Montana has a $1.5 million grant to speed work on an AI-powered Talent Marketplace, a statewide website meant to help students and job seekers figure out their next step in school or work.
Gov. Greg Gianforte announced the award from Britebound, a nonprofit, at an event in Billings on Oct. 29 with the Department of Labor and Industry and the Montana Chamber of Commerce. The governor’s office said the money will help stitch together existing tools, tighten secure links between education and workforce data, and put credentials, dual enrollment, apprenticeships and job listings in one place. The Northern News Network reported the grant the next day.
“Every Montanan should have a pathway to a career and a plan to achieve it,” Gianforte said. Labor Commissioner Sarah Swanson said the point is to answer a practical question for a student, a parent or a job seeker: “What is my next step?”
Julie Lammers, Britebound’s president and CEO, said young people “need opportunities to understand their strengths, explore their options and see a clear next step.” Todd O’Hair, the state chamber’s president and CEO, said employers should help shape the pathways so they match what businesses actually need. The Montana Chamber Foundation is also a beneficiary of the grant. The Office of Public Instruction, the commissioner of higher education and the State Workforce Innovation Board are listed as partners.
Officials tied the project to Gianforte’s 406 JOBS initiative and said they want it to reach rural and tribal communities. They have not set a date for public access. “Additional information about the Talent Marketplace’s phased rollout and public access will be shared as development progresses,” the announcement said.
Add The Montana Statesman as a preferred source on Google (opens in a new tab)