Strengthening workforce coordination and career pathways across Alaska.
The AK/Now Workforce Initiative is a one-year pilot that brings together employers, training providers, Tribal organizations, Alaska Native corporations, nonprofits, state agencies, and community partners to better understand Alaska's workforce landscape and identify practical opportunities for collaboration.
AK/Now partners will reconvene on September 9, 2026, to review findings, discuss recommendations, and identify opportunities for collaboration.
Four teams are reviewing workforce resources, barriers, investments, and opportunities within their priority areas.
Employers, training providers, Alaska Native organizations, and community partners gathered for the inaugural workforce convening.
AK/Now is designed to improve coordination among organizations already supporting workforce education, training, readiness, and employment.
Rather than creating a new workforce program, the pilot focuses on understanding existing resources, identifying gaps and duplication, sharing promising practices, and developing recommendations that strengthen pathways into high-demand careers.
Findings from the first year will help participating organizations identify opportunities for immediate action and inform future workforce collaboration.
Partners gathered to discuss workforce needs, training resources, employer demand, and opportunities for stronger coordination.
Teams mapped resources, identified gaps and barriers, shared current investments, and developed initial recommendations.
Partners will review findings, hear recommendations, identify opportunities for collaboration, and discuss next steps.
Participating organizations will review the pilot's findings to help inform future workforce collaboration and action.
Four Focus Area Teams are examining workforce needs, existing resources, barriers, and opportunities within priority career areas.
Exploring training capacity, workforce readiness, credentials, employer demand, and hiring timelines.
Reviewing pathways into commercial driving, logistics, transportation, and related occupations.
Identifying opportunities to strengthen access, readiness, training, and employment connections.
Examining training, certifications, employer expectations, and workforce needs across industries.
The September Reconvening will bring partners back together to hear updates from each Focus Area Team, review collective findings and recommendations, identify opportunities for collaboration and immediate action, and discuss the next phase of the AK/Now Workforce Initiative.
AK/Now builds upon research conducted by The CIRI Foundation to better understand community priorities, workforce interests, training needs, and barriers to participation.
Findings that help inform TCF's programs, partnerships, communications, and strategic priorities.
View the AssessmentInput from CIRI shareholders and descendants about workforce interests, training preferences, readiness, and participation barriers.
View Survey ResultsFindings and recommendations from the one-year pilot will be added as they become available.
The initiative includes representatives from Alaska Native corporations, Tribal organizations, employers, education and training providers, workforce development organizations, state agencies, nonprofits, and other partners committed to strengthening Alaska's workforce.
Contact The CIRI Foundation for additional information about the AK/Now Workforce Initiative.
Contact TCF