WHO IS THE SOUTHWEST TN WORKFORCE BOARD?
The Southwest Tennessee Local Workforce Development Board is comprised of members from across 8 counties in Southwest TN, including Chester, Decatur, Hardeman, Hardin, Haywood, Henderson, Madison and McNairy Counties. Board members are appointed by local county mayors and confirmed by the Governor.
Makeup of the Workforce Development Board
Workforce Development Boards must be a majority private sector/business representatives and also include representatives of education providers, labor organizations, community-based organizations, and economic development agencies.
Role of the Local Workforce Development Board
The local Board, in partnership with local elected officials, plan and oversee the local workforce system. Local plans are created and updated annually to be submitted for the Governor’s approval.
What is the Local Plan?
A key responsibility of the Board is to develop a local plan and submit to the state for approval. Each Local Workforce Development Area (LWDA) Board orchestrates the design of a local plan, which outlines long-term goals, future plans, and relevant data used for sound decision making. The strategic plan establishes a path between the present and a vision for the future, connecting business and industry with a pipeline of skilled employees.
Oversight
Another responsibility of the local Board is oversight, which is essential to be effective stewards of the system and the tax dollars it manages. The Board:
- Regularly evaluates internal budgets and contractors’ expenditures and progress toward meeting performance goals;
- Designates a “One-Stop” operator who manages and coordinates service delivery at the American Job Centers;
- Directs American Job Center staff to develop procedures to meet performance goals;
- Evaluates staff performance;
- Identifies providers of training services;
- Monitors system performance against established performance measures;
- Negotiates local performance measures with the state board and the Governor;
- Helps develop the labor market information system;
- Leverages public and private resources to meet business needs and promote economic growth.
To be effective, oversight must be an ongoing, continuous process.
The Administrative Entity and Fiscal Agent
The Administrative Entity and Fiscal Agent disburses funds for workforce investment activities at the direction of the Local Workforce Development Board with the concurrence of the County Local Chief Elected Official. Southwest Human Resource Agency serves as the Fiscal Agent.
WHY IS WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT IMPORTANT?
Our American Job Centers work to eliminate the barriers to employment, particularly those created by poverty, which requires addressing numerous factors such as transportation, childcare, healthcare, education, and work ethic. It is critical for the workforce system to address these barriers in order to not only assist individuals in becoming self-sufficient, but also to ensure the employment needs of employers in the region are met.