W-O-W Workforce Development Board Receives Performance Award from State

The Waukesha-Ozaukee-Washington Workforce Development Board will receive a $44,500 performance award from the Wisconsin Department of Workforce Development for exceeding 2011 Workforce Investment Act program standards and goals. Out of 11 Workforce Development Boards in the state, the W-O-W Workforce Development Board is one of six entities to receive this prestigious recognition.

“We are deeply pleased to be recognized by our partners at the state for exceeding our workforce development goals,” says W-O-W Workforce Development Board President Francisco Sanchez. “Our board will use the performance award to enhance job training and employment solutions in Waukesha, Ozaukee and Washington Counties.”

To qualify for the award, districts must achieve a minimum of 80% of the negotiated benchmarks for nine performance measure requirements and maintain an aggregate average of 100% for Adult, Dislocated Worker and Youth program service measures. The last time the state issued the award was in 2005.

The Workforce Investment Act of 1998 was enacted to consolidate and better coordinate workforce preparation and development programs into a more unified workforce investment system. In Wisconsin, funding is distributed to the Workforce Development Boards for job placement, retention and training programs.

The W-O-W Workforce Development Board maintains job center operations at the Waukesha County Technical College (892 Main St., Pewaukee), Milwaukee Area Technical College (555 W. Highland Rd., Mequon) and Moraine Park Technical College (2200 Green Tree Rd., West Bend). In the current program year, the board will provide 1,200 eligible adults and dislocated workers and nearly 550 low-income youth with the case management, intensive training and job search assistance needed to attain educational goals, secure meaningful employment and earn higher wages through its programs.