A description of the process used by the Board, consistent with WIOA §108(d), to provide a 30-day public comment period before submission of the plan, including an opportunity to have input into the development of the Local Plan, particularly for representatives of businesses, education, and labor organizations. Comments submitted during the public comment period that represent disagreement with the plan must be submitted with the Local Plan.
WFSDallas published the Plan in the Dallas Morning News on February 7, 2021 and via the dallasnews.com.
In addition, WFSDallas published the public notice on the board’s website on February 5th at wfsdallas.com for a 30-day public comment period prior to submission of the plan. The Plan Summary was presented to the Dallas County Commissioners on February 19, 2021 for additional comments/feedback. A public hearing was held on March 9, 2021 via zoom at 11:00 a.m. The Dallas Morning News Publication and Public hearing provided representatives from business, education and labor an opportunity to comment on the Local Plan.
All comments received are included in the plan for review. A recording of the public hearing and agenda located at: https://www.wfsdallas.com/about/board-meetings/
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Public Comment Received:
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Appendix: Texas Workforce Investment Council Requirements Local Workforce Development Board Strategic Planning System Goal 1 and Rationale
Focus on Employers
By accessing critical education and labor data sets, employers can better find and plan for skilled workers to meet their needs in both the immediate time frame and the future. Through greater engagement with employers, education and training providers can better design career and technical education content and delivery options that are more aligned with industry needs. Providers can make adjustments in program content to benefit employers and students, as well as address both state and regional economic needs.
System Goal 1 – Local Board Response
WFSDallas analyzes local data and community resources to best serve our employer and job seeker customers. Over the years, we have sought new methods to increase the availability of better career and technical program design options that closely align with industry needs. Our workforce system is nimble and flexible with necessary modifications to meet local/regional and state economic needs. As described in the plan above, WFSDallas maintains close partnerships to meet these needs. Pages 10-11 describes different industry initiatives by high demand industry sectors. Page 12 indicates COVID-19 modifications to assist job seekers and employers. Within the Amazon fulfillment center, WFSDallas and neighboring boards, collaborated to meet the workforce needs via Work in Texas, onsite employment assistance and screening of applicants.
System Goal 2 and Rationale Engage in Partnerships
Through collaborative and transparent processes, workforce system partners focus on outcomes that improve the employability of all program participants – from across a wide spectrum of capabilities and experiences – to meet employer needs. The leveraging of partnerships to enhance system alignment and outcomes depends on trust, a culture of collaboration both within and external to the workforce system, deep working relationships, and technical capacity to communicate to share needs, data and information. Partnerships can provide for common planning, intake, and reporting on outcomes, as well as ensuring a “no wrong door” approach to the provision of workforce programs and services.
System Goal 2 – Local Board Response
Board response and corresponding plan page number.
The Dallas workforce system offers a broad range of services addressing workforce challenges with employer-led solutions with a “no wrong door” approach. These services include in-person and virtual events;
customized training, scholarships for job training credentials, adult education, and English as a Second Language; layoff services; virtual and in-person seminars for resumes, interviews and dress for success; and we may offer subsidized training supplies, uniforms, childcare and transportation. As we plan ahead with the large number of displaced workers, displaced by COVID-19, we have launched JobsNow! to provide
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immediate career services through Facebook Live Monday, virtual job fairs, and highly produced experiences through Easy Virtual Events that feature thousands of jobs each quarter. Page 39 of the Plan, further identifies the vast array of workforce system programs to meet the needs of workforce customers.
System Goal 3 and Rational
By improving transitions, aligning programs, and ensuring portability and transferability, Texas improves access and the ability of all participants to complete programs of study, earn credentials, transition to further education, and gain critical employability skills. Texas employers are better positioned to find and hire the employees they need through an enhanced education and training pipeline.
System Goal 3 – Local Board Response
WFSDallas offers multiple programs to job seekers that ensures participants gain critical employability skills.
These skills have been identified as high demand and in need by local/regional employers. WFSDallas remains ready to meet the needs of local employer by launching in 2021 training for thousands of unemployed workers in in-demand jobs. Dallas benefits from a robust job market, and constant influx of new employers, even during the pandemic. Our efforts continue to aggregate employers within specific industry sectors, with an emphasis on Retain (jobs), Retrain (for employer specifications), and Reboot (our workforce system).
Pages 44 and 45 identifies unique employer focused initiatives to better position Texas Employers find and hire employees they need.
System Goal 4 and Rationale Improve and Integrate Programs
Accelerate employment and improve efficiencies through shared resources that can be leveraged to create new, relevant, and innovative opportunities that serve the needs of all stakeholders. By addressing high-priority programmatic needs through an integrated strategy, decision making at the system, partner and participant levels is improved and system delivery is enhanced. The changing economic and educational landscapes provide opportunities to share relevant data through appropriate “push” mechanisms in an organized manner to key stakeholders who rely on information generated by system partners.
System Goal 4-Local Board Response
To accelerate and improve efficiencies of shared resources and leveraged partnerships, WFSDallas is poised to meet the needs of local job seekers and employers. As indicated in the plan and strategies described above, WFSDallas will focus on work&learn strategies, technology tools, private sector investments, quality child care, and share labor market information with our education/chamber/economic development and community leaders as well as other system partners. The partnerships of the Workforce Ecosystem are more critical in a time of disruption and recovery. WFSDallas will accomplish the attached goals for 2021-2024:
• Assist employers to retain the workforce, fill vacancies and retrain workers for new job specifics
• Assist job seekers to retrain, rehire, and upskill for this rapidly changing marketplace
• Convene the community to provide labor market data, job specific and industry information, in-person and virtual hiring events for today’s jobs
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• Assist young adults in planning and executing their future career plan
• Assist anyone to achieve a better record of academic achievement and work credentials – to obtain that dream career including ESL instruction
• Assist working parents to local and pay for quality child care for infants, toddlers and after school care for young students
• Assist the child care industry to increase quality and sustainability through innovative training and financial strategies.