Agency collaboration set to advance American Job Center services

A major milestone has been achieved for workforce development in the Shenandoah Valley. Another step has been taken in the consolidation of state and federally-funded workforce development functions into a single American Job Center at the Valley Workforce Center in Harrisonburg.

Highlighting the event was the signing of a partner agreement by ten key regional workforce organizations. This collaborative effort is in response to changes in the federal Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act requiring that workforce services for businesses and job seekers bring providers together under one umbrella to provide seamless, integrated services.

Integration and co-location of resources and services of previously separate, freestanding programs are brought together into one comprehensive center that will serve job seekers and businesses in the region. The agreement establishes guidelines among the workforce partners to create and maintain cooperative working relationships, to facilitate joint planning and evaluation of services, to develop efficient management of limited financial and human resources, and to measure results.

Partners include the Shenandoah Valley Workforce Development Board (SVWDB), the SVWDB Chief Elected Officials Consortium, Goodwill Industries of the Valleys, the Virginia Employment Commission, the Virginia Department for Aging and Rehabilitative Services, Waynesboro Adult Education, Blue Ridge Community College, Harrisonburg/Rockingham County Department of Social Services, Skyline Literacy, and Telamon.

“This is an important effort to streamline and improve access to the many workforce-related services provided by our regional workforce partners at the Valley Workforce Center in Harrisonburg. By combining these services in one American Job Center location, the ability to provide the most convenient and effective service possible to our workforce clients is exponentially increased. We look forward to more great results coming from this collaborative consolidation in the coming years,” said Dr. Sharon Johnson, SVWDB CEO.