National Network of Sector Partners (NNSP)

What is the National Network of Sector Partners?   

The National Network of Sector Partners (NNSP) is a nation-wide membership organization dedicated to promoting and increasing support for sector initiatives.

Sector initiatives are regional, industry-focused approaches to workforce and economic development that improve access to good jobs and/or increase job quality in ways that strengthen an industry’s workforce. Our vision is that, as a result of investment in sector initiatives, regional economies will have good jobs and plentiful advancement opportunities, all people will have access to these jobs and opportunities, industry sectors important to those regions will provide them, and all communities will share in the resulting economic vitality.

NNSP’s members include sector initiative leaders, policy makers, researchers, business, labor, funders, and supporters. We are guided by a national advisory committee composed of leaders and supporters of sector initiatives.

NNSP's Mission

NNSP promotes the use of sector initiatives and strategies that support them in order to improve employment and economic opportunities for low-income individuals, families, and communities, to strengthen industry sectors that are important to regional labor markets, and to increase regional economic vitality. Our goals are to:

  • Expand the commitment of public and private resources to industry-specific workforce development
  • Achieve the enactment of supportive public policy
  • Raise awareness about the benefits of sector initiatives
  • Increase the quality, capacity, and number of sector initiatives
  • Provide information and resources to those working in the sector field

NNSP works in partnership with local community stakeholders to design, implement, and improve sector initiatives. We also promote effective sector policies that align workforce, economic-development, education, and social service systems.

NNSP provides diverse learning opportunities and resources to help program leaders and policy makers improve their sector work. These include:

  • Conferences and convenings, such as our biennial national conference or regional and topical convenings
  • Publications sharing the latest research, success stories, and industry-specific information
  • Newsletters and e-mail alerts providing information about new policy developments, funding opportunities, and issues of importance to the field
  • Training and support to those implementing or supporting sector projects
  • A dynamic, continually-expanding directory of sector organizations
  • Access to two information clearinghouses: the NNSP member website and www.sectorstrategies.org

NNSP is a project of the Insight Center for Community Economic Development and was founded in 1999 with funding from the Ford, Charles Stewart Mott, Annie E. Casey, and William and Flora Hewlett foundations.