The Peninsula Council for Workforce Development

Workforce Development System

Mission

Created to develop a regional "business-driven" workforce development system, the Council’s primary mission is to identify the employer workforce development needs of Peninsula-based employers. After determining their needs, it is the Council’s goal to implement regional solutions by establishing partnerships with related training and education providers that specifically address the particular needs.
 

Organization

The Council is governed by a 17-member executive committee comprising nine representatives from the private business community, seven local elected officials (one from each jurisdiction) and the president of Thomas Nelson Community College.

The Council’s other workforce development-related duties include serving as administrative staff to the Greater Peninsula Workforce Investment Board (WIB) and its committees. The WIB, in addition to its mandated Workforce Investment Act (WIA) duties, has the central role of providing leadership and direction on local strategic workforce issues, identifying local needs and developing strategies to address those needs.

Under the WIA, local WIBs are not intended to "micromanage" detailed program operations. Rather, their role is focusing on strategic planning, improving coordination and leveraging WIA-funded workforce development dollars.

Recent Reorganization Efforts

Both the Council and WIB work closely with the Greater Peninsula Workforce Development Consortium. The Consortium serves as the grant recipient/administrative entity and fiscally liable party for all WIA Title I Grant funds allocated to the Greater Peninsula Local Workforce Investment Area (LWIA #14).

The Council and WIB work side by side identifying the problems of the region’s workforce and finding solutions. Consequently, it made sense in June 2006 for the two to merge their governance into one executive committee to serve both entities. This new alliance has produced a stronger organization overall. It allows for better programs, smoother coordination and less confusion for the public at large.