In July 2014, the same month and year that WIOA was signed into law, as part of its contract with the Alameda County Workforce Investment Board (WIB), KRA Corporation implemented an Employer Services Hub Program, tasked with outreach to area businesses as a centralized point-of-service. Connected to the County’s six American Job Centers, the KRA/Hub employed a consultative approach with its business-customers to address their workforce plans, including growth and competitiveness.
One year later, when WIOA became effective, the legislation made it quite clear that WIBs, through their contracted service-providers, focus efforts on more effectively engaging businesses, i.e. developing an in-depth understanding of employers’ needs to connect them to community resources that can serve them holistically. Consequently, the Hub was reorganized into a more comprehensive Alameda County Business Development Group (BDG) program.
Immediately, the KRA/BDG communicated its expanded purpose to the business community, partners, and stakeholders, i.e. to aggressively support employers in assessing their short- and long-term business needs, and to assist them in identifying, or developing, qualified workers to maintain and/or expand their enterprises in targeted, high-growth industry sectors.
Based upon individual employer requirements, the KRA/BDG provides recruitment, screening, and job-placement and retention follow-up services. Customized education and training programs provide eligible jobseekers with industry-recognized credentialing and certification to ensure qualification for job openings identified by employers as critical to their business operations, competitive status, and future growth.
Dr. Boone’s 20+ years’ experience in the industry is extensive and her expertise in private-, public-, and non-profit sector workforce-services organizations is unparalleled, particularly in the Baltimore–Washington Metropolitan area.
