mountain area local workforce development area regional and local workforce development area ...

49 Pages·2015·0.47 MB·English

by  Zia Rifkin

MOUNTAIN AREA
LOCAL WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT AREA
REGIONAL AND LOCAL
WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT AREA PLAN

WORKFORCE INNOVATION AND
OPPORTUNITY ACT

PROGRAM YEAR 2015
July 1, 2015 - June 30, 2016

Mtn. Area Workforce Development Consortium
An Agency of Land of Sky Regional Council
339 New Leicester Hwy., Suite 140
Asheville, North Carolina 28806-2088
Mountain Area #61 - Local Workforce Development Area Plan

Workforce Innovation & Opportunity Act
United States Public Law 113-128

Program Year (PY) 2015

Introduction
Program Year 2015 marks the first year of the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA).
WIOA requires each workforce development board to develop and submit, in partnership with the
local chief elected official, to the state a comprehensive four-year plan. The WIOA four-year plan
will be effective July 1, 2016 - June 30, 2020. To facilitate a seamless transition, the N.C.
Division of Workforce Solutions is issuing these instructions for a one-year local and regional plan
to be reviewed and approved for the Program Year 2015 (July 1, 2015 - June 30, 2016).

The local and regional plan shall support the alignment strategy described in the state plan in
accordance with WIOA Section 102(b)(1)(E), and otherwise be consistent with the state plan.
Workforce Development Boards shall comply with WIOA Sections 106(c) and 108 in the
preparation and submission of the plan.

Federal and State Requirements for Local Administration of the Workforce Innovation and
Opportunity Act

Reference the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act, Public Law 113-128, enacted July 22,
2014. Additional information is available at the U.S. Department of Labor Employment and
Training Administration website: www.doleta.gov.

Reference the NCWorks Commission 2014-2016 Strategic Plan "Preparing North Carolina's
Workforce for Today and Tomorrow". North Carolina policy information is available at
www.nccommerce.com/workforce/workforceprofessionals

Public Comment

In accordance with the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act, Section 108(d), the Workforce
Development Board shall make copies of the proposed local plan available to the public through
electronic and other means, such as public hearings and local news media; allow for public
comment not later than the end of the 30 day period beginning on the date the proposed plan is
made available; and, include with submission of the local plan any comments that represent
disagreement with the plan.

Plan Submission and Due Date

The local plan must be submitted in the Workforce Information System Enterprise (WISE) through
the Administrative Adjustment process. The due date is May 29, 2015. Each section (A-F) and all
attachments are to be uploaded as individual documents. Forms requiring original signatures may be
mailed to the assigned Planner at: N.C. Division of Workforce Solutions, 4316 Mail Services Center,
Raleigh, N.C. 27699-4316.
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A. Local Area Overview

A.1. Provide the Local Area's official (legal) name as it appears on the local Consortium
Agreement established to administer the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA)
or, if not a Consortium, in the formal request for Local Area designation. If the Local Area is
a Consortium, attach a copy of the current Consortium Agreement. Name document: Local
Area Name Consortium Agreement.

The Local Area’s official (Legal) name as it appears on the local Consortium Agreement
established to administer the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) is the
Mountain Area Workforce Development Consortium.

Attached is a copy of the current Consortium Agreement.

A.2. Provide the name, title, organization name, address, telephone number and e-mail address of
the Workforce Development Director.

Mr. Phillip Monk
Local Workforce Development Director
Mountain Area Workforce Development Board
Land of Sky Regional Council
339 New Leicester Hwy., Suite 140
Asheville, North Carolina 28806-2088
[phone] Fax [phone] E-mail [email protected]

A.3. Provide the name, elected title, local government affiliation, address, telephone number and
e-mail address of the Local Area's Chief Elected Official.

Mr. David Gantt
Chairman
Buncombe County Board of Commissioners
200 College Street, Room 316
Asheville, North Carolina 28801
[phone] Fax [phone] E-mail: [email protected]

A.4. .Provide the name, title, business name, address, telephone number and e-mail address of the
individual authorized to receive official mail for the Chief Elected Official, if different than
A.3.

