What is braided funding in workforce development?

Braided funding refers to the practice of combining multiple funding streams — such as federal workforce grants, state dollars, employer contributions, and philanthropic support — into a single, coordinated program. This approach allows workforce development organizations to sustain and scale training programs without depending on any one source. It also enables more flexibility to serve diverse populations with varying needs.

Why are traditional community college pathways considered insufficient?

Research from the Center for Community College Student Engagement found that 42 percent of community college students do not complete their programs. Many programs lack direct connections to employer needs or clear career outcomes, leaving students without credentials or jobs. This gap has accelerated interest in alternative, employer-aligned training models.

What role do inclusive partnerships play in workforce development?

Inclusive partnerships bring together employers, community colleges, nonprofits, and government agencies to co-design training programs that reflect real labor market demand. These collaborations help ensure that underserved populations — including low-income workers and people of color — have access to career pathways with living-wage outcomes. By aligning incentives across sectors, inclusive partnerships increase both program quality and participant success rates.

The New Formula for Workforce and Talent De...

The New Formula for Workforce and Talent Development: Inclusive Partnerships, Braided Funding, and Career-Aligned Training

Workforce development systems are under growing pressure to produce equitable, career-aligned outcomes as traditional community college pathways fall short for many learners. The article explores how inclusive partnerships, braided funding models, and training tied directly to career goals are emerging as a new formula for effective talent development. These approaches aim to increase completion rates, employer alignment, and economic mobility for underserved populations.

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By Ron Stefanski · May 9, 2025, 11:00 AM UTCMidwest Urban StrategiesSandy MeadSkilltradeTracey Carey

Key takeaways

42% of community college students fail to complete programs, signaling a need for more career-aligned training models.

Braided funding — combining public, private, and philanthropic dollars — allows workforce programs to scale without relying on a single source.

Inclusive partnerships between employers, nonprofits, and educational institutions are central to building pathways that meet both learner and labor market needs.

Across the country, workforce development systems are under pressure to deliver better outcomes in an economy that demands speed, flexibility, and equity. Traditional pathways, such as community college without clear career prospects, no longer serve enough people well. A report by the Center for Community College Student Engagement found that 42 percent of community college students reported their colleges taught them “very little” or “not at all” about in-demand jobs in their regions, highlighting a disconnect between education and workforce needs. As employers seek adaptable, job-ready candidates, there is growing demand for more agile and inclusive talent development strategies.

How can cities and regions build smarter, more inclusive systems to prepare people for jobs that exist right now and those emerging tomorrow?

On DisruptED, host Ron Stefanski features Sandy Mead, the Vice President of Workforce Development at Skilltrade, and Tracey Carey, CEO of Midwest Urban Strategies. Together, they unpack how innovative partnerships, braided funding models, and career-aligned education are reshaping workforce and talent development in Detroit and beyond.

Key Points from the Episode:

Braided funding and employer partnerships create practical pathways: Programs involving partners like Focus Hope show how aligning training with employer needs leads to stronger outcomes.
Stackable credentials build career agility: Carey emphasizes the importance of enabling workers to grow across sectors, especially in fast-changing fields like healthcare.
Innovation must be community-centered: The episode highlights how regional collaboration across states like Missouri, Kansas, and Georgia fuels scalable, inclusive workforce solutions.

Sandy Mead is a seasoned workforce development strategist with over two decades of experience designing training programs in healthcare and IT. She has held leadership roles at Skilltrade, Metrix Learning, and MedCerts, where she focused on aligning employer needs with online and hybrid learning solutions that lead to nationally recognized certifications. Her expertise lies in building strategic partnerships and expanding access to career-aligned training for underrepresented and unemployed populations across the U.S.

Tracey Carey is the CEO of Midwest Urban Strategies, where she leads multi-state workforce collaborations focused on innovation, funding, and inclusive career pathways. She brings over two decades of expertise in strategic planning, organizational leadership, and program development across workforce, education, and youth services. As founder of People Capital, Inc., Carey has supported public-private initiatives that align training systems with labor market needs in healthcare and beyond.