Bi-Partisan House Resolution Supporting September 2024 as “National Workforce Development Month” Introduced

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A bipartisan group of House members introduced House Resolution 1453

Reps. Suzanne Bonamici (D-OR), Brett Guthrie (R-KY), Glenn (GT) Thompson (R-PA), and Lucy McBath (D-GA), introduced the resolution which recognizes the vital role of workforce development in supporting jobseekers, businesses, and local economies. The resolution designates September 2024 as National Workforce Development Month.

Brad Turner-Little, President and CEO of NAWB stated,

“We are thrilled to see a bipartisan group of members of Congress taking action to recognize the vital economic role of workforce development… It is heartening to see the collaboration, often led by workforce development boards, receive this kind of recognition from Congress.”

The resolution specifically highlights that collaboration among multiple stakeholders—including state and local governments, workforce development boards, governors, state and local education and human services agencies, community colleges, local businesses, employment service providers, and community-based organizations—is essential for long-term, sustainable, and successful workforce development across traditional sectors and emerging industries.

The resolution also stresses the critical need for increased investment in workforce development, noting the following statistics:

  • The Bureau of Labor Statistics reported in July 2024 that there are approximately 8.2 million unfilled jobs in the U.S., which negatively impacts corporate productivity, reduces the local tax base, and hinders global competitiveness.
  • 76% of business leaders say that greater support for skills development would help their businesses.
  • As of August 2024, in the U.S., there are:
    • 7.1 million unemployed individuals.
    • Unemployment rates for Black and Hispanic adults are significantly higher than for White adults.
    • Workers without postsecondary education and skills development are more likely to be unemployed.
  • The Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) supports employment, skills development, and support services for approximately 2.9 million individuals with barriers to employment, including:
    • Low-income individuals.
    • Long-term unemployed individuals.
    • Individuals displaced by outsourcing.
    • Individuals living in rural or persistently high unemployment areas.
    • Individuals looking to acquire new skills.
    • Individuals with disabilities.

The more than 550 workforce development boards and 2,400 American Job Centers are a driving force behind regional economic growth by providing resources and assistance to workers striving to compete in the 21st-century economy.

Read the full resolution here.

ACT NOW:

Contact your member of the House of Representatives (find them online or dial the House switchboard at 202-225-3121 and ask to be connected to your representative). Ask them to cosponsor House Resolution 1453 to recognize September 2024 as National Workforce Development Month.

Task Force on Transforming Training and the Eligible Training Provider List

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Recommendations From the Workforce Transformation Policy Council

In 2023, Jobs for the Future (JFF) and NAWB launched the Task Force on Transforming Training and the Eligible Training Provider List (ETPL), an initiative of the Workforce Transformation Policy Council (WTPC).

This task force, composed of executives from workforce development boards nationwide, engaged in a series of meetings and interviews to identify how federal policies can better support workforce systems in delivering people-first, equity-centered outcomes.

The principles and recommendations developed by the task force emphasize the strength of the national workforce development system while prioritizing local responsiveness and data-driven strategies.

Read the full report.

National Association of Workforce Boards Announces 2024 NAWB Award Winners

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2024 NAWB Award Winners Announced, Honorees will receive their awards this March at The Forum in Washington DC.

The National Association of Workforce Boards (NAWB) is proud to announce the recipients of the 2024 NAWB Awards. These prestigious awards—W.O. Lawton, WIOA Trailblazer, and the Community College and Chamber of Commerce Partnership Awards—honor outstanding initiatives by workforce organizations and their collaborators.

2024 Award Recipients:

  • Workforce Solutions Capital Area (Austin/Travis County, TX)
    WIOA Trailblazer Award
    Recognized for its exceptional projects, strategic planning, and innovative labor and demand forecasting.
  • Pittsburgh International Airport
    W.O. Lawton Award
    Honored for its impactful contributions to the community through the PIT2Work program.
  • Hampton Roads Workforce Council
    Excellence in Community College Partnership Award
    Celebrated for integrating education and workforce services with the Community College Workforce Cooperative.
  • Workforce Solutions Greater Dallas
    Excellence in Chamber of Commerce Partnership Award
    Acknowledged for its collaborative work with the Dallas Regional Chamber.

Brad Turner-Little, President and CEO of NAWB, remarked:

“Workforce boards and partners nationwide catalyze economic vitality. These award recipients are inspiring proof points, demonstrating just how much good the workforce system can achieve. We are thrilled to honor their work and dedication.”

“These recipients serve their communities with innovation and impact, providing a model for our workforce system. NAWB is privileged to elevate their efforts.”

The awards will be presented during The Forum 2024, a premier conference for workforce development leaders, businesses, and educators.

For more information about The Forum 2024, visit forum.nawb.org.

About the National Association of Workforce Boards (NAWB):

NAWB represents and advocates for more than 590 Workforce Development Boards across the nation. These boards work in coordination with education and economic development stakeholders to administer regional workforce programs tailored to the needs of job seekers, businesses, and communities.

For more information on NAWB’s initiatives, visit nawb.org.

Brad Turner-Little Named New President and CEO of National Association of Workforce Boards

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Today, NAWB Board of Directors announced the appointment of Brad Turner-Little as President and CEO

Effective Sept. 5. Turner-Little will lead the Washington, D.C.-based nonprofit organization in representing and advocating for the nation’s more than 550 workforce development boards.

“On behalf of the entire Board of Directors, I am pleased to welcome Brad to the National Association of Workforce Boards and look forward to working together to grow the organization and continue to support our members —the hundreds of workforce development boards that are committed to economic prosperity and mobility for people all across the United States,”

said Lisanne McNew, chair of NAWB’s Board of Directors.

Turner-Little brings to NAWB a wealth of experience and knowledge about workforce development and national membership networks, as well as a strong desire to advance policy that enables local workforce development boards to serve their communities even more effectively.

“I am truly honored and eager to join the National Association of Workforce Boards in furthering its mission,” said Turner-Little. “Throughout my career, I have witnessed firsthand the transformative power of work in shaping individuals’ lives, and how workforce development drives economic growth in our communities. As we move forward, I am committed to working closely with our exceptional professional team, Board of Directors, partners and members across the country to navigate the opportunities and challenges ahead and identify innovative solutions that will empower workforce development boards, enhance business competitiveness, and create a more prosperous future for all.”

Turner-Little joins NAWB from Goodwill Industries International, where he most recently served as Vice President, Strategy and Network Experience. Over the course of his nearly 25-year career with Goodwill at both the local and association levels, he served in a variety of roles, including senior director of transformation and, before that, senior director of change management and innovation. Throughout his tenure at Goodwill, Turner-Little was at the forefront of the organization’s development and implementation of strategic and transformational efforts, most notably defining its mission, and establishing external partnerships in for-profit and not-for-profit sectors.

For more than 40 years, the National Association of Workforce Boards has acted as the steward of its members’ collective voice, advocating for resources, policy, and more flexibility in the workforce system in Washington, D.C., and beyond.

Turner-Little looks forward to leading the organization is future-focused on continuing to accelerate the impact of workforce development boards to advance prosperity for individuals, businesses, and communities.