Mission:
Elevate local workforce efforts with critical insights, researched guidance, innovative funding, and strategic partnership.
Vision:
Cultivating a flourishing Spokane together by creating skilled employees, thriving businesses, and a strong community.
Values:
Leadership, Innovation, Excellence, Flexibility, Learning, Professionalism and Mission Driven.
Our Work
Mission Statement
We are a non-profit organization whose mission is to elevate local workforce efforts with critical insights, researched guidance, innovative funding, and strategic partnership – so that we can cultivate a flourishing Spokane, together.
Our Vision:
To cultivate a flourishing Spokane, together — drives everything we do. We champion leadership, innovation, excellence, flexibility, learning, and professionalism as we invest in people, businesses, and communities.
Our Commitment
Our Campus
WorkSource Spokane One-Stop Campus is the heart of workforce development in our region — bringing together a powerful network of services under one campus. Our campus includes three specialized centers: WorkSource Spokane, Talent Solutions by WorkSource Spokane, and the Next Generation Zone.
One Campus, One Stop!
Each center offers tailored programs and resources designed to meet the unique needs of job seekers, businesses, and young adults. Whether someone is looking for career coaching, recruitment support, skills training, or youth employment services, they can find it all in one convenient, collaborative campus in Spokane County.
With a human-centered operating philosophy, a remodeled layout, and online tools, WorkSource offers career support to any adult in the County.
Founded in 2007, the Next Generation Zone is the Spokane area’s only career center for young adults, staffed and administered by a partnership of agencies.
Our goal is to help your business thrive. We specialize in helping you find the right talent for your business by partnering with many local agencies and organizations.
As proud partners of the American Job Center Network and equal opportunity employers/programs, we’re committed to accessible services for all. Our One-Stop Campus creates pathways to opportunity and success, empowering Spokane’s workforce through connection, innovation, and expertise.*****
Learn more: American Job Center
Important Dates
Below is a historical timeline of our company and work in Spokane County.
- 1990sSpokane Employment & Training Consortium established as a department within the City of Spokane under the Job Training Partnership Act (JTPA) of 1982.
- 1998The Workforce Investment Act (WIA) of 1998 is enacted and modernizes the workforce development system. The Spokane Workforce Council (SWC) is founded as a Local Workforce Board and led by the private sector. WorkSource Spokane is started as part of the nationwide network of One-Stop Career Centers where job seekers and businesses access a wide range of services.
- 2007The Next Generation Zone is created and established, bringing together multiple partners providing GED instruction and young adult career services into one place.
- 2009The SWC receives funding from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act to support recession recovery such as funding more young adult career services and a large-scale summer internship program. The Next Generation Zone moves into its current space and is the first and only dedicated young adult career center in Spokane County.
- 2012The SWC relocates from Spokane City Hall to the Spokane Community College campus. The SWC CEO also becomes Chief Workforce Officer for the Community Colleges of Spokane and leads the College’s Center for Workforce and Continuing Education.
- 2013The SWC becomes a non-profit organization and receives first private (non-federal/state) funding to support workforce development.
- 2014Workforce Innovation & Opportunity Act (WIOA) is passed and signed into law. This new workforce legislation brings many positive changes, including more directives for cross agency integration of services and increased flexibility in youth programs.
- 2016Our first One-Stop Operator is hired and staff are trained in customer-centered design principles. Integrated Service Delivery model is launched at WorkSource Spokane.
- 2018The SWC relocates and establishes the WorkSource Spokane Campus which encompasses our administrative offices, WorkSource Spokane, and Next Generation Zone.
- 2019The Resource Center of Spokane County opens, in partnership with Spokane County and the City of Spokane, as a Housing & Urban Development (HUD) Envision Center. In its first year, it serves over 3,000 individuals with social, health, and pre-employment services.
- 2020The COVID-19 pandemic shifts all workforce services to virtual delivery. The SWC partners with the City of Spokane and Spokane County and receives over $3 million in grant funds to support emergency rental assistance to keep people in their homes and pay utility bills during the pandemic.
- 2023The Reconnect2Work Childcare Investment Initiative is created with two grants totaling $3.5 million – American Rescue Plan Act funds from Spokane County and a congressionally directed spending allocation from U.S. Senator Patty Murray. The SWC and partners support working families by paying childcare tuition for over 400 families over a 2-year period and train and connect more workers to jobs in this critical industry.
- 2024The Resource Center of Spokane County consolidates into WorkSource Spokane with partners Pioneer Human Services and CHAS Health joining the team to offer a more diverse array of services to customers.