Wisconsin Department of Workforce Development

 
WORKFORCE INVESTMENT COUNCIL TO MEET IN ROCK COUNTY

MADISON-The Governor’s Council on Workforce Investment will meet tomorrow at the Rock County Job Center at 1900 Center Avenue in Janesville at 10:00 am.

The council, comprised of 41 members including Gov. Thompson and business, union and education leaders, has been charged with identifying and implementing working solutions to deal with workforce challenges of the 21^st century.   The council has been asked to build a unified state workforce investment plan and to do so in partnership with the state’s One-Stop partners.

"The cornerstone of our new workforce investment system is our local job centers, which bring the state’s training, education and employment programs together at one convenient location.  It’s truly one-stop shopping that is customer-focused and user-friendly," said Gov. Thompson.

At tomorrow’s meeting, council members will tour the Rock County Job Center and meet with local workforce development officials.  The Rock County Job Center was selected as America’s best one-stop center in America by the International Association of Personnel in Employment Security (IAPES), a worldwide organization of professionals that provides a variety of services related to workforce needs.

Department of Workforce Development Secretary Linda Stewart added, "Council members will have the opportunity to see first-hand a major community resource which provides an array of employment services available to individuals at the local level."

Gov. Thompson created the council in accordance with the federal Workforce Investment Act of 1998 (WIA), which represents a national consensus to consolidate and coordinate the multitude of workforce preparation and development programs.  The council will address employment needs of employers and identify workforce preparation activities for Wisconsin’s underutilized and hidden labor force, and provide them with the skills needed for tomorrow’s workplace.

Gov. Thompson has asked members to identify ways to:

• Enhance training efforts and make life-long learning an integral part of economic planning.
• Help youth transition into technically-skilled jobs after school.
• Encourage the aging population to remain in or return to the workforce.
• Assist the transition of W-2 participants and individuals with disabilities into meaningful work.

(end)

News Release Index Page