Workforce Development

People are a community’s greatest economic resource. The goal of Workforce Development activities is to assist individuals to achieve their greatest potential to obtain and retain meaningful employment. Developing enhanced job skills leads to maximizing employment opportunities for individuals, while employers benefit by gaining access to more qualified workers.

Funded by the federal Workforce Investment Act, Welfare-to-Work, and state/local Workforce Investment Boards, Workforce Development services are customized to meet the needs of job seekers and the surrounding labor market.

Activities range from classroom training of job skills to employment readiness training. The focus of workforce development services is to overcome existing obstacles which limit employment by offering practical and creative solutions. Employment services include Vocational Evaluation, Job Placement, Skills Training, and Support Employment. In some parts of the country we also offer specialized services for individuals who are deaf and hard of hearing, for those who have traumatic brain injury and for those who are blind or have visual impairments.

Services target a variety of populations, including:

• Youth without work experience
• Dislocated workers
• Welfare-to-Work participants
• Incumbent workers
• Adult first-time job seekers

Aiding workers in skill development and linking them to employment opportunities is only half the equation, while insuring that the business community has the skilled workers needed to successfully compete in a global economy is the other half. Workforce Development services strive to meet the needs of both job seekers and the business community.

Workforce Development services are offered in Michigan, West Virginia, Ohio, New York, Missouri, and Pennsylvania.