The Aroostook/Washington Local Workforce Investment Board (LWIB) is taking the latest Workforce Investment Act (WIA) Common Measures results as a sign that efforts to better employ and educate workers are working.
Statewide for program year 2012 negotiated Department of Labor rates have been met or exceeded, and in the case of Aroostook and Washington counties the results were even better.
In the Adult Program, 84.7 percent of the clients statewide entered the workforce, which was more than 2.5 percent higher than the target goal. In Aroostook and Washington County that figure was 94 percent. In youth programs, 90 percent of the 18- 24-year-old clients in Aroostook and Washington counties were placed in employment or education, besting the negotiated goal of 62.3 percent. Statewide, the number was 63.8 percent. For attainment of a degree or certificate, the numbers were even higher — 95.83 percent — well above the goal of 68.9 percent.
“This is an exciting accomplishment for our area and is a true indication of some positive movement in our local economy, as well as the hard work and dedication of my Maine Department of Labor team in Washington County and of the Aroostook County Action Program staff in Aroostook County,” said Nichole Jamison, manager Washington County CareerCenters. “These measures are not simply about people getting jobs, but represent basic skills upgrading, credential attainment and gainful employment in high wage and in demand occupations.”
Ryan Pelletier, executive director Aroostook Washington Workforce Investment Board, said not only did the state and Region 1 WIB meet or exceed the 2012 goals, in most cases they exceeded the 2013 goals as well.
“I think a lot of it has to do with our dedication of our service providers,” he said. “Both of the staffs in Aroostook and Washington counties spend a great deal of time with the clients, working with them to achieve their education and training they need to meet their goals.”
Torry Eaton of the Aroostook County Action Program echoed Pelletier’s sentiment thanking the front-line staffs who work with the counties’ unemployed and underemployed to gain the skills to fill the needs of local employers.
Officials explained that WIA funds are often used to conduct workforce education and career pathways programs, but supplemental dollars may also be responsible for the Common Measures success.
“The availability of non-WIA funding has been a key factor in the ability of our area to increase enrollments while maintaining on course with spending,” said Leane Page, program director through the Northern Maine Development Commission. “Our WIA providers have effectively leveraged additional resources to serve 471 participants. The dedication and commitment of the WIA job counselors to elevate the skills of our workforce is to be commended.”
“Our region has always stretched its dollars to make room for as many participants as we possibly can to ensure everyone gets the service they need,” added Pelletier.
Maine is comprised of four workforce investment regions; the Aroostook and Washington counties region is the largest geographic workforce investment area in the state and covers more than 9,000 square miles. Some of the responsibilities of the Workforce Development Department include planning, overseeing, and evaluating local workforce development programs, including the CareerCenter operations in Presque Isle, Machias and Calais.
In addition, LWIB staff direct WIA compliance through interactions and negotiations with the Maine Department of Labor, Bureau of Employment Services and through CareerCenter oversight.
The LWIB also partners with the economic development community to promote the region’s economic prosperity and serves as the point of contact for business and industry, facilitating communications regarding workforce needs in our area. The LWIB is also charged by law to implement a comprehensive workforce development system that adds value for job seekers, incumbent workers and employers. Included in this plan is the promotion of strategies to encourage life-long learning, improve workplace skills and assist in the development of new training programs to benefit the region’s workforce.
Staff with the LWIB actively seeks federal and state grant funds and builds partnerships with other agencies to offer training and education programs to unemployed, incumbent and dislocated workers and youth in the region.
The fiscal administration of the Workforce Investment Act (WIA) was transferred to Northern Maine Development Commission from the Aroostook County Commissioners in February of 2010.
