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Virginia Workforce Network (VWN) is the brand name for Virginia’s system of one-stop career centers known as Virginia Workforce Centers, and other activities related to the Workforce Investment Act.
The Workforce Investment Act is a federal act that provides workforce investment activities, through statewide and local workforce investment systems, that increase the employment, retention, earnings and occupational skills of participants. As a result, this improves the quality of the workforce, reduces welfare dependency, and enhances the productivity and competitiveness of our Commonwealth and ultimately our nation.
State Rapid Response Activities
Employers and workers facing closures and layoffs can benefit from the States Rapid Response program funded throught the Workforce Investment Act (WIA) statewide funding and operated by the Governor's Office for Workforce Development.
More on the Workforce Investment Act
GRANT OPPORTUNITIES FOR ONE-STOP CENTERS
The U.S. Department of Labor's Employment and Training Administration (DOL/ETA) announced on April 9, 2007 two competitions for grants totaling $3.6 million for faith-based and community organizations to help members of hard-to-serve populations prepare for and succeed in employment.
The Employment and Training Administration expects to award 50 new Grassroots grants at $60,000 each for a total of $3 million. The competitive Solicitation for the Grant can be found at www.doleta.gov/sga/sga.cfm and www.grants.gov. Grant applications are due May 8, 2007.
If you received a Grassroots grant in 2006 from the Employment and Training Administration, you may be eligible for a second grant. The announcement for this grant is forthcoming.
If you have questions about this grant, you should contact at DOL/ETA Peggy Abrahamson or Richard Manning at (202) 693-7909 or (202) 693-4676. For information from the Governor's Office for Workforce Development, contact Kathy Thompson at (804) 371-2649 or by email at Kathy.Thompson@governor.virginia.gov.
United States Department of Labor Homepage
As a part of the Tier II certification process, the Virginia Workforce Council (VWC) has undertaken a new effort to increase the skill sets of front line workers within Virginia's workforce development system. This new effort will involve training staff persons at local career centers and other partner agencies to obtain a certification as a Workforce Development Professional in two areas: Workforce Development and/or Business & Employer Services. The training will be conducted online using a nationally recognized curriculum developed by Dynamic Works Institute. The Dynamic Works Institute has partnered with University of Virginia Workforce Development Academy (WDA) to assist with this project.
All LWIA staff and one-stop partners are invited to participate in the training. Costs for the courses and final certification exams are free. Below you will find a link to the competencies for each certification. As the project moves forward, additional information will be made available online at www.VaEmploy.Com.
Virginia Workforce Centers - One-stop access to workforce, employment and training services of various programs and partner organizations. Each Virginia Workforce Center provides services required by federal legislation plus services designed to meet the needs of the local community.
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Local Workforce Investment Boards - Responsible for establishment and continued operation of Virginia Workforce Centers in each of the sixteen Workforce Investment Areas of the Commonwealth. Workforce Investment Boards provide a forum to assure that workforce training and employment initiatives meet the economic development and business needs of each local area
Virginia Workforce Council - Assists the Governor in meeting the workforce training needs of the Commonwealth. Serves as the State Workforce Investment Board for the federal Workforce Investment Act (WIA). Provides guidance on workforce training issues and operation of Virginia Workforce Centers.