HRIC

	Government of the Virgin Islands of the United States
	*Department of Labor*
	Workforce Investment Council

STRATEGIC TWO-YEAR STATE WORKFORCE INVESTMENT PLAN 2007- Please direct all questions and comments to Adele Soto, Executive Director at (340) 773-5237 or acsoto@viaccess.net.

THE WORKFORCE INVESTMENT COUNCIL

The Job Training Partnership Act (JTPA), authorized in 1982 aimed to assist the most disadvantaged members of our population in developing skills, obtaining jobs and continuing education goals. To do this it provided assistance to individuals with various barriers to success. Those barriers included poor economic conditions and limited education. Remedies were sought through programs that taught basic educational and work readiness skills, assisted women with finding non-traditional employment at higher wages, facilitated the learning process for individuals with limited English proficiency and provided the disabled population with resources that build their self confidence as well as job skills. The management and oversight responsibility for the coordination of these programs were the responsibility of the Private Industry Council and the State Job Training Coordinating Council.

The Human Resource Investment Council, an outgrowth of the State Job Training Coordinating Council was first authorized under the JTPA Reform Amendments of 1992. They were not mandatory but were encouraged. Their mission was to do more than coordinate the efforts of the Job Training Partnership Act - they were charged with streamlining all employment and training efforts among government agencies, the private sector, education institutions and non-profit organizations.

The Workforce Investment Act of 1998 (WIA) reinforced the requirements of this State-level Council, now known as the State Workforce Investment Board by requiring a stronger role for them by "shifting emphasis from 'nitty-gritty' operational details to strategic planning and oversight of the One-Stop service delivery system".

The State Workforce Investment Board spearheads systemic reforms through broad-based strategic planning that facilitates improved efficiency in operations, improved service delivery, outcome-based accountability, and increased employer involvement.

As we move through the 21st century with its rapid-fire technological advances and globalization issues, the Virgin Islands as well as the rest of the mainland is still faced with leveling the playing field. Though our economy is built on the "new workplace," the "old workforce" is still in contention and must be trained to operate in this new environment.

Providing for the needs of the CUSTOMER is the primary objective of The Workforce Investment Act of 1998 . The customer is every member of the workforce - the job seeker and the employer, the incumbent worker and the potential investor in the Territory.

The Workforce Investment Board is attempting to meet this challenge by capturing a complete and realistic picture of the Territory's workplace needs. It is assessing the demand occupations in the Territory, gauging the workplace requirements of the employer and encouraging the development of work-readiness and training programs tied to the occupational worker with the tools needed to be a part of the workforce.

For more information about the VI Workforce Investment Board operating as the Human Resource Investment Council, please contact Adele Soto, Executive Director at (340) 773-5237 or acsoto@viaccess.net.

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