Career Development
Advancing workforce development in Lawrence is an integral part of growing and enhancing our economic development. Through career development, we can provide a pool of talent ready to meet the needs of our area’s employers, anticipate future employment trends, attract new businesses, and increase the number of higher-wage jobs that can feed back into the economy.
To build the skills and competencies required by businesses to remain competitive, Lawrence is home to a number of highly respected training institutions and programs to meet the needs of key industries, such as high-tech manufacturing, professional services, and life sciences.
KU Innovation Park
CORE
CORE looks to create and cultivate entrepreneurial talent in Lawrence and Douglas County, whatever the industry or wherever the business is in its development. CORE can assist with the resources and expertise for specific challenges or provide general mentorship or advice for sustainability. Equally important are the opportunities to promote a start-up business at CORE events throughout the year and the chance to develop a strong network and critical connections.
Dwayne Peaslee Technical Training Center
Lawrence Music Alliance
Lawrence Music Alliance offers support to entrepreneurs in music and the creative sector with a variety of professional development and networking opportunities.
Programs have included diversifying revenue streams, marketing and publicity for musicians, networking with industry representatives in management, booking and media, and grant webinars and information sessions. Music Alliance members have successfully received grant funding, been accepted into national programs in creative entrepreneurship, and leveraged outside funding to support industry training in live music venue marketing and administration.
Program partners include the Kansas Arts Commission and Mid-America Arts Alliance, whose professional development programs connect Lawrence creatives with tools to support goal setting, marketing, portfolio career development, and legal and copyright issues, while building a network of artists and creatives to support entrepreneurial growth. LMA has partnered with Lawrence Public Library to connect creative entrepreneurs with the technical resources available through the Sound + Vision studios, providing training in the essential skills required to produce music independently, using local resources.
Future Lawrence Music Alliance programming will include more hands-on training in copyright and music licensing in order to increase revenue and industry participation, more in-depth training in marketing and business development, and continued opportunities to connect and network within the creative sector in Lawrence and across our region.