April 2009 Vol 1, Issue 13
adult education
Workforce Development in Wisconsin WWDA Logo
Greetings!
Many state legislators have questions about the federal American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) Workforce Investment Act (WIA) funds that were approved April 16th by the Joint Committee on Finance. We have provided some information for you below on WIA programming and funding as well as links to further WIA resources. 
 
The Wisconsin Workforce Development Association recognizes the importance of communication on statewide workforce issues and we encourage you to contact us with any questions you have.  Starting in May you will also receive updates every few weeks on how the ARRA WIA funds are making an impact in Wisconsin.  This new communication piece will include success stories, performance indicator updates, and upcoming events you may want to attend. 
 
In this issue of our newsletter you will find articles on workforce development activities in Northcentral, Northwest, and Southwest Wisconsin.
 
If you wish to be added to future mailings or removed from mailings please use the links at the bottom of the newsletter.  Thank you!
In This Issue
What Do Workforce Investment Act (WIA) Funds Mean to Me?...Many legislators have asked the question...
Wisconsin Rapids Job Center Offers Weekly Into to Computers Workshop
Northwest Wisconsin Expands Welding Boot Camp Project
SWWDB Staff Participate in "Co-Operation Read"
Quick Links
What Do Workforce Investment Act (WIA) Funds Mean to Me?
 
Many legislators have asked the question "What is the Workforce Investment Act?" and "How do the ARRA Workforce Investment Act funds impact my district?"
 
First, the Workforce Investment Act of 1998 (WIA) required states and localities to bring together most federally funded employment and training services into a single, one-stop center system. The Job Centers are the one-stop access point for seventeen federal programs operated through four federal agencies, such as Job Service (Wagner-Peyser) and Adult Education and Literacy are required to be provided through this one-stop system.  

Wisconsin is divided into 11 workforce development areas that are led by Workforce Development Boards (WDBs). Each Board is responsible for oversight of the one-stop centers, known as Job Centers in Wisconsin, in its area.
 
A function of each Workforce Development Board is managing and disbursing, on the local level, federal WIA Title I funding for adult, dislocated worker, and youth services.  The funds are allocated to the states by formulas, which are based on the level of unemployment and economically disadvantaged individuals, and the state population in general. The ARRA funds are distributed to the WDBs based on the same criteria. ARRA WIA funding allocations for each WDB  are now available. The state is allocated 5% of WIA funds for administration, and 10% for statewide activities, such as support for Job Centers. A portion of dislocated worker funds is allocated to rapid response activities, for cases such as unanticipated plant closings.

Currently, Wisconsin's Workforce Development Boards are ramping up for the infusion of over $13 million of federal stimulus funds into summer youth work experience programs across urban, rural, and suburban communities throughout the state.  Worksites and eligible youth, ages 14-24, are actively being recruited for this large-scale summer youth program, which will provide Wisconsin youth with real world work experience and a paycheck. 
 
Additionally, WIA funded employment and training services are provided to eligible adults and dislocated workers. Supportive
services such as transportation, child care, dependent care, housing, and needs related payments may also be provided under certain circumstances.  For a more complete description of core, intensive, and training services and more information on WIA please see the 4/13/09 Legislative Fiscal Bureau memo.
 
To learn more about what your workforce development board is doing, please contact your areas' Executive Director.
Wisconsin Rapids Job Center Offers Weekly Into to Computers Workshop
Cale and StudentThanks to the generous donation of computers from Domtar, Inc., in Nekoosa, and the IT expertise of North Central Wisconsin Workforce Development Board's John Cokl, the Wisconsin Rapids Job Center is pleased to announce the opening of its new, twelve station computer lab to use for classroom instruction. Starting the last week in February, workshops developed and facilitated by Cale Cumberland are now being offered twice weekly on basic computer operations. Workshop participants learn about the different types of computer operating systems; the basics on how to start up and shut down the computer; open and close programs; how to use a mouse; how to create, save, move and delete files; and email basics, including attaching files, web mail, email etiquette and the actual setup of an email account.
 
Cumberland, a LETC Dislocated Worker Employment & Training Specialist at the Wisconsin Rapids Job Center, says past feedback from participants attending his workshops has been very positive and learners left asking for further instruction. Cumberland's vision is to continue to offer two separate workshop sessions each week, but ideally would like to dedicate one session to "introduce the basics" and then offer a follow-up workshop to advance learners on to "the next step". Computer workshops at the Job Center are free to the public and limited to nine students per class.
Northwest Wisconsin Expands Welding Boot Camp Project
 
The Northwest Wisconsin Workforce Investment Board, Inc. and DC photoCEP, Inc have received a generous grant allocation through Senator Herb Kohl's office.  The total grant amount of $243,667 is designated to train people in short-term welding boot camps, offered at Wisconsin Indianhead Technical College's campuses in Ashland and Superior. Last summer, CEP, Inc successfully piloted a similar welding boot camp, which received national industry attention and formed the basis for this expanded project. Now, approximately 60 additional unemployed and under employed individuals will receive the training over the course of the next 18 months. This initiative will address the shortage of trained welders in the Northwest Wisconsin region, while providing workers with a well paying, high demand skill.
SWWDB Staff Participate in "Co-Operation Read"
 
On Friday, April 17, Southwest Wisconsin Workforce Development Board (SWWDB) staff Mary Fanning-Penny volunteered to be a guest reader for the Janesville School District's "CO-OPERATION READ" program.  Volunteer readers, who came from businesses and public sector organizations throughout the city, spent an hour reading to local elementary school children, as part of the Janesville School District's "CO-OPERATION READ" program.  The program is intended to share with children the love of reading and the volunteers read their favorite book with students.  Afterward, each reader facilitated a discussion with the students on the spirit of cooperation and the importance of giving back to one's community.
 
The program also provided an opportunity for community leaders to interact with children in a positive way."This is a great way to share my joy for reading while promoting a spirit of teamwork and cooperation that will serve these kids as they progress through school and into the workforce," Fanning-Penny said. 
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Mari Kay-Nabozny
Wisconsin Workforce Development Association