Submitted by Pacific Mountain Workforce Development Council
It is with tremendous pride that we announce Pacific Mountain Workforce Development Council (PacMtn) receipt of a Program Year 2011 Workforce Investment Incentive Award. PacMtn is the only Workforce Development Council (WDC) of the 12 WDC’s statewide, to have exceeded all 18 targets. In order to receive this award from the Washington State Employment Security Department, PacMtn had to exceed an average of 110 percent of the performance targets for the state and federal performance measures from within WIA Title I. More information can be found here.
“The citizens of PacMtn can be assured that the funds received are being spent here in an efficient and effective manner—putting people back to work, getting them the skills they need and helping business find talent to grow and be sustained,” said Cheryl Fambles, CEO of PacMtn, “and this is made possible through the hard work of the PacMtn staff, who serve our mission under some challenging circumstances.”
This award comes on the back of PacMtn being one of only a few WDC’s nationally to complete the Workforce Investment Act Scorecard. The process is a fully vetted, national standard that can be applied to all workforce agencies regardless of geography. The Scorecard utilizes a new rigorous economic model that is specialized to measure the real benefits and costs of Workforce Investment Act (WIA) programs. This effort provides PacMtn a baseline of which to build on for years to come.
Specifically the Scorecard, which was completed by a leading research firm, analyzed the cost-benefit of PacMtn’s investments in WIA programs that help adults, dislocated workers and youth receive training and enter employment. It also looked at the operations of PacMtn and the agency’s overall economic impact on the regional economy.
By the end of the ten-year time horizon, the adult program at PacMtn is projected to yield a cumulative added value of $3.14 in added taxable income per dollar spent to fund the program. Similarly, the dislocated worker program will yield $1.35 for every dollar spent and the youth program will generate $0.53.
The strength of these programs is emphasized by customer comments, such as the ones received in a letter to a PacMtn counselor. Dan (long term dislocated construction worker) said, “I’ve been working between 50 and 75 hours a week, and they’re paying me $21 an hour so the paychecks are nice. A far cry from what I was getting on unemployment.” He went on to say, “I’m extremely excited and can’t thank you guys enough for putting me through school.”
Overall, the combined adult, dislocated worker, and youth programs at PacMtn will generate a cumulative added value of $1.48 in added taxable income for every dollar spent. These benefits accrue to all members of society – higher earnings for participants, increased output for business, and added tax receipts for government.
PacMtn’s payroll and expenditures directly and indirectly generated $2.8 million in regional income and supported 34 jobs in the regional economy.
Furthermore, PacMtn administered 3.7 million in funds to participants (in the form of tuition vouchers, subsidized employment and other assistance) and to third party contractors and service providers to run WIA sponsored programs. These expenditures generated 3.9 million in regional income supporting an additional 84 jobs. More information can be found here.
About Pacific Mountain Workforce Development Council
PacMtn is a non-profit community agency that coordinates and provides oversight for the public workforce system. PacMtn offers employment assistance for job seekers and businesses in Thurston, Lewis, Mason, Grays Harbor, and Pacific Counties. PacMtn supports a dynamic regional economy that provides employment assistance for individuals to become self-sufficient and services for business to succeed. PacMtn establishes partnerships and leverages resources to successfully implement and oversee a wide range of employment-related programs that each year serves thousands of youth, adults, dislocated workers and businesses.
