Third Sector and U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation Announce Four-State Cohort to Develop Lifelong Learning Account (LiLA) Pilots

This month, Third Sector and the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation announced the selection of four state cross-sector teams in Indiana, Michigan, Tennessee, and Texas into the National Lifelong Learning Account (LiLA) cohort. Participants will design innovative LiLA pilots for their states, which will provide working people with access to education and training opportunities to grow, or build new careers.

LiLAs are a new concept for financing education and training. These accounts enable individuals to get the education, upskilling to deepen existing skills in a chosen field, and/or re-skilling to learn a new trade or industry, opening doors to higher-paying jobs and economic opportunities. Unlike employer-sponsored training programs conditional on employment, LiLAs are envisioned as universal, portable accounts, empowering individuals to control their learning and career path. With the flexibility to use public and private funds, including matched contributions, LiLAs empower individuals with more choices and agency in their educational pursuits.  

 “This unique partnership we are launching with the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation is a tremendous opportunity to help states develop innovative solutions to improve the education and training outcomes of working people in their communities,” said Caroline Whistler, CEO and Co-Founder of Third Sector. “These kinds of innovations have the potential to set millions of people on the path to greater economic mobility and can ensure employers can find the skilled workers they need.”

Each team comprises a group of cross-sector partners — including government, business, and community-based organizations — who bring their expertise to build a collaborative pilot with the cohort that meets the needs of individuals and other key stakeholders.

“Innovations like LiLAs can be leveraged by individuals and employers to more easily and routinely invest in upskilling and reskilling,” said Jason Tyszko, U.S. Chamber of Commerce senior vice president. “Bringing these accounts to more workers and employers will help ensure our workforce continues to be competitive while also outfitted with the resources needed to prepare for the future of work.” 

How It Works:

  • Mentorship: Third Sector will train each state team to design and develop LiLA pilot implementation plans using its expertise in supporting public sector partners to build outcomes-focused programs. 
  • Technical Assistance: The U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation will provide additional technical assistance and training for the cross-sector teams on best practices and strategies for advancing public-private finance innovations like LiLAs. 
  • 1:1 Coaching Support: Each team will also receive one-on-one coaching support to help them customize their LiLA pilots to local contexts and populations of focus. 

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About Third Sector

Third Sector is a national nonprofit helping to unlock possibility, confront inequity, and catalyze change to the benefit of the people and places our government, community-based, and philanthropic partners serve. We are a technical assistance organization that advises our government agencies on effective ways to reshape their policies, systems, and services toward better outcomes for all people, no matter their race, background, and circumstances. Founded in 2011, Third Sector is a 501(c)3 organization that has worked with more than 50 communities to deploy more than $1.8 billion of government resources toward outcomes.

About the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation  

The U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation harnesses the power of business to create solutions for the good of America and the world. We anticipate, develop, and deploy solutions to challenges facing communities—today and tomorrow. 

Learn more about the workforce development and training portfolio here.