State grant helps build healthcare talent pipeline

Editor's Note

A health system in Colorado is benefitting handsomely from Opportunity Now Colorado, a state grant program designed to provide a growing workforce with a variety of new job opportunities.

Intermountain Health, which announced the $1.9 million seed grant in an April 25 press release, will reportedly use the funds to launch Pathfinders, an AI-supported “talent pipeline” designed to engage, hire, and provide upfront tuition coverage for front-line, entry-level healthcare jobs.

Provided through the Colorado Office of Economic Development and International Trade, the funding constitutes one of 43 grants in 17 industries recently announced by Colorado Gov. Jared Polis. The grant benefits job seekers in the Denver and Grand Junction areas, who currently work in jobs in any industry that pays less than $15 per hour, do not have a four-year college degree, or are unemployed.

Job seekers in the Pathfinders pilot program will include nontraditional students, parents, and full-time workers, some of who can benefit from the system’s financial coaching or language skills support. Beginning as certified nursing assistants, medical assistants, or sterile processing technicians, candidates can leverage the system’s mentoring and guided career steps—including upfront tuition for certifications or degrees—to pursue higher-level careers in nursing (including a tract specific to perioperative nursing), imaging, and behavioral health.  

Program participants will utilize the FutureFit AI  platform for job matching. According to the press release, “The platform uses proprietary algorithms to deduce job seekers’ skills and guides discovery of in-demand careers pathways, skills, gaps, relevant learning and resources, and quality job opportunities.” Coaching will help eligible participants navigate Intermountain’s regular hiring process for a critical entry-level job. Intermountain plans to scale the talent pipeline project to other locations after initial implementation in two Colorado counties.