NSPS has announced a nationwide campaign regarding surveying and geospatial workforce development.
This initiative is designed to help attract the next generation of professional surveyors and technicians. That program begins with a letter-writing campaign by state surveying societies, as well as by local chapters and individual surveyors and firms.
On the NSPS website, a new page for workforce development has been created. On it are two sample letters to urge state and local workforce agencies to place a focus and emphasis on the surveying and geospatial workforce. The first is a sample letter that every state surveying society is urged to use to send to its state Career and Technical Education (CTE) office. Here is the letter VAS Past President Michael Starling sent to Virginia's CTE official.
The second sample letter should be used by chapters of state affiliate societies, or individual surveyors and/or surveying firms, to send to their local workforce development board and office. Included on the top of the letter is a link to the every local workforce board across the nation.
This is the first step in a NSPS effort to attract more individuals into a career in surveying. The Federal government provides more than $2 billion to state and local government for workforce development and career and technical education through the Departments of Labor and Education. These letters are a way for state and local surveying organizations to tap into the benefits of those funds.
Every VAS chapter should write their local workforce board using the directory and sample letter outlined above.
This effort began in VAS and Virginia, thanks to Steve Douty. All chapters should submit letters to their local workforce boards.
Please send a copy of your letter to me so we can track our efforts.
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