Although investing in people is a straightforward answer to current and emerging economic challenges, its implementation is anything but simple. Workforce development is comprised of a bewildering array of agents and institutions serving different populations at different levels of skill development. Creating even greater complexity, this labyrinthine world is bifurcated into a supply side (those serving individuals) and a demand side (those serving business needs), which have historically worked in isolation. This chapter will introduce these institutions and start addressing the question that makes up the heart of this book: what institutions and strategies help communities to maximize their human capital potential, in order to foster an environment that nurtures the creative talents of all citizens? The goal of regional efforts to build talent should not focus simply on transferring a defined set of skills but on enhancing the ability and desire of individuals, businesses, and organizations to learn and develop further, in order to create a culture of lifelong learning.