 Bryan Rogers Workforce Investment Board Executive Director |  Shaun Lumachi Workforce Investment Board Chair
Owner, Chamber Advocacy | Built on the most successful elements of previous federal legislation, the Workforce Investment Act (WIA) provides the framework for a national workforce preparation and employment system designed to meet the needs of both the nation’s businesses and job seekers, including those who want to further their careers. WIA establishes a Workforce Investment System under which each state appoints a workforce investment board to develop, in coordination with the Governor, the strategic workforce plan for the state. In addition, the Governor designates local workforce investment areas in each region of the state and, in turn, the chief elected official (CEO) in each local area appoints a local workforce investment board to oversee that area’s workforce investment system and assist the CEO in planning, oversight, and evaluation of local workforce investments. The primary objectives of the local board are to promote effective outcomes consistent with statewide goals, objectives, and negotiated local performance standards and to set policy for the local workforce investment system. The Governor has designated the cities of Long Beach, Signal Hill, Lomita, and Torrance as this region’s local area, which is known collectively as the “Pacific Gateway Workforce Investment Network.” In addition, these four cities have established the Pacific Gateway Workforce Investment Board (WIB) to serve as the local workforce investment board for our local area. The Workforce Investment Board is comprised of 45 members who represent businesses in the local area (majority), local educational entities, labor organizations (15% minimum), local community-based organizations, and economic development agencies in addition to representatives from key one-stop partner entities. Local Workforce Investment System Our local workforce investment system is based on the “one-stop” concept whereby job seekers and businesses receive core services provided in collaboration with One-Stop Partners. Job seekers benefit from various employment and training services funded under WIA and other Federal programs, including information about and access to a wide array of job training, education, and employment services. Employers benefit through access to business services designed to meet their current and emerging workforce challenges and numerous sector-based industry initiatives undertaken by the Workforce Investment Board. Our Mission The mission of the Pacific Gateway Workforce Investment Board is to create and implement a comprehensive and accountable workforce investment system based on the needs of local and regional employers by such activities as: - Creating and implementing a strategic business service plan, which identifies business employment needs and matches education and training services to meet those needs
- Convening and facilitating partnerships among business (large and small), government, and organized labor to effectively address the labor
- Involving the business community in employment training, skill standards, employee development and other related activities
- Creating and increasing livable wage job opportunities for economically disadvantaged persons, persons with disabilities, mature workers, and other such groups requiring special targeting
- Developing meaningful tracking and accountability systems
- Seeking grant and other resources to fill gaps and ensure comprehensive and effective services
Workforce Investment Board Responsibilities The Workforce Investment Board’s responsibilities include: - Coordinating workforce investment activities in the local area with economic development strategies
- Promoting participation of private sector employers
- Developing and submitting a local workforce investment plan to the Governor
- Preparing and adopting a budget
- Selecting one-stop operators with the agreement of the Chief Elected Official (CEO)
- In cooperation with the CEO, appointing a Youth Council as a subgroup of the Workforce Investment Board
- Awarding grants or contracts to eligible providers of youth activities
- Identifying eligible providers of training and intensive services
- Developing local policy on the amount and duration of training
- Conducting program oversight over workforce investment activities
- Negotiating local performance measures with the CEO and the Governor
- Assisting in the development of a statewide employment statistics system
The Medical Industry Initiative is a collaborative partnership formed by the health care industry, local educational institutions and the Workforce Board to address the critical shortage of health care workers. Key strategies include increasing local Associate Degree Nursing and Radiological Technology education capacity, implementing the first-ever local Magnetic Resonance Imaging Technology program, and initiating strategies to foster the success of students. To increase awareness of the varied health care career opportunities available, the initiative is also focused on creating a pipeline of potential health care workers through interactive presentations to Long Beach area high school students. The Construction Jobs Initiative affords residents numerous opportunities to acquire the skills and resources needed to access plentiful high-wage career opportunities in the Building and Construction Trades. These opportunities include hands-on experiences at local construction sites, pre-apprenticeship construction skills training, hazardous waste and refinery safety operations training, job development, and assistance in preparing to meet entry requirements for numerous local apprenticeship programs. The Environmental Remediation Initiative prepares individuals for opportunities in the increasingly important field of environmental safety and clean up. Career opportunities for residents include the restoration of Brownfields, lead and asbestos removal, hazardous waste handling, and emergency response. Training includes several industry-specific certifications most often desired by employers including Hazardous Waste Worker Protection and Emergency Response, Refinery Safety Overview, and OSHA 30. The Utilities/Energy Initiative provides skills and on-the-job training to prepare entry-level workers to meet the growing employment demand in the utility and energy industry sectors. A large number of the current labor pool in these sectors is reaching retirement age and opportunities are growing more plentiful. Oportunities in these high-wage careers range from working in electric plants and distribution centers to nuclear, oil, gas, water, and renewable engery facilities. The Port Opportunities Initiative was developed in response to tremendous employment growth projected for the logistics-goods movement industry, largely the result of the increased volume of goods moving through the Ports of Long Beach and Los Angeles. Key strategies under this initiative include industry-specific skills training and internship opportunities with local businesses, increasing the number of logistics-related skill training classes, and developing new industry-specific curriculum for warehouse inventory control, tracking, and advanced transportation. In addition, the Goods Movement Education Center provides residents with timely information on employment and career ladder opportunities, training resources, job requirements, and earnings potential for numerous logistics-goods movement occupations. The Hire-A-Youth Initiative provides youth and young adults, ages 14-24, employment opportunities at area businesses, work readiness skills, career awareness and other workforce preparation opportunities designed to support successful entry into the workforce of the 21st Century. Specific elements include the Summer Opportunities Job Fair, year-round hiring events, and the Inspired Internship Program, which provides youth, ages 16-24, with valuable career awareness and exposure to the world of work through work-readiness training, job coaching, and internship opportunities with local employers. To ensure candidates for entry-level employment have the skills needed by local employers, the Board is in the process of adopting a Work Readiness Credential. Upon implementation, this employer-driven credential will certify to employers that job seekers have mastered the basic skills necessary to ensure a success transition to the workforce. |
Contact Us Now!
Sign-up for e-notify now!
