The Workforce Investment Act of 1998 (WIA)

"The Workforce Investment Act, more than five years in the making, will rework the nation's job-training system, empowering individuals to acquire the skills they need in the new economy. It consolidates 60 separate federal programs into three block grants, with considerable flexibility for the states. Workers who will never know the names of these legislators are in their debt."
David Broder; The Washington Post, August 5, 1998.

The Workforce Investment Act of 1998 (WIA) is a federal law to address workforce development. It creates Workforce Investment Boards (WIBs) that have broad scopes of responsibility for overseeing workforce development for their communities. WIA provides funds to local areas through states to meet local needs, and emphasizes meeting both the needs of business and job seekers. The Workforce Investment Act replaces the Job Training Partnership Act; the Workforce Investment Board replaces the Private Industry Council.

For more information on the complete legislation, go to www.usworkforce.org or the New York State website - www.wdsny.org.

Key components of the Act call for:

Accessibility - Requires that employers and job seekers receive a variety of services at convenient "One-Stop " career center locations as well as via technology.

Choice - Gives individuals the ability to choose the training they need and the training provider they feel suits them best.

Accountability - Requires regular assessment of One-Stop career centers, training providers and other service providers with a "report card" or "consumer report" made public regularly.

Coordination - Calls all community stakeholders -employers, educators, labor organizations, community based organizations, government agencies -together to develop a long-range comprehensive community plan to develop the workforce.

Under the Workforce Investment Act, businesses and job-seekers are eligible for core employment assistance services such as job search and placement assistance, labor market information, resume preparation, initial assessment of skills and needs, and information about available services and job openings. Those who need more intensive assistance including training will be served as well. These services will be provided through "One-Stop" career centers.

The Workforce Investment Act also emphasizes services to youth by establishing Youth Councils, which are subgroups of the local boards. Youth Councils plan and coordinate youth workforce preparation services. They make recommendations to the WIB about youth workforce preparation policies.

The Workforce Investment Act authorizes three funding streams: adults, dislocated workers and youth. Eighty- five percent of adult and youth funds will be allocated to local areas; the remainder will be reserved for state- wide activities. The total Cattaraugus-Allegany Workforce Investment Area funding for the fiscal year beginning July 1, 2001 including the Workforce Investment Act (WIA) funding and other local, state and federal dollars for workforce services is approximately 4 million.

Workforce Investment Board
One Blue Bird Square
Lower Level
Olean, NY 14760
716-806-0060
mailbox@cawib.net