Workforce Development Board

2012 Calendar of Full Board Meetings

Note: Meetings are open to the public and take place at community partners' facilities.  Contact Board staff for more information (313) 876-0674.

The Detroit Workforce Development Board is the 25-member "board of directors" for the Detroit Workforce Development Department.  As a 501(C)3 corporation, it provides policy guidance and oversight on programs and services administered by the department.  The Board also oversees a broad array of workforce development activities operated by a number of contracted service providers procured through a competitive Request for Proposal (‘RFP") or Request for Quotation ("RFQ") bid process.

The Board is comprised primarily of metropolitan Detroit employers including: American Axle, Bridgewater Interiors, CVS Caremark, DTE Energy, Ford Motor Company, Penske Corporation, and St. John's Health Systems, to name a few.  Other members include the Detroit Regional Chamber, and the Detroit Economic Growth Corporation,

WHAT IS THE CHARGE OF THE WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT BOARD?

The primary responsibilities of the Workforce Investment Board, under the Workforce Investment Act (WIA), are to:

• Promote private-sector employer participation in all workforce activities to assist in meeting their hiring needs and to align workforce investment with local and regional economic development strategies
• Develop a budget for carrying out the duties of the Workforce Investment Board, subject to the approval of the chief elected official, Mayor
• Certify the new One-Stop Service Center operator(s) with agreement of the chief elected official.
• Award contracts to certified, quality service providers
• Identify and award competitive contracts to providers of youth services based on recommendations of the Education and Youth Advisory Council
• Set local performance measures and standards
• Conduct oversight of all workforce activities in partnership with the chief elected official
• Develop and submit a local plan, in partnership with the chief elected official and, among other tasks,
• Ensure rigorous compliance monitoring of all service providers

A STRONG COMMITTEE STRUCTURE

The mandated activities of the Detroit Workforce Development Board (WDB) are performed through a coordinated committee and council structure.  For example, the Executive Committee has been empowered by the WDB to act on all administrative and oversight matters, and its Strategic Planning Committee is responsible for developing its five-year strategic plan.  Other working groups include:

• Executive Committee
• Contract and Finance Committee
• Disability Council
• Education and Youth Advisory Council 
• Employment and Business Services Committee 
• Returning Citizens Council 
• Strategic Planning Committee