AGENDA DATE: 6/3/2015
TITLE:
Title
Interlocal Agreement to Implement the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act
BODY
SUBJECT/PROPOSAL/REQUEST: Approve Interlocal Agreement to Implement the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act
ITEM TYPE: Consent Action Item
STAFF CONTACT(S): Foley, Catlin, McClintic, Stimart, Davis, Herrick
PRESENTER (S): Faith McClintic
LEGAL REVIEW: Yes
REVIEWED BY: Thomas C. Foley
BACKGROUND: The Workforce Investment Act of 1998 (WIA), which is administered by the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL), was established not only to create opportunities for job seekers to gain self-sufficiency skills and employment, but also to assist employers in gaining a qualified workforce that would meet their current and future job demand. The DOL provides funding through the WIA to states to provide these services to job seekers and employers. When the WIA was enacted, it established Workforce Investment Boards (WIBs) to oversee the funding of these programs, and also to provide solutions and insight to regions regarding workforce development activities and strategies. The Piedmont Workforce Network (PWN) is the WIB serving Local Workforce Investment Area 6 (LWIA 6) which consists of 10 counties (Albemarle, Culpeper, Fauquier, Fluvanna, Greene, Louisa, Madison, Nelson, Orange and Rappahannock) and the City of Charlottesville. When the WIA was signed into law, the 11 jurisdictions of LWIA 6 were required to enter an Interlocal Agreement to establish the LWIA and to outline the responsibilities of each locality. This Interlocal Agreement specified that the Chief Local Elected Officials of the 11 localites, or their designees, would serve on the PWN Council, which would oversee the fiscal allocations and the programmatic processes of LWIA 6. The Interlocal Agreement also established the WIB's structure and composition and outlined the process for nominations and appointments (as set forth by federal and state law). This agreement has been in effect since December 21, 2000, with the latest amendment in 2008. In 2014, the federal government replaced the WIA with the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA). As a result, all current agreements, policies, and procedures, including the Interlocal Agreement for the PWN, must be redone and updated to reflect the new legislation.
STRATEGIC PLAN: Goal 4. Economic Prosperity: Foster an environment that stimulates diversified job creation, capital investments, and tax revenues that support community goals
DISCUSSION: PWN staff, with input from the County and the City Attorney's Offices, composed a new Chief Local Elected Officials (CLEO) Agreement in accordance with federal and state legislation. The proposed new Agreement outlines many of the same responsibilities and procedures as the current Interlocal Agreement. For example, as before, the PWN Council remains composed of the Chief Local Elected Official (Board Chair or Mayor) of each participating locality. However, the Chief Local Elected Official may designate another designee to serve on the PWN Council in his/her place. The proposed new Agreement also makes the necessary changes from 1998 to the present, including the required composition of the Local WIBs. Furthermore, the word "Investment" in the titles of the Local Area and Workforce Boards has been changed to "Development" (i.e. Workforce Development Boards, Local Workforce Development Area). The main change to the proposed Agreement is in the composition of the Workforce Development Board, in accordance with federal and state policy. The proposed new composition can be found in Attachment A of the CLEO Agreement. While a majority of the Board's members would still represent the business community, a number of non-private sector representatives would be eliminated, including those from the Department of Social Services, the Housing Authority, the Department for the Blind and Vision Impaired, and the Senior Community Service Employment Program (SCSEP). While these partners no longer have a mandated seat on the Workforce Development Board, PWN will be including these partners in the committee structure to provide a more detailed look at programmatic and workforce needs. The PWN is asking that each locality that is a party to the Agreement, including Albemarle County, authorize its Chief Local Elected Official to sign the proposed Agreement in order to reestablish the Workforce Development Area and the Workforce Development Board under the new workforce legislation. Pursuant to the terms of the Agreement, the two Albemarle County business sector representatives will be appointed by the PWN Council.
BUDGET IMPACT: Funding for these programs will still flow through the Grant Recipient (the City of Charlottesville) to the fiscal and administrative agent (Central Virginia Partnership for Economic Development). The Agreement itself does not obligate the County to approve any appropriation or allocation.
RECOMMENDATION:ommendation
Staff recommends that the Board adopt the attached Resolution (Attachment B) approving the proposed Chief Local Elected Officials (CLEO) Interlocal Agreement to Implement the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (Attachment A) and authorizing the County's Chief Local Elected Official (the Chair of the Board of Supervisors) to sign the Agreement.
ATTACHMENTS:
A - Proposed Interlocal Agreement
B - Resolution