Workforce Investment Board Expects Money from Stimulus Bill
February 21, 2009
Friday, February 20, 2009-The West Piedmont Workforce Investment Board hopes to get funds from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act to double its resources for training and employment services.
WIB hopes training funds will double
This news report source is the Martinsville Bulletin, on Feb. 20-2009
“While I won’t know what this region may be getting, which I will know in 30 days, I’m anticipating it will be equivalent to what we got this year, which is around $2.7 million for employment services, training and youth internships,� stated Kim Adkins, executive director of the board.
That extra money “will double our resources to put people in training programs and employment services,� Adkins said.
That could mean more resources for things such as expanding computer services into places that previously did not have them. Adkins said the WIB has put laptop computers in five churches in its region and provided Internet access for the computers. Volunteers are trained on the equipment and track the services they provide to area residents, she added.
“We also want to help the individual� with training and other services, she said.
The stimulus act provides $3.95 billion for job training programs under the Workforce Investment Act (WIA), which is a national work force preparation and employment system that serves businesses, job seekers and people seeking to further their careers.
The $3.95 billion includes $2.95 billion in grants for the states for training and employment services. Of that, Virginia will be getting $39.2 million, which is equivalent to this program year’s allotment, Adkins said.
If the state’s amount is the same as this year’s, it stands to reason it would give local boards the same amount as this year, she said.
“It is my understanding these funds have to be sent to the regions’ Workforce Investment Boards by the state within 30 days of enactment,� she said.
According to Adkins, the $2.95 billion to go to the states is divided into the following:
• Workforce Investment Act (WIA) Adult — $500 million in grants for adult employment and training. Priority will be given to recipients of public assistance and other low-income individuals for training services.
• WIA Youth — $1.2 billion in grants for youth activities for both year-round and summer employment activities.
• WIA Dislocated Worker — $1.25 billion for grants for dislocated worker employment and training activities.
The remaining $1 billion will be divided among several other WIA programs, including:
• $750 million for a program of competitive grants for worker training and placement in high growth and emerging industry sectors, such as green jobs and health care.
• $200 million for dislocated workers through National Emergency Grants. These funds will allow the secretary of labor to award emergency grants to respond to plant closings, mass layoffs and other worker dislocations.
These programs are separate from others in the stimulus bill to be provided through the Virginia Employment Commission, such as unemployment insurance and Trade Adjustment Assistance Program (Trade Act) funds, and the Department of Social Services, such as Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF), Adkins added.
