Workforce Programs & Partners

Snohomish County offers employers a coordinated network of workforce development organizations, training providers, and hiring partners — plus access to state training grants and customized upskilling programs. Whether you're recruiting your first local hires or scaling a manufacturing line, these partners help build and sustain your team.

Workforce Partners

Local Workforce Development Board

Future Workforce Alliance (FWA)

Snohomish County's official Local Workforce Development Board, designated in 2020. Comprising leaders from business, labor, education, and government, the FWA sets strategy and oversight for the county's workforce development system and directs the long-term workforce plan. It subcontracts day-to-day operations and WIOA program delivery to Workforce Snohomish.

snohomishcountywa.gov/Future-Workforce-Alliance

Operations & WIOA Delivery

Workforce Snohomish

Under contract to the Future Workforce Alliance, Workforce Snohomish serves as the operating organization and WIOA grant subrecipient, managing the WorkSource system and delivering the board's strategy. Connects people to jobs, businesses to trained workers, and individuals to education and training.

workforcesnohomish.org

Job Seeker & Employer Services

WorkSource Snohomish County

The public workforce system's local access point, providing recruitment support, job posting, candidate screening, hiring events, and layoff-aversion / rapid-response services for employers at no cost.

worksourcewa.com

Economic Development

Economic Alliance Snohomish County (EASC)

The county's Associate Development Organization. EASC connects employers to workforce data, training partners, and incentives, and coordinates business retention and expansion support across the talent ecosystem.

economicalliancesc.org

STEM & Career-Connected Learning

Snohomish STEM Network

An EASC-supported initiative and the county's trusted convener of career-connected learning, linking K-12 schools, higher education, and employers to build the future STEM and advanced-manufacturing workforce. Programs include STEM Like Me!, ECHO Tour, and Spring into STEM. Employers can engage as classroom volunteers, program sponsors, or career-exploration hosts.

snohomishstem.org

Manufacturing Extension

Impact Washington

The state's MEP (Manufacturing Extension Partnership) affiliate, offering manufacturers help with workforce training, process improvement, and continuous-improvement / lean programs.

impactwashington.org

Registered Apprenticeship

Aerospace Joint Apprenticeship Committee (AJAC)

Washington's largest registered apprenticeship organization for advanced manufacturing — training roughly 80% of the state's manufacturing apprentices. AJAC offers employer-driven youth apprenticeships, adult registered apprenticeships, and the pre-apprenticeship Manufacturing Academy in occupations such as machinist, aircraft mechanic, and production technician. In Snohomish County, AJAC partners with the Sno-Isle TECH Skills Center on youth apprenticeship and has run its Manufacturing Academy locally since 2024. Programs are largely no-cost to participating employers.

ajactraining.org

Innovation & Manufacturing Support

Northwest Innovation Resource Center (NWIRC)

A nonprofit serving Snohomish and the broader northwest Washington region, NWIRC supports entrepreneurs, startups, and manufacturers with business growth strategy, continuous-improvement and process coaching, and customized workforce training and skill development. It also runs programs connecting manufacturers with students and educators to build the future talent pipeline.

nwirc.org

Government Contracting

Washington APEX Accelerator (Region 4)

Supports businesses pursuing government contracts, including workforce and capability development for firms scaling into federal, state, and defense supply chains.

https://www.economicalliancesc.org/services/government-contracting

Tribal Workforce

Tulalip Tribes / TERO & TTFC

The Tulalip Tribes' employment rights and enterprise organizations support workforce training and hiring pathways, and are key regional partners for employers in north county.

https://www.tulaliptero.com/

Community-Based Workforce

Latino Educational Training Institute (LETI)

A Snohomish County nonprofit advancing education, workforce readiness, and economic opportunity for the Latino community. LETI partners with colleges and employers on culturally and linguistically responsive training, pre-apprenticeship, and career pathways — helping employers reach and support a broader talent pool.

letiwa.org

Community Career Resources

Sno-Isle Libraries

The regional library system provides free career and job-search resources, digital-skills training, and digital-equity programs across Snohomish County — a community-level support layer for job seekers and workers building new skills.

sno-isle.org

Training Programs & Grants

Funding and programs to build your team

Employers in Snohomish County can access a range of training resources — from state-funded customized training to registered apprenticeships and college-employer partnerships.

  • Customized / incumbent-worker training — Local colleges (Everett, Edmonds, Cascadia) design employer-specific training and upskilling programs, often delivered on-site.
  • Registered apprenticeships — Earn-and-learn pathways in advanced manufacturing, aerospace, construction trades, healthcare, and IT. In aerospace and advanced manufacturing, AJAC is the primary statewide provider, partnering with local colleges and the Sno-Isle TECH Skills Center.
  • Washington Aerospace Training & Research (WATR) Center — Short-cycle, job-ready training for aerospace assembly and manufacturing roles.
  • Sector partnerships — Industry-led talent pipelines convened through Workforce Snohomish in aerospace/advanced manufacturing, healthcare, and construction.
  • State training grants — Programs such as the Washington Customized Training Program and Job Skills Program can offset the cost of training new or existing workers.
  • Hiring & rapid-response services — No-cost recruitment, screening, and layoff-aversion support through WorkSource.
One point of contact: EASC helps employers navigate this network — identifying the right training partners, applicable grants, and hiring resources for your specific needs. Contact our team to get connected.

Build and grow your workforce here

Economic Alliance Snohomish County provides free connections to workforce partners, training programs, and hiring support. Reach our team at economicalliancesc.org. See also our Talent & Demographics and Education pages.

Sources