April was National County Government Month, therefore it was fitting that on the 30th, NACo posted an article on its website related to a Federal initiative to prepare Americans for high-paying skilled trade jobs of the future through an alliance between the Departments of Labor, Education, and Commerce.
The Labor Secretary, Lori Chavez-DeRemer—and the Secretaries of Commerce and Education—will be collaborating “to develop strategies for enhancing the experience and outcomes of participants in federal workforce and education programs, recommend opportunities for program consolidation and identify underperforming initiatives.”
In March, KRA featured Chavez-DeRemer in Women’s History Month article, noting that as a former member of the House Education and Workforce Committee, she had voted for passage of A Stronger Workforce for America (ASWA), the WIOA reauthorization legislation. KRA believes her advocacy for ASWA will play a critical role in shaping the outcome of this effort to bridge the gaps and synergistically leverage the unique workforce-development functions of the three Departments.
What could this tri-departmental alliance mean for the nation’s county-led WDB organizations? According to NACo,
- “Counties are critical in workforce development, employing one in 50 Americans, creating pathways for job opportunities and partnering with local institutions to build responsive systems.
- “Counties play a vital role in managing federal, state and local funding to support school districts, career centers and technical training programs that equip individuals for high-demand careers.
- “Counties are involved in 90 percent of the nation’s 550 local workforce development boards, working closely with businesses, industry leaders and community colleges to develop internships, apprenticeships and on-the-job training programs that reflect regional labor market needs.
“This active collaboration ensures education and training are aligned with both current and future economic opportunities.”
Through decades of operating WIOA-funded programs for municipal, regional, and state Boards—and multiple counties in California, Maryland, New Jersey, Ohio, Illinois, et al—KRA is proud to support our WDB partners in shaping local economies by levering workforce-services resources, aligning workforce skills with the needs of jobseekers and businesses, and tailoring skills-training programs to provide bridges that connect employers with qualified workers to facilitate lasting, impactful job placements.
We join NACo “in closely monitoring proposed changes to federal workforce and education programs to assess their potential impact on county governments.”