Ms. Kathy Hughes
Clerk to the Board
Buncombe County Board of Commissioners
200 College Street, Room 316
Asheville North Carolina 28801
[phone] Fax [phone] E-mail: [email protected]

A.5. Provide the name, address, telephone number of the Administrative/Fiscal Agent responsible
for disbursing Local Area WIOA grant funds. This is the entity responsible for the disbursal
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of grant funds. [WIOA Sections 107(d)(l2)(B)(i)(III) and 108(b)(15)].

Land of Sky Regional Council
339 New Leicester Hwy., Suite 140
Asheville, North Carolina 28806-2088
[phone] Fax [phone]

A.6. Provide the name, title, organization name, address, telephone number and e-mail address of
the Administrative/Fiscal Agent's signatory official.

Mr. Justin Hembree
Executive Director
Land of Sky Regional Council
336 New Leicester Hwy., Suite 140
Asheville, North Carolina 28806-2088
[phone] Fax [phone] E-mail [email protected]

A.7. Attach a copy of the Administrative Entity/Fiscal Agent's organizational chart with an
·effective as of date'. Name document: Administrative Entity Name Organizational Chart.

A copy of the Administrative Entity/Fiscal Agent’s organizational chart with an effective “as of
date” is attached.

A.8. Provide the Administrative Entity's Data Universal Numbering System (DUNS) number
and assurance that the 'System for Award Management' (SAM) status is current.
Administrative Entities must register at least annually on the SAM website
(https :// www.sam.gov / ccr/) to receive Federal funding [required by Federal Acquisition
Regulation (FAR) Section 4.11 and Section 52.204-7].

The Data Universal Numbering System (DUNS) number is 1133470250000. The SAM
status is current.

A.9. Provide the Workforce Development Board Chairperson's name, business title, business
name and address, telephone number and e-mail address.

Mr. Rick Clark
President & Owner
Jeter Mountain Enterprises, LLC
4900 Jeter Mountain Road
Hendersonville, North Carolina 28739
[phone] Fax [phone] E-mail: [email protected]

A.10. Attach the Workforce Development Board's Membership List (form provided). The first
block is reserved to identify the Board chairperson. Indicate all required representation and
indicate if vacant. [WIOA Section 107(b)(2)]. Name document: Local Area Name WDB
List .

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The Mountain Area Workforce Development Consortium’s Membership List is under
development as the County Commission in the Mountain Area Region are working to
appoint the their representatives to the WIOA Board. Target completion date for Board
appointments is July 1, 2015. Attached is a copy of the current WIOA Board Membership
Listing for the Mtn. Area. Using the Administrative Adjustment process in WISE, the WIOA
Board Membership Listing will be uploaded to WISE when that body is constituted.

A.11. Attach the Workforce Development Board By-laws including date adopted/amended. Name
document: Local Area Name WDB By-laws.

The Mountain Area Workforce Development Consortium’s By-laws will be developed when the
WIOA Board is fully constituted and will be uploaded to WISE when those are available as
approved by the WDB. The WDB’s current PY14 By-Laws are attached in WISE at this time.

A.12. Attach a copy of the Local Area's organizational chart with an 'effective as of date. Include
position titles. Name document: Local Area Name Organizational Chart.

A copy of the Mountain Area Workforce Development Consortium’s organizational chart with
an effective “as of date” is attached. The chart includes position titles.

A.l3. List the county/counties that comprise the Local Area. List the July 1, 2015 population
estimates by county(ies) in the Local Area. (Reference: North Carolina State Demographics
"County/ State projections," found at www.demog state.nc .us or, if another source is used
identify source.)

County Population Estimate
as of 7/01/2015
Buncombe 254339
Henderson 112125
Madison 21728
Transylvania 33749

Source: http://www.osbm.state.nc.us/ncosbm/facts_and_figures/socioeconomic_data/population_estimates/demog/countytotals_2010_2019.html

A.14. Attach a copy of the signed 'Certification Regarding Debarment, Suspension, and other
Responsibility Matters- Primary Covered Transactions' (form provided). [Required by the
Regulations implementing Executive Order 12549, Debarment and Suspension, 29 CFR Part
98, Section 98.510, participants' responsibilities.] Document must bear the original
signature of the Administrative Entity signatory official. Mail original to Division Planner.
Name document: Local Area Name Debarment Form.

