Workforce Solutions
Governor Timothy M. Kaine cut the ribbon on the new comprehensive Workforce Center in Prince William County, and opened two additional centers in Danville and South Boston on Monday. These openings bring the total number of comprehensive one-stop workforce centers in Virginia to five. The Centers will serve jobseekers and businesses in their respective regions from central locations and will house local and state government agencies and not-for-profit organizations, including the local Community College, Virginia Employment Commission and Department of Rehabilitative Services.
“These centers underscore Virginia’s place as a leader among states in workforce development and our commitment to helping citizens and employers through this tough economy,” Governor Kaine said. “These centers provide education and workforce training that are crucial in strengthening and revitalizing the Commonwealth and its communities.”
The state-of-the-art facilities feature shared programming open to the public in areas such as resume writing, educational training for GED, post-secondary education, financial management and job services. The Centers focus on in-demand occupations and career opportunities, including opportunities for persons with disabilities, veterans, older workers and ex-offenders.
“At a time of the highest unemployment rate and the worst economy in decades, there is a heightened need for seamless service delivery for citizens,” said Danny LeBlanc, the Governor’s Senior Advisor for Workforce Development. “These comprehensive workforce centers serve as a platform of opportunity and hope for businesses and Virginia’s working families.”
Plans are underway to open another seven centers in Virginia, including one in Arlington that will open next month. These centers are designed to have all participating organizations work as one unit to better meet the common goals of a region so that the communities will be better served through enhanced communication and dialogue between the various stakeholders, whether they are a service provider or customer.
The customers will have one point of contact for a majority of their employment and training needs, including intake, preliminary assessment, training and education, case management, and job matching. In addition, a common online initial registration form has been developed by state agencies and will be used in all Workforce centers in Virginia as they open. This single online form will bring ease and simplicity to citizens as they register for multiple services.
