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The Southwestern Area Workforce Development Board, formed from seven counties (Catron, Doña Ana, Grant, Hidalgo, Luna, Sierra, and Socorro)
under the Workforce Investment Act (WIA) of 1998. We administer federally funded employment and training
programs to serve economically disadvantaged adults, youth and other eligible workers.
WIA supports public and private partnerships involving local government, business and industry, in
addition to education, employment services and community support organizations.
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The Southwestern Area Workforce Development Board’s mission is to empower individuals in the
region by providing them with the tools and training they need to acquire higher paying jobs
based on the needs of local businesses. With an emphasis on economic and employer-driven goals,
SAWDB’s cooperative programs will cater to the region’s unique employment needs, allowing
for more effective distribution of federal funds and serving local employers by cultivating a highly skilled workforce.
The SAWDB will support the development of a well-trained and effective workforce that
will meet local and regional needs by focusing on three actions: |
Educate: The SAWDB will provide residents with training in basic job skills based on ongoing
analysis of the needs of local businesses, including work ethics, language, literacy,
and vocational skills.
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Facilitate: The SAWDB will assist workers and their employers to transition from current
labor, employment, and welfare systems to the new standards outlined in the Workforce
Investment Act.
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Ensure: The SAWDB will plan and monitor educational and business training services
and providers to ensure high-quality programs for all residents, particularly hard-to-serve
and under-served individuals.
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The One-Stop Career Centers within the Southwestern Area will play an integral role
in assessing, referring, and providing training to adults and dislocated workers
based on labor market analysis and ongoing identification of local employer’s
workforce needs. These centers consistently update the area’s employment needs
in partnership with local businesses, and by offering them quality services such
as access to well-trained and well-screened applicants, in addition to assistance
in the training of current employees for advancement, the One-Stop Career Centers
will work to become the definitive location for employers to fulfill all of their
employment needs.
The SAWDB, in conjunction with the Chief Elected Officials (CEOs), has designated the
New Mexico Department of Labor as the one-stop career provider for the Southwestern Area,
with centers located in Las Cruces, Socorro, Silver City, and Deming. Intermittent services
will be provided in Lordsburg, Reserve, and Truth or Consequences. The SAWDB has also made
available the use of a KIOSK system located in the communities of Vado del Cerro, Anthony,
Chaparral, East Mesa, Hatch, Bayard, Columbus, Lordsburg, Magdalena, Truth or Consequences,
and Reserve.
These KIOSK systems are used to help local individuals create marketable resumes, search
for jobs, register with the Workforce Investment Act (WIA), and apply for unemployment
insurance. This system is internet-based and helps the One-Stop Career Centers to extend
their services to greater parts of the Southwestern Region.
One-Stop Career Centers also provide core, intensive, and training services to eligible
adults throughout the Southwestern Area. These centers provide on-the-job training
contracts with potential employers who offer a six-month contract that will transition
the participant to permanent full-time unsubsidized employment. Customized training with
employer-driven industry clusters is also provided.
The One-Stop Career Centers utilize the Virtual One-Stop System (VOSS) an Internet
database that enrolls and exits each adult, youth, and dislocated worker participant in the region. The VOSS gathers identifying and program information that is consistent with the required 17 federally mandated performance standards for adult, youth, and dislocated workers. The VOSS also provides for internal reporting, called ad-hoc, for each adult and youth service provided, and the capability of producing state and local performance reports.
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