The Workforce Investment Board was created by Federal Legislation in 1998 because of a belief that a community’s workforce was a key component of economic development, and that there was a need to coordinate community services that would assure a skilled workforce. (In essence, the traditional economic development goals of attracting, retaining and expanding businesses is in large part, dependent on the skill sets of the workforce) Do the skills of the workforce match the needs of employers is the WIB’s overarching question.
In Napa, the WIB is a 31 member public and private sector board (which includes executives from health, wine, lodging, staffing, technology and manufacturing sectors as well as the educational, non-profit and government sectors). As a policy body this group is working to accomplish two key functions:
1) Overseeing the publicly funded training dollars from the Federal and State government; and
2) Aligning the community’s educational and training resources to address the local needs of our employers. Here is an example of how that might look.
Years ago, the Board identified the healthcare sector as an economic engine in Napa County that was struggling at many levels to find qualified workers. Given that this industry was also career ladder based with sustainable wages, the Board developed a new policy direction aimed at the healthcare industry. The result of this decision was that program contractors including the Job Connection focused career guidance activities at the sector and the WIB, through a partnership that involved the Hospital Council and NV college received two grants totaling more than 4 million dollars to train all levels of the nursing career ladder from an entry level medical assistant to a bachelors level registered nurse. Some of our trainees saw wage increases of more than $20.00 an hour. This WIB sponsored program was a win-win-win situation for everyone involved – the businesses, individuals, and the overall economic health of our community took a small step forward.
A similar example can be found in our efforts with the high-tech industry in which we worked with local businesses and public and private schools to train all levels of their workforce in much the same way
2) How does the Board connect with other agencies and industry in its effort to develop the skills of the workforce?
First, as was stated above, the WIB as a policy body is composed of many community agencies and private industry itself. Every time the board meets they are exploring and making decisions on partnership strategies that will leverage various resources and move the community forward.
Secondly, The Board has recognized the inseparable connections between the workforce development, economic development and education sectors. These sectors form an iron triangle where issues and successes in one area have a direct impact on another. For example, as we align our workforce system to deliver skilled workers in a particular industry, this will make our economic development professionals more effective in attracting and retaining businesses that use those workers. In turn, as the businesses become stronger and expand, they will put more and more pressure on the local educational system to deliver workers with skill sets tuned to their employment and productivity needs. In this vein, the WIB is using its current resources and searching for others that will support the development of a highly trained workforce in Napa County.