Workforce Investment Act (WIA) and Workforce Investment Boards

Workforce Investment Boards (WIBs) have been created throughout the country to set local policy for, allocate funds to and guide the development of a local area workforce development system under the Federal Workforce Investment Act (WIA), which was effective 7/1/00. This Act is notable from a number of standpoints, including the facts that local WIBs must be comprised of no less than 51% business sector members and must have a business sector Chair, and that the local workforce development service delivery system is directly accountable to the local WIB for its performance.

Our Board (WIB) Office

• Developing the information needed to make informed policy decisions, establishing and disseminating Board policies, and setting up and managing finance and accountability systems.



• Promoting a cohesive workforce development system with strong ties to economic development, business, labor, and education and training sectors. Ensuring that the system is supported by its partners and is operating in an effective manner.



• Identifying the area’s workforce development needs, brokering customized business services related to workforce development and either authorizing Workforce Investment Act (WIA) funds and/or pursuing other resources to meet business and job-seeker needs.



• Approving WIA-funded training providers and maintaining ‘report cards’ (effective1/1/02) related to the quality of provider training.



• Developing and maintaining current local labor market information.

Our Workforce Investment Area

Our workforce investment area is comprised of Allegany and Cattaraugus Counties. There are 15 mandated partners in our system, each of whom brings workforce development resources to the table from a variety of governmental funding sources. In addition, we have several associated organizations that are not required by law to participate but do so in order to strengthen our network of services.

There are two Centers (called One-Stop Centers) for service delivery. One is in Belmont at 7 Wells Lane and is known as the Employment and Training One Stop Center. The other is the Cattaraugus One-Stop Career Center, located at 175 Union Street, Olean. These Centers are the hubs for the delivery of services by the system’s many partners.