NEW JERSEY MIDDLESEX COUNTY

1 NEW JERSEY MIDDLESEX COUNTY Local Plan for the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act MIDDLESEX COUNTY WIOA Local Plan December 2016 Page | 2 Table of Contents Introduction ..3 I. Strategic Planning includes ..5 Local Data Analysis ..6 II. Workforce Development System III. Board Activities ..23 IV. Engagement, Coordination, Linkages .. 26 V. Local Board ..32 VI. One-Stop Delivery System ..35 VII. Adult & Dislocated Worker Employment & Training Activities .. 40 VIII. Statewide Rapid Response Activities .. 40 IX. Youth Activities .. 41 X. Coordination of Secondary and Post-Secondary XI.

2 Supportive XII. Wagner-Peyser Employment Services: Maximizing XIII. Title II: Adult Education (Literacy, ESL, ABE, Civics)..49 XIV. Cooperative Agreements & Linkages with DVRS & XV. Identify Fiscal XVI. OSOP Competitive Procurement; Sub-Grants & XVII. Local Performance XVIII. Local Board Membership, Recruitment, Development, & describe High-Performing Board XIX. Staff and Partner Development and Training XX. Training Services: ITAs, Informed Customer Choices & Industry-Valued XXI. Local Planning Process: Transparency, Stakeholders, Public XXII. Technology.

3 64 XXIII. Priority of Services: Board ensures priorities are XXIV. Additional Local Appendices .. 70 MIDDLESEX COUNTY WIOA Local Plan December 2016 Page | 3 Introduction The Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA), signed into law in 2014, requires each local Workforce Development Board (WDB) to develop and submit, in partnership with the chief elected officials (CEO) (Director of the Board of Chosen Freeholders), a comprehensive four year plan to the Governor. The local plan shall support the vision, goals and strategy described in the State plan and otherwise be consistent with the State plan.

4 The Local WIOA four-year plan will be effective July 1, 2016 June 30, 2020. Local Plans must comply with the requirements outlined in WIOA (in particular Section 108) and align with and support the strategies described in the New JERSEY WIOA Combined State Plan. The State shall provide technical assistance and labor market data, as requested by local areas, to assist with such local planning and subsequent service delivery efforts. Each local forms a portion of the Regional Plan for the region in which the WDB is located. This Local Plan adheres to all state and local public comment requirements and must be submitted to the State Employment and Training Commission (SETC).

5 Additionally, each Local Area Plan shall include: An analysis of the regional economic conditions; An analysis of the workforce in the region and the knowledge and skills needed to meet the employment needs of the employers in the region; The local board s strategic vision and goals for preparing an educated and skilled workforce; A strategy to work with the entities that carry out the core programs to align resources available to the local area, in order to achieve the strategic vision and goals; A description of the workforce development system in the local area and strategies to deliver services and expand employment and training opportunities for eligible individuals; The strategies and services that will be used in the local area to facilitate engagement of employers, coordinate workforce development with economic development, UI programs, rapid response and other partners; The one-stop system in the local area including all its components, supportive services and partnerships.

6 How the local board will coordinate education and workforce investment activities with relevant secondary and postsecondary education programs; The competitive process to be used to award the sub-grants and contracts in the local area for WIOA activities; The local levels of performance to be used to measure the performance of the local area; The actions the local board will take toward becoming or remaining a high-performing board; A description of how training services will be provided; and Other documentation and attestations as required by DOL. MIDDLESEX COUNTY WIOA Local Plan December 2016 Page | 4 The key focus of this Plan narrates the statewide Talent Development Strategy.

7 In New JERSEY , the talent development system includes: 1. New partnerships with employers across the state s seven key industries, 2. Strong collaborations between workforce programs, education and higher education, 3. The use of technology to better connect jobseekers and employers, 4. Better labor market intelligence to inform workforce investments, and 5. Innovative partnerships between the state, local governments, community and faith- based organizations and educational institutions. In an era of global competition and rapid technological change, New JERSEY must continue to build on this strong talent development foundation.

8 The State Plan sets a strategic direction for the future and outlines five themes which the state will focus on in order to increase the number of residents with an industry valued credential or degree through high-quality partnerships and integrated investments. The MIDDLESEX COUNTY Workforce Development Board (MCWDB) and New JERSEY are committed to supporting regional planning, service coordination and resource sharing for all workforce education and training programs, recognizing that labor markets are not constrained by governmental or political boundaries. MIDDLESEX COUNTY is densely-populated and contains a vast array of industries identified through State labor market data.

9 Theme 1: Building Career Pathways with a focus on Industry-Valued Credentials Theme 2: Expanding High-Quality Employer-Driven Partnerships Theme 3: Strengthening Career Navigation Assistance through One-Stop Career Centers and Broad Partnerships Theme 4: Strengthening Governance through Effective Workforce Development Boards and Regional Collaborations Theme 5: Ensuring System Integrity through Metrics and Greater Transparency These five talent development themes, coupled with the five primary focus points of the New JERSEY s State Plan, create a strong foundation on which to build regional strategies.

10 Our Plan is designed to help achieve the vision of the State Plan while advancing regional efforts in workforce development, credential attainment, economic development, and the formation of strategic partnerships. MIDDLESEX COUNTY Overview MIDDLESEX COUNTY is centrally located in New JERSEY . As a result, it is close to both major markets of New York City and Philadelphia. MIDDLESEX COUNTY is very diverse and home to major hospitals/medical facilities, a university, and numerous Fortune 500 companies. The strong economic and recreational opportunities offer a higher quality of life for those that live, work and visit this wonderful COUNTY .