Workforce Development, Higher Education & Economic Policy

Governors are working to expand economic opportunity and advance the nation’s global competitiveness by developing the skilled workforce and economic environment required for individuals, businesses and communities to thrive.

As the chief executive officers of their states, Governors set strategic priorities to align workforce and economic development activities to build a shared vision of societal and economic well-being. The NGA Workforce Development & Economic Policy program supports Governors and their appointees in developing and executing on these priorities.

NGA Workforce Development Technical Assistance Program

NGA provides advisors and other Governor-appointed state workforce system leaders with technical assistance on a broad range of workforce development policy issues through policy memoranda; in-state site visits and presentations, and facilitated connections with subject matter experts. The team also holds biannual convenings and monthly briefings and issues a weekly newsletter.


Workforce Strategic Planning Collaborative

The NGA Center’s joint project with the U.S. Department of Labor supports Governors and their advisors as they develop and implement their federally required four-year strategic plans for workforce development. Technical assistance offerings include an emphasis on implementation of federal investments that passed during the 117th Congress, namely the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, CHIPS and Science Act, and Inflation Reduction Act.


NGA Economic Policy Advisors and Economic Policy Technical Assistance

NGA provides Governor-appointed state economic development leaders and advisors with highly responsive and customized best practice research, strategic planning facilitation, timely information from federal partners and subject matter experts, and other support on a broad range of economic policy priorities. This includes an upcoming virtual event series as well as a bi-weekly newsletter.

Meet The Team

  • Sophia Yager, Policy Director, Workforce Development & Economic Policy
  • Malena Dailey, Senior Policy Analyst
  • Kyra Gardner, Policy Coordinator

Focus Areas

  • Apprenticeship and youth apprenticeship
  • Sector-focused workforce and economic development strategies
  • Workforce development financing, governance, and innovation
  • Outdoor recreation & economic development  
  • Service-to-career pathways and public sector employment
  • IIJA, CHIPS and IRA implementation Future of work, digital transformation and digital skills
  • Disability inclusive workforce policy

Services Available

  • Strategic planning facilitation and best practice guidance on workforce and economic development topics or initiatives
  • Strategic guidance, feedback and meeting facilitation services for Governor-appointed state workforce development boards
  • Convenings for workforce and economic development advisors and state leaders on emerging issues
  • Regular newsletters for state workforce and economic development leaders
  • Customized research briefs and best practice presentations upon request

Workforce Development Library

Marketing, Outreach, and Creative Funding for SNAP E&T

Marketing, Outreach, and Creative Funding for SNAP E&T

Last month the SNAP E&T Policy Academy held a webinar to look at marketing, outreach, and creative funding for SNAP E&T programs. (Download Slides) States and territories continue to prioritize ...
Building the Skills Infrastructure States Need

Building the Skills Infrastructure States Need

How NGA and AIR Are Advancing Skills-Based Practices in the Public Sector Across the country, governors and other state leaders are rethinking how they attract, hire, and retain talent. Since ...
Governor Strategies to Align Economic Development and Energy Planning

Governor Strategies to Align Economic Development and Energy Planning

In June of 2025, the National Governors Association and McKinsey & Company, with support from the U.S. Department of Energy Office of Electricity, partnered to host the Experts Roundtable on ...
NGA Launches Working Group on AI & the Future of Work

NGA Launches Working Group on AI & the Future of Work

Washington, D.C. – The National Governors Association Center for Best Practices (NGA Center), in partnership with Center for Civic Futures and McKinsey & Company, launched the Working Group on AI ...
Good Jobs, Strong States: How Governors Are Building Opportunity in 2026

Good Jobs, Strong States: How Governors Are Building Opportunity in 2026

Workforce and economic development are at the top of Governors’ agendas in 2026. Governors are making investments to attract and expand businesses in key sectors, increasing education and training opportunities ...
Governors’ Workforce Development Efforts in 2025

