Lifelong Learning Accounts(LiLAs) are educational savings accounts that offer a new way for employers and employees to co-finance education and training. LiLAs encourage employers and employees to leverage scarce financial resources - with an eye toward increasing productivity, improving retention and meeting the changing needs of the economy. Under the My LiLA Now program, employees contribute regularly to a LiLA and employers match contributions up to an established annual cap. Third parties, such as governments or foundations, often choose to match employee contributions. These combined funds are leveraged to pay for a broad range of training activities that must be consistent with an individual learning plan developed in consultation with an advisor.

The U.S. Department of Labor estimates a shortage of more than 10 million skilled workers by 2012. American workers need continual training and education to stay competitive in today's fast-paced and increasingly global marketplace.  Yet for many, the high cost of education and training has limited their options.

OneKC WIRED has recently launched My LiLA Now in the greater Kansas City (Missouri & Kansas) metropolitan area, initially targeting advanced manufacturing, biotechnology, and healthcare.

Please contact Marion Wolpers at (816) 595-2312 or e-mail wolpers@aimkc.org to find out if you would be eligible for a third-party match, or visit My LiLA Now (www.MyLilaNow.com) for more information.