Key Facts
The Monterey County Workforce Development Board (WDB) was established in 1998 through the Workforce Investment Act (WIA), a federally funded program designed to mobilize and integrate private and public partners to educate, train and place individuals in jobs with the necessary resources and skills to fulfill employer needs.
WIA funded programs and services are provided through the America’s Job Center of CaliforniaSM and community partners, under the policy and guidance of the Monterey County WDB.
The WIA allows the Monterey County WDB to offer education and job skills training programs for economically disadvantaged adults, laid-off workers and youth. Special training and skills upgrade programs are available for laid off workers who are out of work because of plant closures or workforce reductions and summer programs are offered to youth to help them stay in school. Visit www.montereycountyWDB.org for additional information.
Other key facts about the Monterey County WDB include:
- Mandated by the Federal Workforce Investment Act of 1998
- A division of the Monterey County Economic Development Department
- A policy and governance board with authority to oversee and develop workforce policy
- One of 49 local Workforce Development Boards in California
- Comprised of local business members and public agency leaders appointed by the Board of Supervisors
- Board members serve a 3-year term and are responsible for managing Department of Labor funds provided to Monterey County for employment and training services
- Serves over 300 employers and assists over 1,000 people to secure employment each year
- Receives $5–6 million dollars each year in federal funding to support programs designed for economically disadvantaged adults, laid-off workers and at-risk youth
- Secures over $1 million dollars in competitive grants for community partnerships
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Leadership
- WDB Chair, Erik Cushman, Publisher, Monterey County Weekly
- WDB Vice Chair, Anthony Aniello, President, AJ Associates
- WDB 2nd Vice Chair, Mary Ann Leffel, Founding Principal, Veritas Associates LLC
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Committees
The MCWDB is currently comprised of the following committees and roundtables:
- Executive Committee – is responsible for membership assignments, coordination and review of standing committees and all duties of the full board during the interim period between WDB meetings.
- Oversight Committee – performs periodic evaluation of WIA fiscal and program performance of the America’s Job Center of CaliforniaSM, service providers, sub-contractors and grants.
- Youth Council – makes recommendations to the WDB regarding youth programs and proposals for funding, provides oversight of WIA youth programs, and fosters collaboration and integration of youth activities.
- Business Services Committee – focuses on services to and for employers, including training of incumbent workers, new hires and potential hires that meet the workforce needs of high demand sectors by preparing skilled workers for employment in competitive and emergent industry sectors.
- Regularly Scheduled Meetings Occur:
- Full MCWDB – 1st Wednesday of every other month at 7:30 am
- Executive Committee – 3rd Wednesday of every month at 8:00 am
- Oversight Committee – 2nd Thursday of every other month at 8:30 am
- Youth Council – 2nd Tuesday of every other month at 4:00 pm
- Business Services Committee – 2nd Thursday of every other month at 4:00 pm
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Mission Statement
The purpose of the Workforce Development Board shall be to provide strategic planning, policy development, and oversight and evaluation of the local workforce investment system;
The Workforce Development Board shall provide leadership to support the best practices of the public and private sectors to create a dynamic, efficient and effective Workforce Development Board;
The Workforce Development Board shall develop innovative models that effectively acquire and leverage alternative funding sources to offer access to all services;
The Workforce Development Board shall contribute to a healthy economy that is filled with jobs that are built with integrity and offer positive experiences by empowering the community members and businesses with the knowledge and skills to be successful.