There has been a flurry of activity with the new White House administration, and you may have heard about a pause on federally funded programs and grants, which was later rescinded. Regarding our primary funding stream, the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA), funds have already been allocated to the states for the remainder of our fiscal year, which ends June 30, 2025. WIOA expired in 2020 and has been operating as an unauthorized bill since then, which could put workforce boards in a precarious position. Right now, it is uncertain whether Congress will revisit the topic of WIOA authorization this year.  

Our financial security is a critical issue, and we are monitoring federal funding activities closely and following the guidance from state and national workforce advocacy groups. At this time, though, there is no cause for alarm, and we are operating as usual. In addition, Workforce Council staff are creating an advocacy plan to ramp up our government relations and advocacy activities. Stay tuned for more, as we will likely be calling on our Board of Directors, partners, and supporters to help get the word out to elected officials, policymakers, and others about the important work we achieve with federal funds in supporting the county’s employers and job seekers.