NAWB Board Chair Submits Testimony to House Small Business Committee Subcommittee on Innovation, Entrepreneurship, and Workforce Development

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Official Testimony

My name is Lisanne McNew, and I am the owner and CEO of SAFE Engineering in Monument, Colorado. Additionally, I serve as the Board Chair of the National Association of Workforce Boards (NAWB), Immediate Past Chair of the Colorado Workforce Development Council, and Past Board Chair of the Pikes Peak Workforce Development Board in Colorado Springs.

I appreciate the opportunity to testify today about the vital role of small businesses in workforce development and the support provided by workforce boards.

In Colorado, the Pikes Peak Workforce Development Board and our Workforce Center connect businesses with work-ready job seekers and employer-driven services. We assist residents of El Paso and Teller Counties in navigating career transitions—whether they are unemployed, underemployed, or facing other barriers. Our clients range from entry-level to professional, including youth, adults, returning workers, and those overcoming employment challenges. We offer job search and training opportunities, including 20 free job seeker workshops annually, as well as the largest virtual and in-person job fairs in Southern Colorado.

I’d like to share a few key initiatives that highlight our collaboration in small business development:

  • Incumbent Worker Training (IWT): We actively engage with Small Business Development Centers (SBDCs) to promote our programs, including the popular IWT (Employee Development Fund). Recently, five childcare businesses collaborated with an SBDC to apply for IWT grants, resulting in three businesses receiving $15,157 to upskill 38 employees—crucial for sustaining our local childcare workforce. With more resources, workforce boards could expand these efforts significantly.
  • Veterans: We participate in the SBDC’s Veterans Conference to assist veteran-owned businesses in attracting and retaining talent. We provide guidance on skills-based hiring, job descriptions, and other support to help them grow. Our Workforce Development Board is proud of this commitment.
  • Cybersecurity: As cybersecurity becomes increasingly critical for business success, we connect small businesses with high-quality training and resources. We are developing specific training on cybersecurity best practices for small businesses and regularly participate in cybersecurity initiatives to link workers with employers in this vital sector.

The potential for greater integration between workforce boards and small businesses is significant. Earlier this year, NAWB and the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) signed a Strategic Alliance Memorandum (SAM) to enhance collaboration and resource access.

The SBA is an ideal partner for NAWB, representing nearly 600 Workforce Development Boards that collaborate with education and economic development stakeholders to deliver regional workforce programs tailored to job seekers, businesses, and communities. Workforce boards manage over 2,300 American Job Centers and partner with various organizations to serve both businesses and job seekers effectively.

By providing SBA-sponsored assistance through its resource partners, we can better address the challenges of training and support services for small businesses, increasing awareness of available resources.

I hope my testimony illustrates the opportunities for workforce boards to bolster small businesses. Thank you for allowing me to share these insights with the Subcommittee.

NAWB Provides Testimony to Senate Appropriations Subcommittee

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NAWB Testifies for a 5% Funding Increase for WIOA Title I Programs. Read the full testimony below:

Introduction

My name is Brad Turner-Little, and I am privileged to serve as the President and CEO of the National Association of Workforce Boards (NAWB). We represent the nation’s nearly 600 Workforce Development Boards, which coordinate with education and economic development stakeholders to administer regional workforce programs to meet the needs of jobseekers, employers, and their communities.

I appreciate the opportunity to submit this testimony in support of an increased federal investment in the primary Title I formula programs authorized by the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA), including Adult and Dislocated Worker Employment and Training, and Youth Employment Activities.

Proposed Investment

Specifically, we encourage the subcommittee to invest at least $3.08 billion collectively for these three WIOA programs as part of the FY2025 Labor-HHS-Education appropriations bill. This represents a 5% increase over current levels of investment.

The Workforce Development Challenge

  • There are approximately 6.5 million jobseekers in America.
  • Businesses are struggling to fill 8.5 million jobs.
  • Local Workforce Development Boards (WDBs) are the key to connecting these populations.

Role of Workforce Development Boards (WDBs)

  • Conveners and Collaborators: WDBs coordinate with federal, state, and local stakeholders to support economic expansion and workforce talent development.
  • Community Anchors: WDBs manage over 2,000 American Job Centers that deliver direct services to workers and employers.
  • Customized Solutions: WDBs design training programs tailored to local needs, providing skills to underemployed workers and creating partnerships with employers to address workforce challenges.
  • Proven Results: In the most recent program year, core WIOA programs served three million individuals, with over 70% finding employment after receiving services.

