14-050

OLYMPIA – The state’s Employment Security Department has distributed nearly $41 million in federal funds to 12 local Workforce Development Councils in Washington to help workers upgrade skills and find jobs. 

The Workforce Development Councils use the funds to provide counseling, skills assessments, job-search assistance and training to laid-off workers, low-income adults and disadvantaged young people in their geographic areas. 

The funding for program year July 2014 through June 2015 comes from the federal Department of Labor. Services are delivered through the WorkSource employment and training system, which includes more than 60 centers, affiliates and connection sites.    

“WorkSource keeps Washington working by helping businesses fill their job openings with qualified workers,” said Employment Security Commissioner Dale Peinecke. “These federal funds will allow thousands of workers to gain the skills they need to compete effectively for jobs and be employed.”

Workforce Investment Act funds are distributed to the local workforce development areas based on population, unemployment levels and the percentage of low-income people. The total appropriation is about $3.7 million less than last year. 

Find WorkSource office locations on this map at go2worksource.com.

Local allocations for July 2014-June 2015

Olympic Workforce Development Council (Clallam, Jefferson and Kitsap counties) - $1.9 million (about $165,000 less than last year). Local contact: Bob Potter, director, 360-337-4873

Pacific Mountain Workforce Development Council (Grays Harbor, Lewis Mason, Pacific and Thurston counties) - $3.3 million (about $200,000 less than last year). Local contact: Cheryl Fambles, chief executive officer, 360-570-4240

Northwest Workforce Council (Island, San Juan, Skagit and Whatcom counties) - $2.5 million (more than $200,000 less than last year). Local contact: Gay Dubigk, executive director, 360-676-3209

Workforce Snohomish (Snohomish County) - $3.7 million (more than $600,000 less than last year). Local contact: Michael Choy, chief operations officer, 425-921-3423

Workforce Development Council of Seattle/King County - nearly $9.3 million (about $1.7 million less than last year). Local contact: Marlena Sessions, chief executive officer, 206-448-0474

Workforce Central (Pierce County) - $5.4 million (more than $200,000 less than last year). Local contact: Linda Nguyen, chief executive officer, 253-495-8515

Southwest Washington Workforce Development Council (Clark, Cowlitz and Wahkiakum counties) - $4 million (about $100,000 less than last year). Local contact: Jeanne Bennett, executive director, 360-567-1073

North-Central Washington Workforce Development Council (Adams, Chelan, Douglas, Grant and Okanogan counties) - $1.9 million (about $70,000 less than last year).  Local contact: Dave Petersen, director, 509-663-3091, ext. 228

South-Central Washington Workforce Development Council (Kittitas, Klickitat, Skamania and Yakima counties) - $2.8 million (about $20,000 more than last year). Local contact: Patrick Baldoz, director, 509-574-1950

Eastern Washington Partnership Workforce Development Council (offices in Clarkson, Colville, Newport, Pullman, and Walla Walla) - nearly $1.4 million (about $100,000 less than last year). Local contact: Tom O’Brien, director, 509-685-6129

Benton-Franklin Workforce Development Council (Benton and Franklin counties) - $2 million (nearly $80,000 less than last year). Local contact: Cos Edwards, executive director, 509-734-5984

Spokane-Area Workforce Development Council - $3.2 million (about $150,000 less than last year). Local contact: Mark Mattke, chief executive officer, 509-533-8470

###