DIVISION OF WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT

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|  The Workforce Investment Act (WIA)  |  Workforce Investment Board (WIB)  |

|  Who Can Use WIA?  |  Programs Available under WIA  |

|  Business and Career Solutions Centers  |  Available Services  | Individual Training Accounts (ITA)  |

|  Staff Contact  |  Field Offices  |  CDC Divisions Home  |  CDCOnline Home  |

Preparing local citizens to be viable members of the area’s workforce is the ultimate goal of CDC’s Division of Workforce Development.  Working in conjunction with the Workforce Investment Board (WIB), the Division supervises and administers the Workforce Investment Act (WIA) programs for the 10 parishes of Northwest Louisiana, excluding the City of Shreveport.  The Division offers a multitude of programs designed to provide local employers with a trained workforce by offering remedial education, training, and employment assistance to low income and unemployed youth and adults.  To this end, the Division operates one-stop workforce centers that provide labor market information; “scorecard” data on training providers; assessment, screening and referrals of potential employees; and hiring incentives for unemployed workers.

The Division’s programs are designed to stimulate the employment, training, and retraining of unemployed and economically disadvantaged and dislocated workers through training subsidies and employer incentives.  Training services may include:

“Customized” training for employers’ new hires, combining EBT/vocational classroom training and access to state resources for incumbent worker training, also is available.

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The Workforce Investment Act (WIA)

The Workforce Investment Act (WIA) is a federally funded, locally administered program designed to create an employment and training system dedicated to improving the quality of employment services provided to employers and citizens of Northwest Louisiana.  A State and local community partnership, WIA provides its workforce development programs through Business and Career Solutions Centers.  CDC, in conjunction with the WIB, administers the Workforce Investment Act (WIA) program in Northwest Louisiana, excluding the City of Shreveport.

Workforce Investment Board (WIB)

The Seventh Planning District Workforce Investment Board (WIB) is composed of representatives from businesses from the ten (10) parishes in Northwest Louisiana.  The WIB works with public agencies to review, monitor, and evaluate the operation of the local Workforce Investment Act (WIA) Program.  The appointment of WIB members is made by the area’s Chief Elected Official from nominations submitted by all ten (10) parishes; membership and composition of the WIB are then submitted to the Governor of Louisiana for certification.  Replacement members are also appointed in accordance with these procedures.

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Who Can Use WIA?

Any employer in the public, private non-profit, or private sector or approved eligible training services provider can participate in WIA programs.

Who Are the Customers?

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Programs Available under WIA

Programs for EMPLOYERS:

Programs for JOB SEEKERS:  

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Business and Career Solutions Centers

CDC’s Business and Career Solutions Centers provide a physical location where business persons seeking employees or citizens seeking employment opportunities or information can go for help. CDC’s Business and Career Solutions Centers offer a warm, friendly atmosphere where customers receive uniformly high-quality, user-friendly employment, training, and labor market information from a knowledgeable staff.

Each Center contains career resource information which allows customers to explore job and training information at their own speed.  The Centers also feature electronic linkages via the Internet to provide the customer with universal access to employment information and services throughout the area.

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Available Services

CAREER EXPLORATION:

CAREER DEVELOPMENT:

JOB SEARCH ASSISTANCE:

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Individual Training Accounts (ITA)

The Individual Training Account (ITA) system was established to finance training services for individuals enrolled in the WIA Title I Adult and Dislocated Workers program.

Once qualified to participate in the ITA system, the individual, in consultation with his or her CDC Account Executive, selects an eligible training provider.  Once the training provider has been approved, the client is given a voucher to cover the cost of the training.  The voucher is presented to the training provider who, in turn, redeems the voucher through The Coordinating and Development Corp.

Payments from ITAs to eligible training providers are made in a variety of ways, including electronic transfer of funds through financial institutions.  Payments may also be made incrementally through payment of a portion of the costs at different points in the training course.

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Contact Information:

Mr. Harold J. LaBorde, Jr.

Senior Vice-President

Division of Workforce Development

Phone/TDD: (318) 632-2022     

E-Mail: cdsport@cdconline.org

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Field Offices:

|  Bienville  |  Bossier  |  Caddo  |  Claiborne  |  DeSoto  |

|  Lincoln  |  Natchitoches  |  Red River  |  Sabine  |  Webster  |

Bienville Parish

Anne Wilks, Account Executive

2434 Manning St. 

Ringgold, LA 71068

Phone: (318) 894-9173

Fax/TDD: (318) 894-3146

E-mail: cdring@centurytel.net

Hours: M-W-Th-F 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

Bossier Parish

Helen Hall, Account Executive

4000 Viking Drive, Suite B-1

Bossier City, LA 71111

Phone: (318) 741-7363

Fax/TDD: (318) 741-7373

E-mail: hhall@lwc.la.gov

Hours: M-T-F 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. and Thursday 8:00 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.

Caddo Parish

Brenda Clarke, Account Executive

2900 Dowdell St.

Shreveport, LA  71103

Phone: (318) 676-5721

Fax/TDD: (318) 676-7112

E-mail: bclarke@lwc.la.gov

Hours: M-T-W-F 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. and Thursday 8:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.

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Claiborne Parish

Anne Wilks, Account Executive

WIA Youth Center

3940 Hwy 79

Homer, LA 71040

Phone: (318) 927-3338

Fax/TDD: (318) 927-3338

E-mail: cdhomer@cmaaccess.com

Hours: Tuesday 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

DeSoto Parish

Debbie Robertson, Account Executive

142 Lake Rd.

Mansfield, LA 71052

Phone: (318) 871-2391

Fax/TDD: (318) 871-2393

E-mail: arklataa@bellsouth.net

Hours: M-T-Th-F 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. and Wednesday 8:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.

Lincoln Parish

Leonard Booker, Jr., Account Executive

307 N. Homer St., Suite 306

Ruston, LA  71270

Phone: (318) 251-5023

Fax/TDD: (318) 251-5060

E-mail: lbooker@lwc.la.gov

Hours: M-T-Th-F 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. and Wednesday 8:00 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.

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Natchitoches  Parish

Kecia G. McConathy, Account Executive

714 Fourth St.

Natchitoches, LA 71457

Phone: (318) 357-3275

Fax/TDD: (318) 357-3279

E-Mail: coordinatingandd@bellsouth.net

Hours: M-T-Th-F 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. and Wednesday 8:00 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.

Red River Parish

Kecia G. McConathy, Account Executive

Red River Parish Courthouse

615 E. Carroll

Coushatta, LA 71019

Phone: (318) 932-9570

Fax/TDD: (318) 932-5080

E-Mail:  coordinatingandd@bellsouth.net

Hours: Tuesday 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.

Sabine Parish

Terri Remedies, Account Executive

Courthouse/Annex Building

1125 W. Mississippi Avenue, Suite A

Many, LA 71449

Phone: (318) 256-2698

Fax/TDD: (318) 256-3283

E-mail: devcorpc@bellsouth.net

Hours: M-T-Th-F 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. and Wednesday 8:00 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.

Webster Parish

Mary Helen Simms, Account Executive

310 Homer Rd.

Minden, LA 71055

Phone: (318) 371-3028

Fax/TDD: (318) 371-3396

E-mail: msimms@lwc.la.gov

Hours: M-T-W-F 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. and Thursday 8:00 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.

Equal Opportunity Employer/Program

Auxiliary Aids and Services Are Available upon Request to

Individuals with Disabilities

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