1. 2014 Governor’s Small Business Forum

2. What is Workforce Solutions? The pipeline that connects employers to a qualified and skilled workforce. Publically funded Human Resource Agency. Provide skills development to employers and individuals to better diversify the workforce. Provide recruitment, retention and training.

3. What is Workforce Solutions? Provides services to job seekers at no charge to help them succeed: Employment Services Workforce Investment Act (WIA) Child Care Management Services (CCMS) Veteran’s Services Training Services Temporary Assistance to Needy Families (Choices) SNAP E&T Employment &Training Program (Food Stamp)

4. How can Workforce Solutions work for your business? Provides a Statewide Automated Job Matching System (Work in Texas) for recruitment needs at no charge. Screen applicants, host job fairs, assist with job descriptions and provide Labor Market Information. Administer work-sample tests. WIT (Work in Texas) has 4,200 active job seekers listed in the Brazos Valley and an average of 4,425 individuals visit our Centers monthly. Skills Development Funding for incumbent workers.

5. Brazos Valley Employment for April 2014 AreaLabor ForceEmploymentUnemploymentUnemployment Rate Brazos Valley WDA 166,516160,4816,0353.6% Brazos106,235102,6363,5993.4% Burleson8,2927,9743183.8% Grimes12,65212,1055474.3% Leon8,1357,7893464.3% Madison5,8785,6182604.4% Robertson7,3787,0643144.3% Washington17,94617,2956513.6%

10. Workforce Solutions, working for you. Business Solutions for progressive companies. Labor Market and Career Information available to businesses. Wage Analysis and projections to keep companies competitive in a growing market. Demographic data and site selection consultation. Job description writing and analysis to attract the best candidates.

11. How can businesses partner with Workforce Solutions to access state resources for training? The Skills Development Fund program assists businesses and trade unions by financing the design and implementation of customized job-training projects. This fund successfully merges business needs and local customized training opportunities into a winning formula to increase the skills levels and wages of the Texas workforce. The business must partner with an eligible grant applicant: Public Community College Technical College Texas Engineering Extension Service Private non-profit community-based organization in partnership with one of those institutions.

12. Key Points of Accessing Skill Development Funds Involved in the planning. Pay wages upon completion of training equal to or greater than the prevailing wage in the local labor market. Disclose any other state or federal grant funds sought or awarded. Sign an agreement outlining the entity's roles and responsibilities. Use WorkinTexas.com to post openings for new workers trained under the project.

13. Grant Award Information Grants for a single business may be limited to $500,000. Contracts typically are for 12 months. What is included: TuitionCurriculum developmentInstructor feesTraining What is not included: Trainee Wages Drug testingCertain Travel CostsEquipment Purchase

14. Training Requirements Courses are classified under three categories to address workforce skills gaps and changing business needs. Business Technical Training hours must be at least 55% of total training. General Technical Training hours may be up to 45% of total training. Non-Technical Training must be no more than 10% of total training.

15. Skills Funds for Small Business Companies with fewer than 100 employees Emphasizes training newly hired employees $1,450 for each new employee being trained and $725 for existing employees per 12-month period. Funding for training is for full-time employees. Training selected from active course catalogs through Community, Technical Colleges, and TEEX (no customization)

16. Training must be selected from active course catalogs/schedules. Training in occupations targeted by Workforce Development Boards. Employers must pay the prevailing wages in the local labor market. Skills Funds for Small Business

17. Business Services: Phone: (979) 595-2800 ext. 2244 Fax: (979) 595-2818 www.bvjobs.org