| Description |
| The Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act of 2014 (WIOA), is designed to improve and streamline access to federally funded employment, education, training, and support service programs. The goal of WIOA is to consolidate, coordinate, and improve employment, training, literacy, and vocational programs in the United States and provide the framework for a workforce preparation system that is: flexible, responsive, customer-oriented, and locally focused.
Of particular emphasis in the legislation are three key driving messages:
- A commitment to providing high quality, accessible services
- An alignment of investments in workforce, education, and economic development
- A youth centric vision that supports an integrated service delivery system.
As the Workforce Development Board for Greater Rhode Island, the GWB determines policies, priorities, and providers for the local area, including the local One-Stop Center, while also working collaboratively to create a better experience for the job seekers and employers they serve.
Partnerships and collaborations are strongly encouraged, to ensure the opportunity for workforce strategies, education, training, and trauma-informed case management services for participating youth. Additionally, the inclusion of youth voice and leadership as a guiding factor in the program design is strongly encouraged and applicants should include ways in which this occurs in the program planning in their proposal.
The Lead Applicant serves as Fiscal Agent for the grant as well as lead contact and administrator for all grant-related activities. The Lead Applicant may be any of the following: Community-based or non-profit agency, training or education provider, higher education institution, trade association or industry sector intermediary, municipality, private employer, or organization.
The GWB is interested in awarding contracts to organizations with a strong track record of providing services to low-income youth in Rhode Island while maintaining high-quality standards of program management and accountability. Preference will be given to organizations in the community that are physically located in the Greater Rhode Island area as well as organizations in the community that demonstrate strong collaborative partnerships.
Applicants focusing on a seamless integration of programs and services are strongly encouraged to ensure that there are no gaps in the continuum of programs and services.
Applicants are urged to include a broad spectrum of stakeholders, including but not limited to employers, institutions of higher education, American Job Centers, adult basic education providers and community-based organizations. Applicants must also demonstrate the ability to provide or help youth connect to support services that will allow for uninterrupted services.
Interested parties can find the application at www.gwb.ri.gov |