A copy of the signed ‘Certification Regarding Debarment, Suspension, and other
Responsibility Matters- Primary Covered Transactions’ has been uploaded to the WISE
System and the hard copy has been mailed to the Local Area’s Planner.

A.15. Plan must include the Workforce Development Board and Chief Elected Official (CEO)
Signatory Submission Page (form provided), bearing the original signatures of the Chief
Elected Official(s) and the Workforce Development Board Chairman. Mail the signed
original Signatory form to Division Planner. Include a signed copy with the submission of
the Local Plan. Name document: Local Area Name Signatory Page.

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The Mountain Area’s signed original Signatory form for its PY15/16 WIOA Plan has
been mailed to the Local Area’s Planner and a copy uploaded to the WISE system.
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B. Regional Strategic Planning

B.l. Identify the Workforce Development Boards comprising the configuration for regional
strategic planning and counties each Board serves. Provide a reference name for the
regional group, if applicable.

The reference name for the 11 counties in southwestern North Carolina shall be the Western
Region. The Western Region is comprised of the Southwestern Workforce Development Board and
the Mountain Area Workforce Development Board. The Southwestern Workforce Development
Board is comprised of Cherokee, Clay, Graham, Haywood Jackson, Macon and Swain counties.
The Mountain Area Workforce Development Board is comprised of Buncombe, Madison,
Henderson and Transylvania counties.

B.2. Provide a brief synopsis of the region's significant accomplishments during the past year.

In the Southwestern local area, we have worked with the largest employer in the area to assist them
in transitioning from less effective applicant assessment processes to utilizing the ACT Work Keys
Assessment System. Ten different jobs were profiled and during the past year and the company is
now using Work Keys assessments to screen potential applicants. It is anticipated that a pool of 500
workers will be assessed to fill positions vacated by retiring personnel. We are also starting the
process with another large manufacturer in the area. Two ACT Job Profiles have been conducted
with another scheduled this month. Our goal is to make the ACT Work Keys Assessments a
standard part of the recruitment process for all manufacturers in the region. As manufacturers
recognize the ACT Work Keys as a viable recruitment tool we hope to transition into initiating the
process of becoming a Work Ready Community in each of our counties.

Several small businesses in the region have utilized OJT to assist with the start-up of their business.

The Southwestern WDB and local area sponsored a Real World Expo at Western Carolina
University for High School students in the seven-county area. Approximately 300 students attended
the event. Local businesses and local professionals participated in the event to provided information
to the students relating to financial literacy.

In the Mountain Area the Henderson County Career Center was certified as a Tier I NCWorks
Career Center this year. The NCWorks Career Center Henderson County also successfully
completed the assistance with the recruitment, screening and referral for over 250 jobs in the Sierra
Nevada production facility, restaurant and tasting room.

Buncombe and Madison Counties launched a new sector initiative called Raising Awareness of
Manufacturing Possibilities (RAMP). This initiative has involved 17 local manufacturers, the
community college, the two County Schools Career and Technical Education staffs, the
apprenticeship coordinator, out-of-school youth program operators, veterans program employment
representatives and several others.

The Mountain Area has also begun working with the library system in Madison County to provide
satellite sites or affiliate site in libraries in the more rural areas of the County. Recently 14 library
staff members were trained to use NCWorks Online and we are currently preparing to equip the
libraries with NCWorks Computer Stations that are pre-configured with career development,
employability skills and job search information and links. Written materials including instructions
for accessing and using the different online tools will be developed for the affiliate sites. We are also
developing a system for telephone and online technical assistance that goes beyond what the local
library staff can provide.

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B .3. Describe how the regional vision aligns with the NCWorks Commission's 2014-2016
Strategic Plan "Preparing North Carolina 's Workforce for Today and Tomorrow".

The regional vision is to have high skilled, quality workers to meet the needs of the employers in the
region. To accomplish this we will work with local employers to determine where skill gaps exist
and then work with the local community colleges and economic developers to address these skill
gaps through career pathways, customized training, incumbent worker training, OJT and
apprenticeships. We are also working to strengthen the NCWorks brand in the region and
encouraging partners to utilize NCWorks On-Line and NCWorks marketing material in order to
promote system alignment and create band recognition. We want to ensure that our customers are
receiving the best in customer service by fully utilizing the Customer Relationship Management
Tool to track customer contacts and outcomes

B.4. Provide an analysis of the regional economic conditions to include: a) existing and emerging
in-demand industry sectors and occupations; and, b) knowledge and skills needed to meet the
employment needs of employers in those industry sectors and occupations. Include sources
used and business involvement in determining needs. [WIOA Section 108 (b)(l)(A)(i)(ii) and
(B)].

