Workforce development manager to resign; county highlights IMEC ARPA training for manufacturers

The Jobs Committee was told the interim manager of the Office of Community Reinvestment's Workforce Development Division plans to resign near September, and staff said they will begin recruiting for a permanent replacement.

Chair Corinne Perogue said the manager, who had been providing reports to the committee, is expected to step down close to September and the county will move to recruit a permanent replacement. "He's going to be resigning at, I think, close to the September," Perogue said; the committee asked staff to ensure regular workforce reports resume next month.

Separately, staff reported on an employer-facing training the county hosted through an IMEC ARPA program. The county ran a three-week series in July designed for managerial-level manufacturing staff, focusing on expanding recruitment pipelines and strategies to hire and retain workers with diverse needs, including those with developmental disabilities. Staff said 12 to 15 participants attended daily and developed workplace plans aimed at improving retention and inclusive hiring.

Committee members said the recruitment and training programs align with county goals for job retention and creation; staff committed to provide an overview of the IMEC program outcomes when the initiative transfers to the county's Economic Development Corporation.