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Workforce Investment Act

On August 7, 1998, President Bill Clinton signed the Workforce Investment Act (WIA). This piece of legislation supersedes the Job Training Partnership Act (JTPA).

JTPA was the legislation governing the Federal Employment and Training programs.

WIA was designed to reform the Federal Job Training programs and to create a new comprehensive workforce investment system.

The system is intended to be customer focused and to help Americans access the tools they need to manage their careers through information and high quality services. It was also designed to help U.S. companies find skilled workers.

The seven key principles of the new legislation are...

  1. Streamlining of services (Through a "One Stop Delivery System")
  2. Empowering individuals (Through Individual Training Accounts for training)
  3. Universal Access (Any individual can access "Core Services")
  4. Increased Accountability (Through Performance Measures)
  5. Local Workforce Boards (Private Sector driven)
  6. State and local flexibility (Systems developed at the local level)
  7. Improved Youth programs (Linked closely w/local Labor market needs)

The Muskingum County Opportunity Center is part of a 43 county partnership.  Area 7 is a customer-driven organization led by a business-based Workforce Investment Board.  The Board is appointed by county commissioners to oversee Workforce Investment Act (WIA) programs in our member counties.  We are made up of 11 One –Stop systems, which are comprised of 43 Ohio counties.  The Muskingum County Opportunity Center is partnered with Coshocton, Guernsey and Licking Counties.  This One-Stop system is called the East Central Ohio Opportunity Centers.  Area 7 distributes funds and leverages additional resources to meet workforce needs wherever they exist, and strives to exceed federal performance standards.  The Area 7 mission is to remove barriers and align programs and services to achieve and sustain economic prosperity. 

WIA Services are divided into three categories:

  1. Core Services are available to a universal customer. Learn More ...
  2. Intensive Services are offered to those customers meeting WIA eligibility criteria. Learn More ...
  3. Training Services are offered to customers meeting eligibility criteria and the training is in a "Demand Occupation" for the local area. Learn More ...