The regional economic condition continues to improve with substantial growth in manufacturing,
and tourism, steady growth in healthcare, and slow growth in IT and logistics. Manufacturing has
seen several significant new and expanding businesses in 2015 in metal, plastic, composites,
ceramics, and non-wovens with hiring continuing through 2017. In demand occupations include:
production operators and technicians, quality inspectors and managers, maintenance technicians,
and supervisors. Healthcare has seen numerous additions of smaller satellite hospitals and
emergency centers throughout the area. In-demand occupations include: CNAs, RNs, BSNs, MDs,
administrative staff, lab technicians, and bilingual services. The hospitality and tourism sectors is
expanding with the building of five new hotels in the Asheville area and destination packages
affiliated with Biltmore Estate, Grove Park Inn, Sierra Nevada and other craft breweries. In-
demand occupations include: reservation clerks, front desk staff, auditors, janitors, servers/bar
tenders, chefs, support cooks, supervisors, and tour guides. The logistics sector is seeing substantial
growth in warehousing and distribution of manufactured products including craft beers. In-
demand occupations include: forklift drivers, supply chain supervisors and managers, procurement
specialists, CDL drivers, shipping and receiving clerks, and project managers. Emerging sectors
include the IT sector and entrepreneurial start-ups. In-demand occupations include: programmers
for software and data-base development and customized IT solutions, web-designers, hardware and
software technicians, network administrators, system security specialists, tech support staff and
social media marketing experts. The Asheville area is home to many entrepreneurial start-ups in
the areas of business services, food and beverage, recreational ventures, and marketing companies.

The knowledge and skills for the in-demand occupations mentioned above vary by sector but all
require experience, basic computer, customer service skills, communication, and problem-solving
skills and most require post-high school reading and math competency. Many occupations require
technical skills, specific knowledge and skills required for a certification or license, analytical skills,
project management, and supervisory skills.

The information above is from local announcements, conversations with businesses, site visits,
sector surveys, job fairs, company recruiting events, employer focus groups, and sector leadership
groups.

According to EMSI Q1 2015 Data for the 11-county western NC region, the in-demand occupations
are in healthcare, IT, logistics, manufacturing, and food and beverage. There were 1,757 average
monthly job postings between January 2011 and March 2015 and 6,194 average monthly hires
during the same period.
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The following tables from EMSI show the existing and emerging in-demand industry sectors and
occupations for the 11 county Western Region.

