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| Southwest Virginia Workforce Development Board | |
|---|---|
| Name | Southwest Virginia Workforce Development Board |
| Type | Local workforce development board |
| Formed | 2000s |
| Jurisdiction | Southwest Virginia region |
| Headquarters | Southwest Virginia |
| Leader title | Chair |
Southwest Virginia Workforce Development Board. The Southwest Virginia Workforce Development Board administers regional workforce initiatives, aligning local labor market strategies with federal and state policies to support jobseekers and employers. It coordinates efforts across workforce development areas, economic development districts, educational institutions, and community organizations to deliver training, placement, and business services.
The board functions as a local workforce policy body connecting regional entities such as the U.S. Department of Labor, Virginia Community College System, Virginia Employment Commission, Appalachian Regional Commission, and regional chambers of commerce including the Bristol Chamber of Commerce and Roanoke Regional Chamber of Commerce. It interfaces with higher education institutions like Radford University, Virginia Tech, Southwest Virginia Community College, and the University of Virginia to develop workforce pipelines. The board also interacts with federal programs such as Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act and state agencies like the Virginia Department of Labor and Industry while coordinating with nonprofit partners including Goodwill Industries International, United Way, and local community action agencies.
The board emerged amid federal workforce reforms following legislation including the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act and earlier acts like the Workforce Investment Act of 1998. Regional workforce governance in Southwest Virginia evolved alongside initiatives from the Appalachian Regional Commission and economic shifts tied to industries represented by U.S. Steel Corporation, Boeing, and the Norfolk Southern Railway. The board’s history reflects partnerships with workforce intermediaries such as CareerSource Florida-style models, collaborations with local school divisions like Bristol Virginia Public Schools and Roanoke City Public Schools, and responses to regional disruptions from events like the decline of coal mining represented by Alpha Natural Resources and transitions supported by Department of Energy workforce grants.
The board’s jurisdiction covers counties and cities in Southwest Virginia, working with elected officials from localities such as Buchanan County, Virginia, Wise County, Virginia, Lee County, Virginia, Scott County, Virginia, Bristol, Virginia, and Kingsport, Tennessee-area collaborations where bi-state coordination occurs. Governance follows appointed membership models consistent with guidance from the U.S. Department of Labor and the Virginia Board of Workforce Development, including private sector business representatives drawn from employers like CVS Health, Walgreens Boots Alliance, and manufacturing firms such as Smithfield Foods and Alcoa Corporation. Oversight involves partnerships with regional economic development authorities such as the Mount Rogers Planning District Commission and the Lenowisco Planning District Commission.
Core programs include adult, dislocated worker, and youth services under Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act funding, sector-based training for fields tied to healthcare employers like HCA Healthcare and Sentara Healthcare, apprenticeships coordinated with labor unions such as the International Brotherhood of Teamsters and trade groups like Associated Builders and Contractors, and incumbent worker training with industry partners including RockTenn and Domtar. The board supports career navigation services linking jobseekers to credentials from institutions like New River Community College and Virginia Highlands Community College, as well as industry-recognized certifications from organizations like CompTIA, American Welding Society, and Project Management Institute.
Key stakeholders include federal partners (U.S. Department of Labor, U.S. Department of Commerce), state entities (Virginia Employment Commission, Virginia Community College System), local employers (regional hospitals, manufacturers, logistics firms), education providers (Virginia Tech Carilion School of Medicine, Emory & Henry College), workforce intermediaries (Goodwill Industries International, National Farmworker Jobs Program affiliates), and community organizations such as United Way of Southwest Virginia and local Chamber of Commerce offices. Strategic alliances involve the Appalachian Regional Commission, regional planning commissions, and private foundations like the Ford Foundation and W.K. Kellogg Foundation when competitive grants are sought.
Funding streams include federal allocations from Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act formula grants, project grants from the U.S. Department of Labor, state appropriations mediated by the Virginia Department of Labor and Industry and the Virginia Board of Workforce Development, and partnerships leveraging resources from economic development grants administered by the Appalachian Regional Commission and Economic Development Administration. Budget cycles require compliance with audit standards influenced by Office of Management and Budget circulars, and expenditures often support training contracts with community colleges and service providers such as Goodwill Industries International and local private training firms.
Performance metrics align with federal measures under the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act—including employment retention, credential attainment, and median earnings. Outcomes are reported to state agencies like the Virginia Board of Workforce Development and federal overseers such as the U.S. Department of Labor, and are compared against regional benchmarks from entities like the Appalachian Regional Commission and labor market data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics. The board uses data tools from providers such as Burning Glass Technologies and Economic Modeling Specialists Intl. to track sectoral demand, placement rates with employers like Sentara Healthcare and HCA Healthcare, and progress toward regional objectives in partnership with economic development organizations.
Category:Organizations based in Virginia