WASHINGTON WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT NEWS
Workforce Training & Education Coordinating Board
April 30, 2020
Workforce Board Holds Special Meeting May 12
The Workforce Board will hold a special (virtual) board meeting from 10 am to 1 pm, Tuesday, May 12th, to review policy briefs related to the system's response to the COVID-19 crisis and the economic recovery process. More details coming soon: bit.ly/2SndUy5
Workforce Board Seeks Your Input as Part of "360" Review
Gov. Inslee provided funds to support a "360" review of the Board. We are seeking input from as broad a group of workforce system stakeholders as possible. We would appreciate it if you would complete a 20-minute survey. (CLICK HERE to complete the survey) The survey is designed so respondents can skip questions or answer "Don't know" if there are parts of the system with which they are less familar. We have hired Clarity Consulting to lead this effort. They will provide an independent analysis of the survey results back to us. Your individual response will be anonymous. The Board will review the information from the survey and other elements of the 30 assessment, and then identify recommendations on changes ot the Governor's Office this fall.
Workforce Board Seeks Comment on WIOA Performance Targets
The Workforce Board is seeking comments on draft performance targets for Title I programs for adults, dislocated workers, and youth under the Workforce INnocation and Opportunity Act (WIOA). Performance targets include participant employment and earnings outcomes, credential attainment and measurable skill gain.Deadline to submit comments is Friday, May 8th, at 5 pm. Details and proposed performance targets at bit.ly/35jlori.
Washington's Federal Grant Application Results in $12M for Dislocated Workers
Washington has been awared a $12 million Dislocated Worker Disaster Recovery Grant from the U.S. Department of Labor. This grant category, used most often for areas struck by natural disasters, focuses on preparing and placing dislocated workers into "disaster clean-up and mitigation" jobs, but also allows for investments in longer-term education and training to prepare workers for more stable post-disaster employment. The state application, filed by the Employment Security Department, and developed in partnership with the state's 12 local Workforce Development Councils and the Workforce Board, requested close to $54 million to help retrain dislocated workers for occupations that will be in-demand during the pandemic recovery. Partners are currently working on revising the project implementation within the new budget parameters.
Career Connect Washington to Connect Students & Employers
Career Connect Washington will be launching a new initiative in May that connects students in grades 7-12 with Washington employers to learn about career opportunities in our state. The initiative, dubbed CareerConnect@Home kicks off May 4. The plan is to livestream a conversation with a different employer every weekday in May at 3:30 p.m. Employers will talk about their career, their industry, their skills and challenges, and answer questions from middle and high school students. Join the next session at: careerconnectathome.org/.
