Narrative: II. a. 2. B.

West Virginia’s workforce development system partners are historically successful in serving customers and putting it’s populace to work. These alliances can be amplified at the state and local level to identify and overcome any areas of weakness that emerge. The strength of West Virginia’s workforce development system is demonstrated by the relationships already formed through the Interagency Collaborative Team (ICT) and the identified prospects for coordinated service delivery.

West Virginia’s Mid Atlantic Career Consortium (MACC) system provides a powerful tool to assist the workforce development system with the coordination of service delivery. The MACC is an integrated case management, referral, and federal reporting system that supports WIOA, Wagner–Peyser, TAA, VETs, NEG, and Rapid Response programs. The MACC’s capacity to support integrated case management, data sharing, and reporting, allows case managers to see the full range of services participants have received from any covered program.

The West Virginia Sector Strategy Project exhibits a system strength. Thanks to two major grants from the U.S. Department of Labor (TAACCT Grant – Bridging the Gap), Governor Tomblin’s administration is implementing a statewide business sector evaluation and development of a comprehensive strategy to address the regional workforce skill needs for the state’s economy. This involves a number of planning meetings with local businesses, community and technical colleges, education and employers so training and workforce preparedness programs will: 1. Integrate and align, 2. Meet employers’ (large and small) needs, 3. Maximize economic opportunities that are currently taking place across the state and 4. Address each region’s unique workforce challenges/needs. The goal will be to establish and implement workforce–business sector strategies in West Virginia through a regional system that will address the current and emerging skills gaps in the economy.

The state’s Community & Technical College System continues to implement a number of major new programs to develop skilled workers who can take advantage of quality job opportunities that are available due to recent business and economic development activities. These include: • Manufacturing –– Learn and Earn Program Initiative • Oil and Gas Education and Training Initiatives • Dislocated Coal Miner Training Initiative • National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) SPACES Grant • Construction Management Certificate

Another strength is the Learn and Earn Program Initiative. The Learn and Earn Program, which operates through the Community & Technical College Chancellor’s office, provides students opportunities for paid cooperative educational experiences in high–demand fields. Students enrolled in applied technology programs attend school while earning valuable on–the–job training and a living wage at partner businesses. Students must be paid no less than $10 per hour. The employer provides 50 percent of the students’ wage, with the Chancellor’s office providing a 50 percent match. Currently, there are cooperative opportunities for students at Toyota, Gestamp, DuPont, Kureha, NGK, Union Carbide (Dow), and others. The Chancellor’s office actively seeks opportunities to expand this program.

West Virginia’s Workforce Development System partners have discovered that overlaps and duplication of efforts are warranted. That overlap and duplication is contributed to focused eligibility requirements for some program and open enrollment to others. To illustrate, the WV Division of Rehabilitation Services has identified a weakness. The issue is a lack of human resources caused, in part, by vacant positions and increased retirements. The Agency is currently under an Order of Selection (OOS) and has closed OOS Categories 3 and 4; these individuals may still apply for services and be placed on a waitlist. While Rehabilitation Services is unable to serve these individuals, referrals will be made, as appropriate, to WorkForce West Virginia and Adult Education for services. If additional resources become available, West Virginia Division of Rehabilitation Services may serve individuals from the waitlist. The system is complex and takes a coordinated effort among all program partners to develop a skilled workforce able to meet the diverse demands of business and industry.

West Virginia’s workforce development partners agree to sustain an integrated comprehensive workforce development system for the delivery and information sharing of the core partner program services. The creation of this system will ensure universal access by all customers by providing a program that is uniform, consistent and responsive to the job seeker and employer communities. The system will encourage cross–training of mandated partners to ensure true integration of the core programs within the system. As a result, programs will remain flexible; yet, they will be expandable in the One–Stop system. Through input from customers and core partners, the program will promote continuous improvement.

Collaboration, coordination, and constant reexamination by partners will ensure continuous improvement of how the system serves customers. Working together to overcome identified issues such as accessibility of network computer systems, better alignment of efforts and policies, community visibility and infrastructure costs will be key to stay ahead of the ever-changing economy and the diverse needs of workers and employers.