Given the need to open up work-based learning and employment opportunities for adult learners, it is critical that adult education providers build long-term relationships with employers and demonstrate success from the perspective of the employer. As such, COABE has created the Behind Every Employer campaign; led by an advisory committee of business leaders, the campaign strategically connects companies with education and workforce organizations across the country to provide solutions for the workforce challenges they face. The
campaign website houses a locator map that allows employers to search for local educators and solutions they provide to solve workforce challenges. If your organization is not currently on the map,
you can complete
this form..
COABE will provide an Incentive Grant to an adult education organization that can demonstrate effectiveness in engaging employers in partnership with multiple workforce and education partners. Note that you must register your organization to get on the Behind Every Employer locator map.
COABE will select a winner to receive $2000 to enhance your existing employer engagement project.
The recipient will receive:
- $2000 Award for campaign planning efforts
- Opportunity to present at the 2028 COABE national conference
Award Criteria:
- The application provides evidence that the applicant:
- Involves multiple workforce and education partners in the project.
- Demonstrates the employer's challenge and the need to address it.
- Provides a timeline and tasks that fit the scope of the project.
- Describes in detail the collaboration used to solve the problem.
- Shows that the project resolved the employer's challenge.
- Includes a letter from the employer describing the benefits of the partnership.
Eligibility:
The applicant must be an adult education organization that has successfully completed an employer engagement project that has benefited an employer or group of employers, must be registered on the Behind Every Employer locator map, and must have worked with multiple workforce and education partners. The submission should demonstrate how workforce and education community partners collaborated with the adult education organization to design and deliver a solution to an employer (or group of employers) to solve a workforce challenge facing the company. The applicant cannot be on the COABE Board and cannot apply until two years have elapsed since such service.
Submission Deadline:
Deadline to submit a nomination is December 15, 2026. Any nominations after this date will be applied to our next conference. Note: Self nominations will not be accepted.