This designation positions Opportunity Inc. as the regional thought leader on community workforce development issues and solutions.
Norfolk, VA (PRWEB) April 14, 2016
At its March 2016 meeting, the Hampton Roads Workforce Development Board passed a resolution designating Opportunity Inc. (OppInc.) as the regional workforce convener for South and Western Hampton Roads, which includes the cities of Chesapeake, Franklin, Norfolk, Portsmouth, Suffolk, and Virginia Beach; and Isle of Wight and Southampton counties.
OppInc. and the Hampton Roads Workforce Development Board, in accordance with the Virginia General Assembly’s mandate, will lead strategic efforts aimed at facilitating meaningful employment and economic growth for the region. Initiatives facilitated by OppInc. span nearly 2,000 square miles, impact 1.2 million residents, and support more than 22,000 businesses in South and Western Hampton Roads.
“This designation positions Opportunity Inc. as the regional thought leader on community workforce development issues and solutions,” said William L. Nusbaum, Chair of the Hampton Roads Workforce Development Board. “We are committed to connecting businesses, education, economic development professionals, and all entities with a vested interest in assisting jobseekers and ensuring a highly skilled labor force.”
Since 1974, through its various iterations, the Hampton Roads Workforce Development Board and its staff organization, Opportunity Inc., have supported the region’s and Virginia’s economy by integrating workforce development and economic development activities. Under the new legislative mandate, OppInc. is required to develop a local plan for employer engagement that will specify the policies and procedures to be followed by all of the region’s workforce development entities when engaging the region’s employers; address how the region’s workforce entities will involve employers in the formation of new workforce development initiatives; and identify which activities will be adopted to address employer’s specific workforce needs.
“As the regional convener of workforce development, we will work hard to realign and enhance our existing programs to improve system outcomes,” said Shawn Avery, President & CEO, Opportunity Inc. “We plan to leverage this designation to continue delivering quality business, workforce, and youth services that help to bolster the economy in Hampton Roads.”
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About Opportunity Inc.
OppInc. provides strategic workforce development solutions designed to assist businesses in accessing qualified workers and jobseekers in search of suitable job openings and training opportunities to bolster their earning potential. Established by the cities of Chesapeake, Franklin, Norfolk, Portsmouth, Suffolk, and Virginia Beach and the counties of Isle of Wight and Southampton, Opportunity Inc. and the Hampton Roads Workforce Development Board oversee federally funded workforce development programs for South and Western Hampton Roads.
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