Workforce Innovation Awards Nominations

These best practices are collected from annual Workforce Innovation Award nominations. States submit programs, projects, or initiatives, which address a challenge they face, and result in significant performance or service improvements.

2023 - 2024 Association Year Workforce Innovation Award Nominees

Select the links below to view the nominees' submissions. * = Award winner

Winter Workforce Innovation Award Nominees

Data Insights and Innovations Award | This award honors a state workforce agency, or partnership involving a state workforce agency, for achievements related to labor market and workforce information.
- Colorado's WIOA Evaluation Team - Colorado Department of Labor and Employment
- Florida Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) Survey Enhancement Project - Florida Department of Commerce
- Multi-State Data Collaboratives - Missouri Department of Labor and Industrial Relations
- Community Investment Impact Dashboard - Nevada Department of Employment, Training, and Rehabilitation
- NMDWS Energy Transition Act Displaced Worker Assistance Program - New Mexico Department of Workforce Solutions
- Data Analytics Center (DAC) - New York State Department of Labor*
- Occupational Wage Lookup Tool - North Carolina Department of Commerce
- Areas of Substantial Unemployment - Optimizing with R - Ohio Department of Job and Family Services
- Inter/Intra-County Commuting Dashboard - South Carolina Department of Employment and Workforce
- Washington RESEA Control Trial Preliminary Findings - Washington State Employment Security Department
- Workforce Supply Projections Model - Wisconsin Department of Workforce Development
Merrill Baumgardner Innovation in Information Technology Award | This award honors a state demonstrating excellence in the field of information technology.
- Next Generation UIA Multi-Lingual Platform and Fact-Finding Project: Next-GEN Fact Finding - New Mexico Department of Workforce Services
- The New York State Unemployment M-AI-N Attractions: Perkins & Virtual Agent - New York State Department of Labor*
- Enabling Data Driven Government through Data Management, Analytics, and Visualization - North Carolina Department of Commerce
- From Data to Decision; The Futuristic Approach to Labor Force Automation - Tennessee Department of Labor and Workforce Development
- Application Modernization, Transformation, and Innovation - Texas Workforce Commission
- Identity Fraud Detection, Consolidation, and Visualization - Wisconsin Department of Workforce Development
Pinnacle Award for Business Development | This award honors a state workforce agency (or their partnership) for an innovative business services initiative, framework, or effort of national impact, that addresses the employment/workforce needs of businesses at one or several stages (growth, maintenance, downsizing) and results in significant positive impacts for businesses.
- Jobs for Veterans State Grant Unit & Colorado Department of Corrections (CDOC) Fast Track Hiring Events Partnership - Colorado Department of Labor & Employment*
- Maine Employer Summit - Maine Department of Labor
- NCCareers Partnership - North Carolina Department of Commerce
- Workforce Efforts for the Future of Electric Vehicle Manufacturing - South Carolina Department of Employment and
  Workforce
- 47G Hot Jobs - Utah Department of Workforce Services
- Wisconsin Registered Apprenticeship Healthcare Pathways - Wisconsin Department of Workforce Development
Pinnacle Award for Workforce Development | This award recognizes a state workforce agency (or their partnership) for an innovative workforce project, strategy, or initiative that involves assisting certain or all customers with career services and/or the attainment of in-demand skills and credentials, and which results in significant contributions towards the achievement of opportunity for customers.
- RESEA Reimagined Project - Arizona Department of Economic Security
- Reskilling, Upskilling, and Nextskilling (RUN) Programs - Colorado Department of Labor and Employment
- Reemployment Case Management Program (RCM) - Iowa Workforce Development
- Healthcare Training for ME - Maine Department of Labor
- Michigan's Incarcerated Veterans’ In-Reach Program (MIVIP) - Michigan Department of Labor & Economic Opportunity*
- Strengthening the Connection of SNAP Recipients to CareerForce (AJC) Services - Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development
- ROADS (Realizing Opportunities for the American Dream to Succeed) Project - Nevada Department of Employment, Training, and Rehabilitation
- Vibrant, Inclusive, and Prosperous (VIP) Workforce Program - New Hampshire Department of Business and Economic Affairs
- Asylum Seeker Assistance - New York State Department of Labor
- Navigator Program - Ohio Department of Jobs and Family Services
- Economic Security for All - Washington State Employment Security Department
- Workforce Connection Program - Wisconsin Department of Workforce Development
- Apprenticeship Hub - Wyoming Department of Workforce Services
William J. Harris Equal Opportunity Award | This award recognizes a State, or partnership involving a State, for an innovative workforce-related program, project, or initiative which results in significant contributions towards the achievement of equal opportunity and nondiscrimination.
- Louisiana Workforce Commission Statewide Expungement Initiative - Louisiana Workforce Commission*
- New Mainer Workforce Efforts - Maine Department of Labor
- Missouri Workforce EO Monitoring Resource and Technical Assistance Booklets - Missouri Department of Higher Education and Workforce Development
- Vibrant, Inclusive, and Prosperous (VIP) Workforce Program - New Hampshire Department of Business and Economic Affairs
- Equitable Access to Unemployment Insurance Audio Handbook - Oregon Employment Department
- Community Engagement Partners Initiative - Rhode Island Department of Labor and Training
- Worker Misclassification Campaign - Wisconsin Department of Workforce Development