By Dennis Alexander

Last August Congress enacted new workforce development legislation, the Workforce Investment Act of 1998.  This new legislation consolidates many existing workforce programs into one of the new law's titles.  The WIA will replace the longest standing federal workforce legislation, the Job Training Partnership Act, effective July 1, 2000, in Jackson and Josephine Counties.  Other titles of the WIA address changes to Adult Education and Family Literacy, the Wagner Peyser Act, and the Vocational Rehabilitation law.

The Workforce Investment Act changes how workforce development programs are both governed and delivered.  Governance under the WIA will become significantly more the responsibility of the chief local elected officials, the Jackson and Josephine County Commissioners, and a local workforce board, made up of local business representatives and local community public and private non-profit workforce stakeholders. The Rogue Valley Workforce Development Council is in the process of being certified as Jackson and Josephine Counties' regional workforce board by the Governor of Oregon.  Designation as a regional board is expected to be decided within a couple of months.  Reflecting new and increased responsibilities of the WIA, the Commissioners and, once designated by the Governor,  regional workforce board will decide increasingly more how and where federal workforce funds will be spent, who will operate workforce programs, what performance outcome results will be expected from workforce program operators, and which training programs will be certified to accept individual training account funds. 

The WIA will also change how workforce services are delivered and who is eligible to receive certain basic workforce development services.  Of special significance to the Education and Resource Center and the Rogue Valley Workforce Development Council, as an ERC partner, is that the Workforce Investment Act mandates the presence of a One Stop site, such as the ERC, to be the spring board for the delivery of workforce development services.  One of the principle changes in the new law is that all job seekers, all current employees, and all employers are guaranteed universal access to the integrated services offered by One Stop systems.  Under the soon to be replaced Job Training Partnership Act, applicants for employment and training programs were screened initially and had to meet certain eligibility criteria to receive services.  Now all job seekers and current employees seeking to improve their careers will be eligible to access a number of core services currently offered at the Education and Resource Center.

Beginning July 1, 1999, the Education and Resource Center will be in the third year of a three year grant to create a One Stop career system in Jackson and Josephine Counties.  During the next year increased workforce information electronic links to outlying rural areas will allow job seekers and current employees in those areas to gain access regarding services and job advancement opportunities.  Beginning July 1, 2000, the WIA will likely offer financial support to continue the One Stop operations once the grant supporting the expansion of the one Stop System has ended.