Tacoma-Pierce County Employment And Training Consortium

This 2024-2028 Local Integrated Workforce Plan for Pierce County aims to achieve economic equity and prosperity through a robust workforce development system. Led by the Pierce County Workforce Development Board and stewarded by WorkForce Central, the plan prioritizes Job Seeker Solutions, Business Solutions, and Regional Alignment. It emphasizes a commitment to anti-racism, equity, diversity, and inclusion, focusing on strengthening the Common Referral System, aligning partner organizations for streamlined access, and ensuring human-centered, equitable service delivery to meet the evolving needs of businesses and job seekers.

This document outlines Pierce County's Workforce Development Ecosystem, detailing its four primary facets: Education & Training, Career Services, Employer Services, and Community Resources. It describes key roles, intersectionality, intended outcomes, and areas of impact. The ecosystem aims to strengthen the workforce by centering on individuals, promoting complete paid work experience, fostering credential recognition, providing industry-recognized training, and encouraging employer commitment to living wages. Key outcomes include increased accessibility to workforce services and enhanced digital literacy for job seekers.

The WFC Executive Board meeting agenda included a WDC Update, followed by a Consent Agenda covering the approval of June 2020 Minutes, June 2020 Voucher Payments, and an Emergency Declaration. The Regular Agenda focused heavily on contract approvals, including appropriation of $1,260,059 for the COVID-19 Disaster Recovery Dislocated Worker Grant, and numerous contracts with ResCare and Career Team Services for various workforce services (Business Solutions, WIOA Title 1 Young Adult, Dislocated Worker, and Adult services). Other regular topics included the Integrated Local Plan, an interim update and farewell for Helen, discussion on WDC and CLEO responsibilities, and WDC recruitment. The CEO Report covered transition progress, internal equity work, a Business Solutions recommendation, Recovery Grants, Contract Compliance, and Bylaw Revision.

The meeting commenced with a welcome and a compelling story illustrating the positive impact of the Community Reinvestment Funds incentive program on a job seeker. The consent agenda, which included the April 2025 Meeting Minutes, the April 2025 Financial Report, and various vouchers from March, April, and May 2025, was approved. The main discussion focused on the Program Year 2025 Budget (July 2025 to June 2026), which reflects a budget decrease of approximately $6.4 million compared to the previous year. Key agenda items included a presentation on disconnected young adults in Pierce County, an update on the Pierce County Internships initiative where 650 young adults connected with over 45 employers, and a review of accomplishments under the Behavioral Health Consortium, which has helped establish new behavioral health apprenticeships in the county.

The meeting included updates on the Workforce Development Council (WDC), discussion and approval of changes to the WorkForce Central CEO's employment date, and approval of a surplus list. Updates were provided on the One Stop System Operator, the Q1 Obligation Report, the Power UP 98404 Kick Off, the Parkland Career Center Ribbon Cutting, the Pierce County Career Day, and the development of a Medical Assistant Apprenticeship Program in Pierce County. An executive session was held for a CEO search.