Located in:
Community Services Block Grant (CSBG)
Note: Below is information about the employment and training activities carried out under the Community Services Block Grant (CSBG) (42 U.S.C. 9901 et seq.) that is included in the WIOA Combined State Plan. The complete CSBG State Plan is submitted directly to the Federal agency that administers that program and is collected under OMB Control Number: 0970-0382.
Where CSBG is included in the Combined State Plan, the State CSBG Lead Agency (as designated by the chief executive of the State under the requirements of section 676(a) of the CSBG Act (42 U.S.C. 9908(a)) will coordinate plans for employment and training activities under CSBG as part of a larger antipoverty and workforce development strategy.
As part of the Combined State Plan, the State CSBG Lead Agency must:
(a) Describe how the State and the eligible entities will coordinate the provision of employment and training activities through Statewide and local WIOA workforce development systems; and may
(b) Provide examples of innovative employment and training programs and activities conducted by eligible entities or other neighborhood-based organizations as part of a community antipoverty strategy.
Current Narrative:
(a) The Community Advancement and Development division (WVCAD) of the West Virginia Department of Economic Development administers the Community Services Block Grant (CSBG) to 16 Community Action Agencies throughout the State. The program has established active partnerships to facilitate and encourage coordination between the 16 Community Action Agencies (CAAs) participating in the State’s CSBG program and statewide and local workforce development systems. Several CAAs have executed memoranda of understanding with local workforce development agencies to foster greater workforce development coordination. The usual role of a CAA in workforce development is to provide supplemental services that assist employment goals. These goals are decided locally based on a community needs assessment. Whereas a workforce agency provides assessment and job training, CAAs often provide funding for resume writing, job-related clothes and tools, and transportation to interviews or to a place of employment.
(b) One Community Action Agency provides funding for car repair assistance for individuals who have been employed consistently for at least one year, meet our income guidelines, and are in need of a vehicle repair in order to continue their employment.
One Community Action Agency provides on the job training to laid off coal miners and others who are laid off due to the decline in the coal industry in trade areas including but not limited to plumbing, electrical, HVAC, welding, and construction.
A CAA in the North Eastern part of the state provides Fiscal management for the One-Stop Centers. As part of the direct service the CAA provides funds to assist with removing employment barriers such as assisting with the cost of textbooks, licensing, testing, special employment related clothing and other items necessary for the client to become employed after the training.