27th Annual Conference of the New England Governors and the Eastern Canadian Premiers

WHEREAS, New England and Eastern Canada have among the highest concentration of information technology workers, with major specializations in high skill, high wage information technology occupations, which are integral for the region’s high tech computer, electronics and communications sectors, as well as other industries such as finance, insurance and manufacturing; and

          WHEREAS, the Conference of New England Governors and Eastern Canadian Premiers recognizes the importance of continuing to build the skills of its workforce in information technology to strengthen its ability to compete and sustain the long-term economic growth of the knowledge economy; and

          WHEREAS, the Conference agreed by resolution at the Twenty-sixth Conference to cooperate in addressing regional information technology workforce needs to enhance and build upon state and provincial initiatives already under way; and

          WHEREAS, a highly successful and widely acclaimed conference entitled IT Workforce Development 2002: A Call to Action was convened in Connecticut by Governor John Rowland, under the auspices of the Conference, to discuss key issues such as: workforce development, building educational excellence, career awareness and internships, research and development, technology incubation and commercialization and access to financing in order to build the knowledge economy of New England and Eastern Canada; and

          WHEREAS, significant gaps will persist in meeting the information technology workforce demands in New England and Eastern Canada over the next five to ten years.

          NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED THAT the NEG/ECP recognize the need for regional action to strengthen and achieve synergy among these individual state and provincial efforts in information technology; and

          BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED THAT the Conference propose that initial action steps be taken over the course of the next year in the following areas identified through a process involving policy experts from each member of the Conference. These initial action steps in regional information technology workforce development should involve:

   
• New England and Eastern Canada Setting the IT Standards – Exploring the development of a common set of skill standards and assessment tools for developing and employing future IT professionals;
   
• New England and Eastern Canada I-Talent Index – Improving the workforce information on IT occupations including where are the jobs and what do they require;
   
• Share-IT to Build New England and Eastern Canada IT Workforce – Identifying and sharing best practices in leading IT workforce initiatives, such as internships, curriculum development and career awareness;
   
• New England and Eastern Canada Broadband & Education Technology Infrastructure – Developing an inventory of what exists to ensure all communities are being served and to identify ways to better leverage existing investments in fiber optic lines that may run through communities, but do not offer an "on-ramp" for community access; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED THAT the Conference direct its task force to report at the 28th Annual Conference in 2003.

Adopted at the 27th Annual Conference of New England Governors and Eastern Canadian Premiers, August 25-27, 2002.