Addressing Emerging Trends

Workforce Development Boards must respond to major trends like:

  • Artificial Intelligence (AI) and automation.
  • Upskilling and retraining workers to adapt to technological advancements.

Recent Senate initiatives on AI underscore the importance of workforce retraining and preparation, aligning perfectly with WIOA’s mission.

The Case for Increased Funding

  • Core Title I WIOA program funding has steadily eroded over decades.
  • Real-world impact:
    • Kansas: A 46% funding decrease over the last 10–12 years.
    • Mobile, Alabama: A 40% funding cut in the last five years limits critical services like On-the-Job Training and youth programs.

The Need for Action

NAWB calls on Congress to invest at least $3.08 billion for WIOA programs in FY2025. This is an essential first step toward closing the growing funding gap, ensuring jobseekers can access training, and employers can find skilled workers to remain competitive.

Conclusion

Increasing WIOA funding is a win-win for workers and businesses alike, boosting economic growth and addressing the nation’s labor force challenges.

Final Appeal

NAWB urges the Subcommittee to support this critical investment in America’s workforce and labor market. Thank you for the opportunity to share this testimony.

NAWB Provides Testimony to House Subcommittee

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NAWB gave testimony in support of a 5% funding increase for core Title I WIOA programs to the Labor-HHS-Education Appropriations Subcommittee. Read the full text below

My name is Brad Turner-Little and I am privileged to serve as the CEO of the National Association of Workforce Boards (NAWB). We represent the nation’s nearly 600 Workforce Development Boards, which coordinate with education and economic development stakeholders to administer regional workforce programs to meet the needs of jobseekers, employers, and the wider communities that they serve. I appreciate the opportunity to submit this testimony in support of an increased federal investment in the primary Title I formula programs authorized by the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA), including Adult and Dislocated Worker Employment and Training; and Youth Employment Activities.

Specifically, we encourage the subcommittee to invest at least $3.08 billion, collectively, for these three WIOA programs as part of the FY2025 Labor-HHS-Education appropriations bill, a roughly five percent increase over current levels of investment.

Right now, there are approximately 6.4 million jobseekers in America. And there are an estimated 8.7 million jobs that businesses are struggling to fill. How do these two populations find each other? In many cases, it is a local Workforce Development Board.

Workforce Development Boards (WDBs) preside over more than 2,000 American Job Center locations throughout the nation. In the most recent program year, core WIOA programs served nearly 3 million individuals across the nation, many with the most significant challenges to finding and obtaining family-sustaining employment. Over 70 percent of all individuals served during this time period were employed after receiving critical career and training services. These same individuals earned more than 100,000 credentials of value.

Increasing the investment in WIOA remains a critical way for Congress to ensure that employers have the skilled talent they need to be successful while also supporting some of our most vulnerable and underserved populations in participating within the labor market. This is especially important as the national labor force participation rate has yet to rebound to pre-pandemic levels and as tight labor conditions persist across the nation. There may not be a more vital investment Congress can make than WIOA in terms of boosting our economy by matching skilled workers with businesses that are hiring, especially for in-demand sectors of our shared economy. Unfortunately, funding for core Title I WIOA programs has eroded steadily over the past several decades. Without an increased investment for these programs, both jobseekers and businesses will face greater difficulty in training and hiring skilled workers. For example, as pointed out by one of our local WDB members in Kansas, funding from WIOA has fallen by 46% in the last 10-12 years, in real dollar terms not accounting for the impacts of inflation. NAWB therefore urges you to provide at least $3.08 billion for core Title I WIOA programs in FY25 which we believe would be an important first step and downpayment toward closing this funding gap that has grown considerably over time. Our nation’s investments in workforce development help to create a comprehensive system capable of producing a highly skilled workforce that can compete in the global economy. Robust funding for WIOA is essential to helping more individuals find and secure family-sustaining employment.

Simply put, WDBs perform an indispensable function, reskilling and upskilling workers, matching workers and employers within local economies, and ultimately providing pathways to meaningful careers. Yet, WDBs need more robust resources to achieve these objectives.

I once again thank you for allowing me to provide this testimony to the Subcommittee.