The BlackRock Foundation is supporting Heartland Forward’s ongoing work to build a robust talent pipeline inclusive of skilled workforce in the middle of the country.
BENTONVILLE, Ark. – Today at the 2026 Heartland Summit, Heartland Forward announced a new partnership with The BlackRock Foundation focused on expanding pathways to skilled careers for students. The partnership will help connect more young people to the skills, training and opportunities they need to build careers close to home, while helping communities develop the workforce needed to compete and grow.
With support from The BlackRock Foundation, Heartland Forward will identify priority skilled-trade needs in communities, strengthen connections among students, employers and training providers, expand access to career exploration and training opportunities and raise awareness of skilled-trade careers through storytelling and convenings in the middle of the country.
“America’s skilled trades gap is growing, and employers across the country are struggling to find the electricians, welders, mechanics, and technicians needed to support economic growth and build the infrastructure our communities depend on,” said John Kelly, Global Head of Corporate Affairs at BlackRock. “We need to move faster to connect more people to these family sustaining careers and expand access to training. Heartland Forward is helping create new pathways into the trades, especially in rural communities, and we’re proud to support its work to strengthen local workforces, expand opportunity, and help the next generation succeed.”
The partnership connects two of Heartland Forwards’s core capabilities— building a robust talent pipeline for communities and employers and connecting rural students to quality job opportunities.
Heartland Forward’s Center for Investment Readiness will lead the community and employer work, using state-specific workforce data and direct engagement to identify the skilled occupations most critical to regional economic growth. rootEd Alliance will lead the student-facing work, helping rural students understand the skilled workforce careers and earning opportunities available in their regions and connecting them to the training, apprenticeships, credentials and employers that can help them pursue those careers.
“Partnerships are a big part of how we get things done at Heartland Forward, and the best ones are built around a shared goal,” said Krista Cupp, executive vice president of partnerships and events at Heartland Forward. “BlackRock’s Future Builders initiative is focused on expanding access to skilled careers, which aligns directly with the work we’re already doing across the heartland. Together, we have an opportunity to connect more young people to good jobs while helping communities build the workforce they need to grow.”
For more information on Heartland Forward’s work to build a robust talent pipeline, please visit www.heartlandforward.org/talent-pipeline/.
About Heartland Forward
Heartland Forward is a non-profit, policy think-and-do tank that turns ideas into action for states and local communities. Our mission is to accelerate economic growth, change the narrative about the middle of the country and generate $500 million of economic impact to the heartland by 2030. We do this through applied research, community-driven programs, policy and convenings—focusing on regional competitiveness, talent pipeline and health and wellness.
About BlackRock
BlackRock’s purpose is to help more and more people experience financial well-being. As a fiduciary to investors and a provider of financial technology, we help millions of people build savings that serve them throughout their lives by making investing easier and more affordable. For additional information on BlackRock, please visit www.blackrock.com/corporate.
About The BlackRock Foundation
Guided by BlackRock’s purpose to help more and more people experience financial well-being, The BlackRock Foundation funds and partners with organizations that strengthen financial security by helping people earn, save and invest – earlier, more often and for their futures.
About The Heartland Summit
The Heartland Summit was co-founded by Olivia and Tom Walton and Steuart Walton in 2018 to kick-start economic growth and help change the narrative about the middle of the country. The Summit is a forum for frank conversation about our shared challenges, creating positive action and strengthening connections.