The National Governors Association (NGA) Center for Best Practices hosted its Biannual Workforce Development Policy Institute in Billings, Montana, from August 13 to 15, bringing together workforce policy advisors, agency leaders, and board chairs from 37 states and territories. The event focused on aligning education, employment, and economic development strategies to meet evolving labor market demands. Montana Governor Greg Gianforte introduced the 406 JOBS initiative, an executive-order-driven framework designed to establish four clear employment pathways while eliminating obstacles to workforce participation, particularly in six high-demand sectors. The plan also addresses challenges unique to rural regions and aims to reintegrate individuals who have disengaged from the labor market. Discussions featured insights from state officials, including Sarah Swanson of Montana and Heather Hudson of Washington, alongside Kris Goddard from the Schultz Family Foundation, who presented findings from the report “The Broken Marketplace,” highlighting gaps between employer needs and educational offerings for youth. A recurring theme was the transformative role of artificial intelligence in reshaping job markets. Sessions included Dr. Ronnie Chatterji, OpenAI’s Chief Economist, and Annie Newman from Pennsylvania’s governor’s office, who discussed integrating AI tools like ChatGPT into public sector workflows. Another panel spotlighted NVIDIA’s collaboration with Mississippi through a memorandum of understanding aimed at expanding AI education and workforce training. Participants also toured Red Oxx, a local manufacturer, to observe how AI is being adopted in production and how public workforce systems can support talent acquisition. Additional topics included modernizing workforce governance, strengthening talent pipelines, expanding registered apprenticeships, and improving career navigation systems. Attendees received an overview of NGA Chair Governor Kevin Stitt’s 2025–2026 initiative, “Reigniting the American Dream,” which promotes economic mobility through entrepreneurship, innovation, and education reform. The gathering underscored a shared commitment to building inclusive, future-ready labor systems.
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NGA Convenes State Workforce Leaders in Montana to Advance Pathways to Work, Unlock Economic Opportunity, and Harness the Power of AI
The NGA Center for Best Practices (NGA Center) hosted its Biannual Workforce Development Policy Institute in Billings, Montana from August 13th – 15th.
The Institute convened Governor’s workforce development policy advisors, leaders of state workforce agencies, and Governors’ workforce development board chairs from 37 states and territories. Attendees discussed recent workforce development policy changes made in their states and territories, engaged in issue-specific dialogue with national experts and industry leaders, and shared best practices for strategic investment in workforce development.
During the Institute, Montana Governor Greg Gianforte highlighted his recently released 406 JOBS initiative, a unifying framework for the state workforce system launched by executive order on August 11, 2025. 406 JOBS seeks to create 4 pathways to employment and 0 barriers to work, focused on 6 high-demand sectors.
The plan will help industry, government, and community groups better align for the advancement of these goals. Governor Gianforte also stressed the unique challenges faced by states and territories with rural populations and emphasized his commitment to lowering barriers to work for those who have left the labor force.
Following Governor Gianforte’s remarks, Montana Department of Labor and Industry Commissioner Sarah Swanson joined Heather Hudson, Deputy Policy Director for Washington Governor Bob Ferguson, to discuss their states’ efforts to engage young people in education and employment opportunities that provide pathways sustainable careers. The discussion also included remarks and insights from Kris Goddard, Program Officer at the Schultz Family Foundation, on a new report – The Broken Marketplace – that details misalignment between employers and education in the context of how today’s youth view opportunities for work. The discussion highlighted how different types of pathways, including apprenticeship, can be used to engage disconnected youth in career opportunities.
Progress in artificial intelligence and its impact on the future of work was a theme throughout the Institute, with one session featuring Dr. Ronnie Chatterji, the Chief Economist for OpenAI alongside Annie Newman, the Director of Digital Strategy in the Office of Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro. The conversation covered both OpenAI’s perspective on the impacts of AI on the labor market as well as Pennsylvania’s pilot program to empower public sector employees to integrate ChatGPT into their daily job responsibilities. Another session featuring Tiffani Alvidrez, Strategic Initiatives for Public Sector Innovation Ecosystem Expansion at NVIDIA and Courtney Taylor, the Executive Director of AccelerateMS, highlighted the memorandum of understanding between NVIDIA and Mississippi to expand AI education, invest in workforce development and encourage innovation in Mississippi.
Participants also toured Red Oxx – a manufacturing business in Billings which produces outdoor and travel equipment. Attendees learned about the businesses’ evolving workforce needs, the integration of artificial intelligence into manufacturing practices, and how public workforce systems may support local businesses in talent attraction and retention.
Other topics discussed over three days of programming include:
the importance of artificial intelligence to the future of work,
strategies to improve public workforce system structures and governance,
alignment of talent pipelines to promote economic development,
the creation and utilization of effective career navigation systems,
registered apprenticeship expansion and implementation, and
strategies for meaningful engagement between public sector systems and employers.
Attendees were also given a preview of the National Governors Association 2025 – 2026 Chair’s Initiative, Reigniting the American Dream, led by NGA Chair Oklahoma Governor Kevin Stitt. Included in the initiative are goals related to unlocking economic opportunity through entrepreneurship, innovation and economic mobility, as well as reimagining education to equip every learner with the skills needed to thrive in the modern economy.
Additional panels and remarks included experts from across the country. Featured speakers included:
David Alstadt, Director, Policy Campaigns, JFF
Tiffani Alvidrez, Strategic Initiatives for Public Sector Innovation Ecosystem Expansion, NVIDIA
Ellie Booth, Senior Manager, Public Policy, Amazon
Dr. Ronnie Chatterji, Chief Economist, OpenAI
Kris Goddard, Program Officer, Schultz Family Foundation
Heather Hudson, Deputy Policy Director, Office of Washington Governor Bob Ferguson
Maria Neset, Senior Advisor, Office of Governor Kelly Armstrong
Annie Newman, Director of Digital Strategy, Office of Governor Josh Shapiro
Ian O’Grady, Policy Advisor, Office of Governor Hobbs
Leigh Otey, Senior Manager, Deloitte
Joshua Richardson, Commissioner, Indiana Department of Workforce Development
Livia Shmavonian, Senior Advisor and Deputy Cabinet Secretary, Office of California Governor Gavin Newsom
Sarah Swanson, Commissioner, Montana Department of Labor and Industry
Courtney Taylor, Executive Director, AccelerateMS
Deniece Thomas, Commissioner, Tennessee Department of Labor and Workforce Development