Occupations:
2008 - 2008 -
2008 2014 Annual
SOC Occupation 2014 2014 %
Jobs Jobs Openings
Change Change
99-0000 Unclassified Occupation 1,657 2,184 527 32% 157
39-0000 Personal Care and Service 12,388 14,584 2,196 18% 947
Arts, Design, Entertainment, Sports,
27-0000 9,578 11,230 1,652 17% 709
&Media
35-0000 Food Preparation and Serving Related 27,006 30,733 3,727 14% 2,044
19-0000 Life, Physical, and Social Science 2,091 2,355 264 13% 161
31-0000 Healthcare Support Occupations 10,399 11,695 1,296 12% 616
Building & Grounds Cleaning &
37-0000 14,901 16,563 1,662 11% 890
Maintenance
29-0000 Healthcare Practitioners and Technical. 18,162 20,175 2,013 11% 968
13-0000 Business & Financial Operations 12,316 13,616 1,300 11% 764
21-0000 Community and Social Service 4,955 5,392 437 9% 323
15-0000 Computer and Mathematical 3,317 3,537 220 7% 192
41-0000 Sales and Related 44,894 47,502 2,608 6% 2,417
45-0000 Farming, Fishing, and Forestry 1,803 1,900 97 5% 142
23-0000 Legal Occupations 1,940 2,030 90 5% 89
33-0000 Protective Service 5,729 5,971 242 4% 323
11-0000 Management 20,392 20,606 214 1% 1,005
53-0000 Transportation & Material Moving 17,380 17,549 169 1% 916
49-0000 Installation, Maintenance, & Repair 11,664 11,701 37 0% 629
25-0000 Education, Training, and Library 16,921 16,885 (36) (0%) 744
43-0000 Office and Administrative Support 40,717 40,558 (159) (0%) 1,568
51-0000 Production 18,892 18,712 (180) (1%) 1,039
17-0000 Architecture and Engineering 3,476 3,298 (178) (5%) 204
55-0000 Military occupations 1,549 1,430 (119) (8%) 40
47-0000 Construction and Extraction 23,876 17,676 (6,200) (26%) 732
326,007 337,883 11,876 4% 17,617
Industry:
2008 - 2008 -
NAICS Industry Description 2008 Jobs 2014 Jobs 2014 2014 %
Change Change
55 Management of Companies and Enterprises 1,222 1,622 400 33%
52 Finance and Insurance 9,523 11,336 1,813 19%
Other Services (except Public
81 18,380 21,291 2,911 16%
Administration)
72 Accommodation and Food Services 28,193 32,230 4,037 14%
71 Arts, Entertainment, and Recreation 8,960 10,135 1,175 13%
53 Real Estate and Rental and Leasing 16,185 18,217 2,032 13%
62 Health Care and Social Assistance 38,672 43,419 4,747 12%
Professional, Scientific, and Technical
54 15,783 17,611 1,828 12%
Services
56 Administrative and Support and Waste 18,415 20,372 1,957 11%
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Management and Remediation Services
Mining, Quarrying, and Oil and Gas
21 734 798 64 9%
Extraction
48 Transportation and Warehousing 6,535 6,890 355 5%
51 Information 3,674 3,843 169 5%
61 Educational Services 7,131 7,365 234 3%
44 Retail Trade 38,121 39,223 1,102 3%
11 Crop and Animal Production 6,223 6,374 151 2%
90 Government 43,334 43,658 324 1%
31 Manufacturing 25,367 24,769 (598) (2%)
22 Utilities 657 638 (19) (3%)
42 Wholesale Trade 7,209 6,695 (514) (7%)
23 Construction 30,889 21,398 (9,491) (31%)
99 Unclassified Industry 798 0 (798) (100%)
326,007 337,883 11,876 4%

The knowledge and skills needed to meet the demands of the existing and emerging industries and
occupations in our region range from high school diploma to advanced degrees. While the charts
show a decline in manufacturing industry occupations, our region has many small to medium
manufacturing companies that require skills beyond a high school education. Manufacturing
related to the beverage industry has exploded in the Asheville Area over the last two years. The
growth pattern appears to be continuing with some major expansions for existing companies and
perhaps some new production facilities being built in the local area by other breweries from
outside the State.

The community colleges are addressing these needs by providing training in advanced
manufacturing and mechatronics. The tourism and hospitality industry are in-demand throughout
the region and several of the community colleges in our region offer training in occupations such
as table gaming, bartending, culinary arts, and hotel management. Western Carolina University
has recently announced the development of a new bachelor’s degree program in hospitality and
tourism. Five new hotels are currently being built in the Asheville area and four more are in the
planning stages.

B.5. Provide an analysis of the workforce in the region, including current labor force employment
and unemployment data, and information on labor market trends, and the educational and
skill levels of the workforce in the region, including individuals with barriers to employment.
[WIOA Section 108 (b)(l )(C)].

The Western Region includes Buncombe, Cherokee, Clay, Graham, Haywood, Henderson,
Jackson, Macon, Madison, Swain, and Transylvania Counties. The Western region is among the
most rural and least populous of the North Carolina regions.
• The Western Region’s 2015 population is estimated at 633,071. Most of the Western’s net growth in
population has come from in-migration of new residents in recent years.
• Preliminary labor force estimates for March, 2015 show 279,959 people in the labor force in the
Western region. There were almost 7,000 more people working that the same period one year ago.
• March 2015 Unemployment Rates in the region varied from a low of 4.2% in Buncombe County to
a high of 13.9% in Graham County. The Mountain Area had an overall rate of 4.4%, while the
counties in the Southwestern Area had and overall rate of 6.5%. The unemployment rate in the
counties in the Southwestern area is higher than the state rate of 5.4% and also higher than the
United States rate of 5.6%.
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