The local Workforce Investment Board (WIB) will lead in
the development and implementation of a workforce investment system that
meets the needs of workers and employers. Through the involvement of
community leaders from business, government, education, economic
development, training and social services, workforce investment strategies
will prepare and train the workforce for the needs of the community. This
effort will focus not only on pre-employment strategies (helping
unemployed persons prepare for jobs) and employment strategies (helping
them find jobs), but also on post-employment strategies (keeping jobs and
helping workers boost their pay and responsibilities).
The local WIB mission is to
"develop job opportunities, a qualified workforce, training and education
that lead to employment." The local vision is "to provide all people
access and opportunities through workforce development."
Employers’ Training Resource (ETR)
currently administers the Workforce Investment Act for Kern, Inyo, and
Mono Counties. ETR, a department of the County of Kern, will provide staff
services to the Kern, Inyo and Mono Workforce Investment Board to provide
policy guidance for the local system. The Kern County Board of Supervisors
will serve as the Chief Local Elected Official for the three county
consortium and will provide the administrative structure and oversight.
The local plan incorporates new
requirements of the WIA, including the Eligible Training Provider List (ETPL)
and the use of Individual Training Accounts (ITAs). It builds on the
foundation of work that insures accountability at the local level. In
addition, this area has a One-Stop Career Center System, known as the
Career Services Center System, that provides comprehensive information and
services; and active School-to-Career partnership; and numerous regional
partnerships.
Consistent with the requirements of
WIA, the current One-Stop Career Services Center system integrates
partnerships with state, county and local education agencies, training
providers, community-based organizations and private contractors. The
system delivers a full array of services to employers, job and training
seekers, youth, Unemployment Insurance (UI) claimants, veterans, migrant
and seasonal farm workers, Welfare-to-Work participants, CalWORKS
recipients and the general public.
Implementation will move the local
system closer to its vision and will advance the objectives of WIA by
ensuring universal access to all customers and promoting the concept of
seamless delivery of services. The system will contribute to the Career
Services Center goal of identifying more efficient and effective ways of
delivering services to customers in a One-Stop environment. Through the
one-stop system, job seeker services include job search assistance, job
placement services, labor market information, training programs and career
development to name a few. Employer services include recruiting and
screening, tax credits, and on-the-job-training.
Through the Youth Council, new
linkages will be created and existing ones reinforced to coordinate local
youth programs in order to maximize resources. Linkages between ETR and
appropriate agencies may consist of written operational agreements which
enhance the quality and quantity of services provided within the Local
Workforce Investment Area. A comprehensive array of activities, including
all required youth program elements will be available to eligible youths.
The Kern, Inyo and Mono counties’
recent average unemployment rate of 12 percent is much higher that the
State rate of 6.3 percent. One of the area’s economic goals is to build
and economy and infrastructure that support a broad spectrum of
opportunity, while advancing the standard of living and maintaining a high
quality of life for all. This will be achieved by increasing employment
and income, encouraging growth in business and industry, adjusting to a
changing global and national economic climate, and containing the cost of
doing business. The area will forecast economic conditions, identify
occupations in demand and industries with potential growth and use this
information to advise customers about employment opportunities and
training that will enable the customer to gain the knowledge, skills, and
abilities needed to obtain employment.
Our economic development strategy
is to recruit and expand industries that utilize a large number of
employees, build personal income for those employees, and improve the
overall economic health of the area. Our economy is changing, and the
local area has invested time and money to identify business clusters that
hold the greatest potential for generating additional employment
opportunities. Local activities under WIA will support these efforts.
The WIB, with a majority of
business members, will provide direct input on business and employer
needs. Employers will be contacted on a quarterly basis to determine if
their current needs are being met and what future needs they may have.
In conclusion, the Workforce
Investment Board, through the Employers’ Training Resource, One-Stop
partners and service providers, will provide better services to our youth,
job seekers and employers. Through collaboration, accountability and the
use of performance measures, we will continue to build upon a proven track
record over the next five years.