Boards to Help Develop Workers

Armed with millions of dollars in federal funds from the Workplace Investment Act, Orange County and the cities of Anaheim and Santa Ana have set up boards to assist people in either finding employment or upgrading their skills to get better jobs. The boards will also work with businesses to determine what skills they need.

The Workplace Investment Boards comprise a mix of business people as well as representatives from education, labor, community-based organizations, veterans, employment services and economic development agencies.

“They can train job seekers right here in Santa Ana so our local businesses don’t have to go outside the community to look for employees,” said Santa Ana board member Usha Jain, co-owner of a printing and mailing business. “I think there is a lot of value to this approach.”

The workplace act, signed into law by President Clinton in 1998, transferred funds and decision-making authority from federal agencies to states and local communities. Gov. Gray Davis has designated 50 work-force investment areas in California.

Funds are distributed based on population, unemployment rates and poverty. Orange County received $9.3 million, compared to a $49.9 million allocation for Los Angeles County and $72 million for the city of Los Angeles. Santa Ana is receiving $3 million and Anaheim $2 million, according to the the state’s Employment Development Department.

For information, contact the county workplace investment board at (714) 567-7542, Anaheim’s board at (714) 765-4342 or Santa Ana’s board at (714) 565-2600.

Greg Hernandez covers workplace issues for The Times. He can be reached at (714) 966-5989 or at greg.hernandez@latimes.com