Workforce representative outlines WIOA training, apprenticeships and employer-paid CDL options for Union County

Unidentified Speaker 3, who later identified themself as Duckworth during the meeting, presented Southern 14'administered programs under the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act, describing classroom training, on-the-job placements, incumbent-worker training paid by contract with employers, and apprenticeships.

Duckworth said incumbent-worker training can be contracted with a county department to pay training costs for existing employees (for example, to obtain a commercial driver's license), and that such arrangements do not require the individual to meet income criteria when the county department is the contracting party. "If the county highway department needs 2 or 3 people to get a CDL...our contract is with the county or that department, not with the person," Duckworth said.

Duckworth also described short-term work experiences (from two days up to 12 weeks) for people with limited work history and said Shawnee Development is the contracting partner; the presenter named "Victor" as a contact for program arrangements. Duckworth said the program has supported incumbent-worker OSHA training and nursing apprenticeships and noted apprenticeship terms of roughly two years in the example given.

During questions, county officials asked whether employees must meet income criteria for CDL training; Duckworth replied that employer-contracted incumbent training does not require income qualification, while individual enrollments must meet WIOA eligibility requirements.

The presenter encouraged county departments to call if they need trainees or short-term assistance and said funding is often available from dislocated-worker dollars for some placements. No formal action was taken; the item was a program briefing.