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Resources that Work for You:
Department of Labor Workforce Investment Act (WIA) Funds
If you read Amy Rossi’s Ask the Expert, you know that we at CASY & MSCCN advocate for and encourage our applicants to use the resources available to them. To put it bluntly,
we don’t want applicants to spend money if they don’t have to do so. But being able to take advantage of resources requires that you know they exist. So, on our end, we’re focusing on sharing information about various resources that are free to you and can help you get a leg up in the job market.
The Department of Labor funds employment solutions throughout the country. Using Workforce Invest Act (WIA) funds, each state implements programs in your local community to help citizens find work, improve their earning potential, and increase their skills. These programs include training opportunities to under and unemployed citizens and displaced workers, as well as qualifying Veterans, spouses, and Guard and Reserve Members for whom these programs give priority. These programs are also WOEFULLY underutilized by military-affiliates. What does this mean for you?
If you are looking to gain additional skills or certificates, you should locate your local DOL WIA office and see how they can help you.
You can use this search engine to find your local office: http://www.careeronestop.org/LocalHelp/service-locator.aspx, or you can “google” WIA and your state name. Because each state coordinates their own programs, names for programs vary in each state.
Additionally, offerings, opportunities, and funding vary by state and location, so it’s important that you ultimately connect with the WIA office in your community as their representatives will be able to best guide you through their processes and explain
what they can do to help you.
So, if you are looking to shore up your skills or looking for a certificate to make you a viable candidate, contact your local workforce office.
In 2016, make these resources work for you.
By: Jamie Boyle