"The members and staff
of the Workforce Investment Board play a concrete role in helping to make
New York a city of greater opportunity. Everyone is dedicated to opening
doors a little wider for people who want to improve their lives. I get
tremendous satisfaction knowing that I’m a part of something that is
improving the economic health of our City."
Horace M. Barker, WIB Member; Vice President and Assistant Branch Manager, Smith Barney
Transformation of the New York City Workforce Investment
Board The New York City Workforce Investment Board (WIB) was formed
in response to the Workforce Investment Act (WIA) of 1998 to establish policies
and provide oversight for an array of employment and training services. The WIB
and the New York City workforce programs it oversees are funded primarily from
Federal WIA appropriations.
The year 2003 marked the beginning of a dramatic change in the way the WIB
functions. Mayor Bloomberg, with the support of the City Council, eliminated the
Department of Employment and merged adult workforce programs into the Department of Small
Business Services and youth workforce programs into the Department of Youth and
Community Development. This reorganization provided an opportunity to
significantly strengthen the Workforce Investment Board's ability to effectively
oversee these programs, resulting in an aggressive agenda to build a high
performing, accountable, demand-driven workforce system.
WIB and SBS host Delegation from Hubei Modern Service Industry
Study Mission, China, January, 2009.
The Mayor appointed Executive Director, Marilyn Shea recognized nationally
for workforce expertise. Similarly, staff and agency capacity were increased to
support the Board, and new Board members representing a broader range of
knowledge and experience were recruited. The WIB then began the development of
its first-ever strategic plan, guided by highly regarded leaders in workforce
development. The resulting strategic
plan (in PDF)
identified three primary roles for the Board as a leader in the workforce
system:
1. To conduct effective oversight of the City's Workforce Investment
Act programs 2. To focus on workforce challenges in the City's key
employment sectors 3. To provide stakeholders with critical information
on New York City's workforce and economy
The plan also established a committee structure aimed at
enabling members to focus more efficiently on specific Board roles.
As a result of these changes, New York City's recruitment, screening, and
training programs respond directly to business needs. Now an ever
increasing number of New Yorkers are being connected to jobs,
and businesses are saving time and money.
