The Ray Marshall Center released the latest updates of a multi-year study of several hundred Capital IDEA participants, concluding that "longer term investments in skills training yields large, lasting returns in the labor market."

Local Investments in Workforce Development: 2011 Evaluation Update, Ray Marshall Center for the Study of Human Resources

Researchers from the Ray Marshall Center had earlier developed a cost-benefit analysis for Capital IDEA; they found that returns to taxpayers from reductions in welfare and food stamp payments, and increased tax receipts, were fully recouped in 8.5 years. Total returns to taxpayers are estimated at 165% for the first 10 years and 501% over 20 years.

Return on Investment from Capital IDEA: Research Brief, Ray Marshall Center for Study of Human Resources

Information on other West / Southwest IAF Labor Market Intermediaries