Southwest Virginia Workforce Development Board

WORKFORCE TRAINING

AWARD PURPOSE.WORC PURPOSE: IN ALIGNMENT WITH THE JUSTICE40 INITIATIVE, THE PURPOSE OF THE WORC INITIATIVE GRANTS IS TO CREATE ECONOMIC MOBILITY, ADDRESS HISTORIC INEQUITIES FOR MARGINALIZED COMMUNITIES OF COLOR, RURAL AREAS, AND OTHER UNDERSERVED AND UNDERREPRESENTED COMMUNITIES, AND PRODUCE HIGH-QUALITY EMPLOYMENT OUTCOMES FOR WORKERS WHO LIVE OR WORK IN THE APPALACHIAN, DELTA, AND NORTHERN BORDER REGIONS, ENABLING THEM TO REMAIN AND THRIVE IN THESE COMMUNITIES. PROJECT TITLE: READJUSTMENT OPPORTUNITIES AND PATHWAYS TO EMPLOYMENT SUCCESS GRANTEE REGION: ARCDELIVERABLES EXPECTED OUTCOMES.TOTAL PARTICIPANTS: 125PARTICIPANTS OBTAINING NEW OR ENHANCED EMPLOYMENT: 90INTENDED BENEFICIARIES.TARGET POPULATION: RETURNING CITIZENS, INDIVIDUALS IN SUD RECOVERY, UNEMPLOYED AND UNDEREMPLOYED INDIVIDUALS, MARGINALIZED POPULATIONS.AREAS TO BE SERVED: THE FAR SOUTHWEST REGION OF VIRGINIA (TAZEWELL, BUCHANAN, RUSSELL, DICKENSON, LEE, SCOTT, WISE COUNTIES, AND THE CITY OF NORTON)ACTIVITIES TO BE PERFORMED.SUMMARY OF PROJECT: THE FAR SOUTHWEST REGION OF VIRGINIA (TAZEWELL, BUCHANAN, RUSSELL, DICKENSON, LEE, SCOTT, WISE COUNTIES, AND THE CITY OF NORTON) IS A BEAUTIFUL PORTION OF THE COMMONWEALTH. DESPITE THE AREAS BEAUTY, IT IS PLAGUED WITH HIGH SUBSTANCE ABUSE, INSUFFICIENT TRAINING AND EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES TO MEET WORKFORCE NEEDS, AND MANY AVAILABLE WORKERS WITH EMPLOYMENT BARRIERS RESULTING IN WIDESPREAD POVERTY. CONSEQUENTLY, THE REGIONAL JAILS ARE AT CAPACITY, AND EMPLOYERS CONTINUE TO STRUGGLE WITH A LACK OF SKILLED TALENT. THE SOUTHWEST REGION CURRENTLY HOSTS TEN CORRECTIONAL FACILITIES WITHIN ITS EIGHT JURISDICTIONS - SIX STATE FACILITIES AND FOUR REGIONAL JAILS APPROXIMATELY 10,000 INMATES ARE PRESENTLY HOUSED WITHIN THESE FACILITIES. ADDITIONALLY, EVERY COUNTY LOCATED IN THE SOUTHWEST REGION IS CONSIDERED AN OPPORTUNITY ZONE AS DESIGNATED BY THE SECRETARY OF TREASURY. THE SUCCESS OF THE FAR SOUTHWEST REGION OF VIRGINIA REGION RELIES ON 1. ECONOMIC DIVERSIFICATION FROM THE COAL INDUSTRY INCLUDING REGIONAL INVESTMENTS IN TECHNOLOGY, MANUFACTURING, AND CLEAN ENERGY, 2. REENGAGING VULNERABLE POPULATIONS INTO THE WORKFORCE AND PLACEMENT IN GOOD JOBS, 3. DEVELOP, EXPAND, AND IMPROVE THE ALIGNMENT OF TRAINING PROGRAMS WITH INDUSTRY NEEDS. WORC WILL PROVIDE THE FUNDING TO PROMOTE GOOD JOBS PRINCIPLES AND WORC PRINCIPLES THROUGHOUT THE REGION, INCREASE CITIZEN EQUITY, AND INCREASE ECONOMIC PROSPERITY FOR INDIVIDUALS, BUSINESSES, AND COMMUNITIES. SUBRECIPIENT ACTIVITIES.THE RECIPIENT DOES NOT INTEND TO SUBAWARD FUNDS.

SEE NOTICE OF AWARD, ATTACHMENT 1 - TERMS AND CONDITIONS, ATTACHMENT D, STATEMENT OF WORK, ABSTRACT.