Progress in artificial intelligence and its impact on the future of work was a theme throughout the Institute, with one session featuring Dr. Ronnie Chatterji, the Chief Economist for OpenAI alongside Annie Newman, the Director of Digital Strategy in the Office of Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro. The conversation covered both OpenAI’s perspective on the impacts of AI on the labor market as well as Pennsylvania’s pilot program to empower public sector employees to integrate ChatGPT into their daily job responsibilities. Another session featuring Tiffani Alvidrez, Strategic Initiatives for Public Sector Innovation Ecosystem Expansion at NVIDIA and Courtney Taylor, the Executive Director of AccelerateMS, highlighted the memorandum of understanding between NVIDIA and Mississippi to expand AI education, invest in workforce development and encourage innovation in Mississippi.
Participants also toured Red Oxx – a manufacturing business in Billings which produces outdoor and travel equipment. Attendees learned about the businesses’ evolving workforce needs, the integration of artificial intelligence into manufacturing practices, and how public workforce systems may support local businesses in talent attraction and retention.
Other topics discussed over three days of programming include:
- the importance of artificial intelligence to the future of work,
- strategies to improve public workforce system structures and governance,
- alignment of talent pipelines to promote economic development,
- the creation and utilization of effective career navigation systems,
- registered apprenticeship expansion and implementation, and
- strategies for meaningful engagement between public sector systems and employers.
Attendees were also given a preview of the National Governors Association 2025 – 2026 Chair’s Initiative, Reigniting the American Dream, led by NGA Chair Oklahoma Governor Kevin Stitt. Included in the initiative are goals related to unlocking economic opportunity through entrepreneurship, innovation and economic mobility, as well as reimagining education to equip every learner with the skills needed to thrive in the modern economy.
Additional panels and remarks included experts from across the country. Featured speakers included:
- David Alstadt, Director, Policy Campaigns, JFF
- Tiffani Alvidrez, Strategic Initiatives for Public Sector Innovation Ecosystem Expansion, NVIDIA
- Ellie Booth, Senior Manager, Public Policy, Amazon
- Dr. Ronnie Chatterji, Chief Economist, OpenAI
- Kris Goddard, Program Officer, Schultz Family Foundation
- Heather Hudson, Deputy Policy Director, Office of Washington Governor Bob Ferguson
- Maria Neset, Senior Advisor, Office of Governor Kelly Armstrong
- Annie Newman, Director of Digital Strategy, Office of Governor Josh Shapiro
- Ian O’Grady, Policy Advisor, Office of Governor Hobbs
- Leigh Otey, Senior Manager, Deloitte
- Joshua Richardson, Commissioner, Indiana Department of Workforce Development
- Livia Shmavonian, Senior Advisor and Deputy Cabinet Secretary, Office of California Governor Gavin Newsom
- Sarah Swanson, Commissioner, Montana Department of Labor and Industry
- Courtney Taylor, Executive Director, AccelerateMS
- Deniece Thomas, Commissioner, Tennessee Department of Labor and Workforce Development
For more information on the work NGA and states are doing to advance workforce and economic development activities please visit the Workforce Development and Economic Policy page.
