RD3 - Virginia Board of Workforce Development 2016 Annual Report


Executive Summary:
On behalf of the Vice Chairman, Nathaniel Marshall, and the distinguished members of the Virginia Board of Workforce Development, I am honored to present the 2016 Annual Report, describing our activities and actions related to the statutory responsibilities assigned to us in Virginia Code Sec 2.2-2472.

Of the many accomplishments achieved during the year ending June 30, 2016, one of the most significant was the approval of the Commonwealth’s Combined State Plan for workforce development by the U.S. Department of Labor. This four-year plan, approved by the Board and formally submitted by the Governor, was founded on the priorities detailed in the State Workforce Board’s strategic plan, Skills for Jobs and Business Growth: Powering the New Virginia Economy. The implementation of this plan will be monitored by the Board and the Governor and promises to further advance the system’s vision.

The Board also broke new ground in developing an approved list of demand occupations to guide strategic investments in workforce training through the New Economy Workforce Credential Grant Program. This new initiative represents an innovative approach to workforce training and education that provides cost savings to students and a “pay for performance” mechanism for eligible institutions that provide such training. This program is designed to close the skills gaps in fields most relevant to Virginia’s economy while providing a pathway to career-enhancing employment opportunities. The Board’s Demand Occupations Taskforce was instrumental in the development of this innovative new program.

Finally, I want to particularly thank the remarkable staff from the Office of the Secretary of Commerce and Trade for their outstanding efforts supporting the Board over the past year. We are very fortunate to have such talented and dedicated public servants engaged on these tasks of such critical importance to our economy.

Working with the Governor and the General Assembly, we look forward to the challenges and opportunities ahead as we work to further enhance the workforce development initiatives of the Commonwealth.

Sincerely,

/s/ Mark A. Herzog
Chairman
Virginia Board of Workforce Development