Governors’ Workforce Development Efforts in 2025

Throughout 2025, Governors across the nation demonstrated extraordinary leadership in transforming workforce development systems to meet the evolving needs of their states. From expanding apprenticeship programs to strengthening career pathways, ...
EV Workforce Collaborative Resource Hub

EV Workforce Collaborative Resource Hub

The National Governors Association and the National League of Cities partnered to launch the State and Local Collaborative to Support an Inclusive Workforce for the Electric Vehicle Charing Sector (EV ...
NGA Convenes State Leaders in Utah to Advance Service-to-Career Pathways 

NGA Convenes State Leaders in Utah to Advance Service-to-Career Pathways 

The National Governors Association Center for Best Practices (NGA Center), in partnership with the Schultz Family Foundation and Annie E. Casey Foundation, recently brought together leaders from 24 states to ...
Supporting Workforce Pell Implementation: A Readiness Academy Open to All States and Territories

Supporting Workforce Pell Implementation: A Readiness Academy Open to All States and Territories

The recent expansion of federal Pell Grant eligibility to include high-quality, short-term workforce programs represents a significant opportunity for states and territories to strengthen their education-to-employment pipelines, support working learners ...

Economic Policy Library

Maine – Innovative Travel, Tourism, and Outdoor Recreation Case Study

Maine – Innovative Travel, Tourism, and Outdoor Recreation Case Study

The below case study was developed through a NGA partnership with Oregon State University’s Center for the Outdoor Recreation Economy to research and assess the Travel, Tourism and Outdoor Recreation ...
North Dakota – Innovative Travel, Tourism, and Outdoor Recreation Case Study

North Dakota – Innovative Travel, Tourism, and Outdoor Recreation Case Study

The below case study was developed through a NGA partnership with Oregon State University’s Center for the Outdoor Recreation Economy to research and assess the Travel, Tourism and Outdoor Recreation ...
Hawai‘i – Innovative Travel, Tourism, and Outdoor Recreation Case Study

Hawai‘i – Innovative Travel, Tourism, and Outdoor Recreation Case Study

The below case study was developed through a NGA partnership with Oregon State University’s Center for the Outdoor Recreation Economy to research and assess the Travel, Tourism and Outdoor Recreation ...
West Virginia – Innovative Travel, Tourism, and Outdoor Recreation Case Study

West Virginia – Innovative Travel, Tourism, and Outdoor Recreation Case Study

The below case study was developed through a NGA partnership with Oregon State University’s Center for the Outdoor Recreation Economy to research and assess the Travel, Tourism and Outdoor Recreation ...
Colorado – Innovative Travel, Tourism, and Outdoor Recreation Case Study

Colorado – Innovative Travel, Tourism, and Outdoor Recreation Case Study

The below case study was developed through a NGA partnership with Oregon State University’s Center for the Outdoor Recreation Economy to research and assess the Travel, Tourism and Outdoor Recreation ...
Indiana – Innovative Travel, Tourism, and Outdoor Recreation Case Study

Indiana – Innovative Travel, Tourism, and Outdoor Recreation Case Study

The below case study was developed through a NGA partnership with Oregon State University’s Center for the Outdoor Recreation Economy to research and assess the Travel, Tourism and Outdoor Recreation ...
Innovative Travel, Tourism, and Outdoor Recreation Awards

Innovative Travel, Tourism, and Outdoor Recreation Awards

This report is about the travel, tourism and outdoor recreation (TTOR) grants made by the U.S. Department of Commerce’s Economic Development Administration (EDA) based on the American Rescue Plan Act ...
Navigating the GenAI Frontier: Strategies for Governors’ Offices

Navigating the GenAI Frontier: Strategies for Governors’ Offices

Governors are working to maximize the benefits and mitigate the risks of Artificial Intelligence (AI) and NGA is assisting in identify both. Over the past year we have held a ...
Federal Agency Representatives Join 2024 NGA Summer Meeting

Federal Agency Representatives Join 2024 NGA Summer Meeting

At the 2024 NGA Summer Meeting in Salt Lake City, Utah, representatives from multiple federal agencies held meetings with Governors’ staff members to focus on coordination between state and federal ...
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