SECTION 1. PURPOSE.

This Order establishes and prescribes the functions of the Department of Commerce (the Department) Skills for Business Coordination Council (SBCC).

SECTION 2. AUTHORITY.

This Order is issued under the authority of 5 U.S.C. 301, 302 and 15 U.S.C. 1511, 1512.

SECTION 3. POLICY.

.01 The Department fosters and promotes economic development and technological advancement in the United States and represents the business community in federal policymaking. Consistent with this overarching departmental mission, the Federal Government's Job-Driven Training Agenda and commitment to career and technical education, and the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act, 29 U.S.C. 3101 et seq., the Department is partnering with external stakeholders, the Departments of Labor and Education, and agencies across the Federal Government to align workforce and economic development; target skills training to high growth industries; improve labor market information; and develop and promote business-led regional partnerships that lead to quality career paths.

Given the Department's skills development efforts are cross-bureau and inter-agency, the SBCC will act as a single coordinating body internally and at the inter-agency level. The SBCC focuses on new and ongoing skills development initiatives across the Department, which are integral to bureaus' goals and missions to, among other things:

a. Create conditions for economic growth and opportunity.

b. Support 21st century skills development.

c. Cultivate capacity building.

d. Strengthen innovation and U.S. manufacturing.

e. Support cybersecurity standards and best practices.

f.Promote trade and foreign direct investment.

g.Produce and disseminate data.

.02 The Economic Development Administration (EDA) invests in the intellectual and physical infrastructure needed for a successful marriage of economic and workforce development and the sustained innovation and competitiveness of American communities.

.03 The National Institute of Standards and Technology's (NIST's) Hollings Manufacturing Extension Partnership (MEP) oversees a nationwide network of centers offering services tailored to small and medium manufacturers' needs-ranging from process improvement and workforce development to business practices. The National Initiative for Cybersecurity Education (NICE) led by NIST, is a partnership between Federal agencies, industry, educational institutions, National Laboratories, the Networking and Information Technology Research and Development program, and other organizations to promote cybersecurity education, training and workforce development.

.04 SelectUSA collaborates with the Department of Labor to connect foreign investors with national and local workforce ecosystems because access to a skilled workforce is essential for businesses that wish to establish or expand operations in the United States.

.05 Minority Business Development Agency (MBDA) focuses on capacity building and job creation for minority businesses by addressing issues of access to capital, contracting, and global markets through its national network of business centers.

.06 The Economics and Statistics Administration (ESA) oversees two major statistical agencies-the Census Bureau and Bureau of Economic Analysis-as well as the Office of the Chief Economist. Together, these units produce labor market statistics through the annual American Community Survey and other programs and research reports that inform policymaking within the Administration.

.07 Within the Office of the Secretary, the Office of Policy and Strategic Planning (OPSP) oversees policy planning and coordinates policy implementation across the Department. The Office of Business Liaison strategically engages the business community on behalf of the Secretary of Commerce and works with the bureaus to monitor and coordinate business communication across the Department. The Office of Public Affairs advises on public engagement. And the Office of the Chief Data Officer engages on data-driven solutions and coordinates data dissemination.

SECTION 4. FUNCTIONS.

.01 The operational goal of the SBCC is to manage labor market and workforce-related policy matters in a consensus-based manner that reflects and serves the needs of Department stakeholders and is consistent with the Job-Driven Training Agenda and related departmental policy priorities.

.02 The SBCC will coordinate efforts to develop and implement workforce policy and initiatives across the Department and in conjunction with other federal agencies. For example, the SBCC will formulate and advise on policy matters that implicate the responsibilities of multiple bureaus or are of direct interest to the Secretary or Deputy Secretary.

.03 The SBCC will coordinate the Department's labor market information dissemination and advise on the Department's research agenda in conjunction with relevant bureau leadership.

.04 The SBCC will establish and coordinate outreach strategies to disseminate information internally and externally on departmental workforce-related activities, data, and research in conjunction with relevant bureau leadership.

.05 The SBCC will perform other coordinating and integrating functions, as necessary, to align workforce and economic development; target skills training to high growth industries; and develop and promote business-led regional partnerships that lead to pathways to middle-class careers.

.06 Nothing in this Order is meant to limit the authority of the bureaus and other units to develop workforce-related initiatives and activities within their jurisdiction.

SECTION 5. STRUCTURE AND OPERATION.

.01 The SBCC will be co-chaired by the Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Economic Development and the Chief of Staff to the Secretary of Commerce, or their designees.

.02 The principal members of the SBCC will include the co-chairs, bureau heads of ESA, MBDA and NIST, and the SelectUSA Executive Director. Principal members may appoint their designees and NIST designees should have representation from the MEP and the NICE program.

.03 The principal members of the SBCC also will include representatives from the Office of the Secretary's OPSP, Office of Business Liaison, Office of Public Affairs, and Office of the Chief Data Officer. As needed to carry out specific initiatives, the SBCC will include senior staff from these and other units whose authorities and mission support developing 21st century skills of the U.S. workforce to meet the skill needs of employers and collecting and disseminating information about the U.S. labor market.

.04 The SBCC co-chairs or their designees must jointly agree to add other persons as principal members.

.05 The SBCC, including principal member designees, will meet on at least a monthly basis and principal members will meet on at least a yearly basis. The SBCC may create sub-groups as needed and assign personnel with relevant expertise to specific issue areas, as nominated by the SBCC and jointly agreed upon by the SBCC co-chairs or their designees.

.06 The EDA co-chair will provide secretariat support, including the responsibility for calling SBCC meetings on a regular basis during which SBCC activities will be reviewed and at which Department work on related matters will be coordinated.

.07 The Chief of Staff co-chair will provide the SBCC guidance on Secretary and Deputy Secretary interests and will assure cross-Department collaboration and inter-agency representation.

Signed By: Secretary of Commerce