The Centralina Workforce Development Board is in YOUR Community!

During the month of June 2010, the Centralina Workforce Development Board has been actively involved with events, seminars, training sessions, and other meetings all designed to help build a better workforce for our region. Beyond our involvement with the NCAWP Region III meeting, Mitchell Community College ‘s Administrative Retreat, the 2010 Advanced Manufacturing Awards, and the BICEPS and CAFÉ events detailed in this e-newsletter, here are some the activities of the Board members and WDB staff for June.

Centralina Workforce Development Board meeting - held on Tuesday June 8 at the Cabarrus Regional Chamber of Commerce in Kannapolis. The Board approved the recommendations from the Youth Council for PY 2010 WIA Youth service providers and also approved PY 2010 WIA Adult and Dislocated Worker service providers. A detailed report was presented by staff on the competing bids for funding. The Board reviewed and discussed the report from the recently held Strategic Planning Retreat. The Board accepted the recommendations presented in the report and will form a taskforce of Board members and JobLink managers to tackle implementation of the strategies outlined. The Board received information on the three Incumbent Worker grant applications approved for funding by the NC Department of Commerce; discussed the Advanced Manufacturing Awards event to be held on June 24 in Concord; received information on the Centralina Youth Services Summit planned for September 24; and reviewed the latest labor market information for the region as well as the JobLink Quarterly Report. Information on regional initiatives and updates on other key workforce issues were also provided.

Bob VanGorden (BVG Consulting – Cabarrus County) was reelected Chair of the Centralina WDB for the next fiscal year (July 1, 2010 to June 30, 2011). Janet Hudson (Brooks Food Group – Union County – was reelected Vice-Chair.

Centralina WDB JobLink Career Center Managers meeting – held on Tuesday June 8 at the Cabarrus Regional Chamber of Commerce in Kannapolis. Managers and WDB staff discussed the report from the recently held WDB Strategic Planning retreat and next steps for improving JobLink operations. Managers reviewed and discussed items from the JobLink Coordinators Forum, including the chartering process and also discussed usage of JobLink enhancement funds.

Centralina WDB Youth Council meeting – held on Thursday June 3 at the Cabarrus Boys & Girls Club in Concord. The Youth Council reviewed request for proposals for the provision of WIA Youth Services for PY 2010. Recommendations were made. The Youth Council also approved a new member (Leon Gatewood – Anson County), selected a Vice-Chair (Gisella Busse – Lincoln County), and reviewed recent events involving youth (NC Youth Summit, visit to NC General Assembly, and Anson County Student/Business Forum).

Monroe Economic Development Commission meeting - held on Thursday June 25 at Charlotte Pipe and Foundry in Monroe. Centralina WDB Business Services Coordinator Vail Cater attended this meeting and provided participants with valuable local labor market information as well as updates on activities with the Union County JobLink Career Center and its partners.

Union County JobReady Partnership meeting – held on Thursday June 17 at Union County Chamber of Commerce in Monroe. David Hollars, Centralina WDB Executive Director, attended this meeting.

NC Workforce Development Leadership Academy – Session 2 – held June 8-10 in Asheville. Centralina WDB Program Associate Natasha Pender is participating in this year long training session.

Iredell County Gang Symposium – held on Tuesday June 22 in Statesville. Centralina WDB Program Associate Natasha Pender participated in this meeting along with many local community and JobLink partner agencies.

Rowan-Cabarrus Community College Work-Based and Cooperative Learning Advisory Committee meeting – held on Tuesday June 22 at Rowan-Cabarrus CC in Salisbury. Centralina WDB Program Associate Natasha Pender participated in this meeting.

Charlotte USA – Energy Capital Initiative – Workforce Taskforce meetings – held on Thursday June 3 and Wednesday June 9 at CPCC Harris Campus. Centralina WDB Executive Director David Hollars participated in this meeting along with representatives from Duke Energy, Central Piedmont CC, and York Tech as planning continues for the Energy Summit on August 3.

Marketing Career & Technical Education taskforce meeting – held on Tuesday June 15 at the Piedmont Triad Partnership in Greensboro. Centralina WDB Executive Director David Hollars participated in this meeting devoted to finalizing the marketing plan and implementation for fall 2010.

NC Workforce Development Board Directors Council meeting – held on Thursday June 24 at the Deep River Event Center in Greensboro. Centralina WDB Executive Director David Hollars participated in this meeting involving NC Department of Commerce – Division of Workforce Development staff members.

NC Department of Commerce – Division of Workforce Development – JobLink Coordinators Forum – held on Wednesday June 2 at Blue Ridge Community College in Flat Rock. David Hollars, Centralina WDB Executive Director, attended this meeting along with Cabarrus County JobLink Career Center manager Carolyn Mays.

Charlotte Regional Economic & Workforce Recovery Initiative Team meetings – held on Wednesday June 2 at CPCC Harris Campus. This group is implementing plans and strategies to address the current and anticipated layoffs from the financial service sector businesses in the Charlotte region, as requested by Governor Beverly Perdue. Vail Carter, Centralina WDB Business Services Representative participated in this meeting.

PY 2009 Annual Workforce Investment Act (WIA) monitoring of Adult and Dislocated Worker services – conducted by Patricia White, Centralina WDB Operations Manager and Michelle McNulty, Centralina WDB Accountability Specialist with the Employment Security Commission in Anson County (June 9), Cabarrus County (June 10), Iredell County (Mooresville – June 14 and Statesville – June 21), Rowan County (June 16), Stanly County (June 17), Union County (June 18), ESC Finance Office in Raleigh (June 23), and Lincoln County (June 24).

Workforce Business Development and Assistance – provided by Vail Carter, Centralina WDB Business Services Representative for the following area companies:

These are only a few examples of how your Centralina Workforce Development Board is actively involved with our partners in our counties every month. To find out more about getting involved with the Centralina Workforce Development Board, please contact David Hollars at (704) 348-2717 or by e-mail at dhollars@centralina.org. The Centralina Workforce Development – The Competitive Force in Our Global Economy.

Special Workforce Initiatives
     Competitive Workforce Alliance
     NC Research Campus