The Coastal Regional Planning Unit’s Four-Year Regional Plan 2021-2024 includes the San Benito County, Monterey County & Santa Cruz County, workforce development areas. This regional plan articulates the Coastal Region’s efforts to align education and training provider services with regional industry sector needs as required under the WIOA.
The San Benito County WDB’s Four-Year Local Plan 2021-2024 reflects the current and future strategies that the WDB will use to address the continuing innovation of the workforce system and creation of a customer-centered system: where the needs of business and workers drive workforce solutions; where the America’s Job Center of California / One-Stop Career Centers provide excellent customer service to all jobseekers and businesses; and where the workforce system supports strong regional economies, as well as alignment with State and local priorities, and the Coastal Regional Planning Unit’s efforts to align education and training provider services with regional industry sector needs.
Regional Plan: North Central Coast Regional Plan-Final
Local Plan: WDB Local Plan Final 04.27.21
Memorandums of Understanding (MOU):
BOARD FUNCTION:
What are the functions of the Local Workforce Development Board?
20 CFR § 679.370
As provided in WIOA sec. 107(d), the Local WDB must:
(a) Develop and submit a 4-year local plan for the local area, in partnership with the chief elected official and consistent with WIOA sec. 108;
(b) If the local area is part of a planning region that includes other local areas, develop and submit a regional plan in collaboration with other local areas. If the local area is part of a planning region, the local plan must be submitted as a part of the regional plan;
(c) Conduct workforce research and regional labor market analysis to include:
(1) Analyses and regular updates of economic conditions, needed knowledge and skills, workforce, and workforce development (including education and training) activities to include an analysis of the strengths and weaknesses (including the capacity to provide) of such services to address the identified education and skill needs of the workforce and the employment needs of employers;
(2) Assistance to the Governor in developing the statewide workforce and labor market information system under the Wagner-Peyser Act for the region; and
(3) Other research, data collection, and analysis related to the workforce needs of the regional economy as the WDB, after receiving input from a wide array of stakeholders, determines to be necessary to carry out its functions;
(d) Convene local workforce development system stakeholders to assist in the development of the local plan under § 679.550 and in identifying non-Federal expertise and resources to leverage support for workforce development activities. Such stakeholders may assist the Local WDB and standing committees in carrying out convening, brokering, and leveraging functions at the direction of the Local WDB;
(e) Lead efforts to engage with a diverse range of employers and other entities in the region in order to:
(1) Promote business representation (particularly representatives with optimum policy-making or hiring authority from employers whose employment opportunities reflect existing and emerging employment opportunities in the region) on the Local WDB;
(2) Develop effective linkages (including the use of intermediaries) with employers in the region to support employer utilization of the local workforce development system and to support local workforce investment activities;
(3) Ensure that workforce investment activities meet the needs of employers and support economic growth in the region by enhancing communication, coordination, and collaboration among employers, economic development entities, and service providers; and
(4) Develop and implement proven or promising strategies for meeting the employment and skill needs of workers and employers (such as the establishment of industry and sector partnerships), that provide the skilled workforce needed by employers in the region, and that expand employment and career advancement opportunities for workforce development system participants in in-demand industry sectors or occupations;
(f) With representatives of secondary and postsecondary education programs, lead efforts to develop and implement career pathways within the local area by aligning the employment, training, education, and supportive services that are needed by adults and youth, particularly individuals with barriers to employment
How does the Local Workforce Development Board meet its requirement to conduct business in an open manner under the “sunshine provision” of the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act?
20 CFR § 679.390
The Local WDB must conduct its business in an open manner as required by WIOA sec. 107(e), by making available to the public, on a regular basis through electronic means and open meetings, information about the activities of the Local WDB. This includes:
(a) Information about the Local Plan, or modification to the Local Plan, before submission of the plan;
(b) List and affiliation of Local WDB members;
(c) Selection of one-stop operators;
(d) Award of grants or contracts to eligible training providers of workforce investment activities including providers of youth workforce investment activities;
(e) Minutes of formal meetings of the Local WDB; and
(f) Local WDB by-laws, consistent with § 679.310(g).
How do entities performing multiple functions in a local area demonstrate internal controls and prevent conflict of interest?
20 CFR § 679.430
Local organizations often function simultaneously in a variety of roles, including local fiscal agent, Local WDB staff, one-stop operator, and direct provider of services. Any organization that has been selected or otherwise designated to perform more than one of these functions must develop a written agreement with the Local WDB and CEO to clarify how the organization will carry out its responsibilities while demonstrating compliance with WIOA and corresponding regulations, relevant Office of Management and Budget circulars, and the State‘s conflict of interest policy.
