19D - WORKFORCE INV PLAN - Laserfiche WebLink

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credits to recruitment of trained workforce to employee training thus making the system demand driven as well as responsive. The Santa Ana WIB is a strong business led board with many members who are also very active with the local Santa Ana Chamber of Commerce, which is also focused on workforce issues. The involvement of these business leaders in Santa Ana's workforce programs has ensured that the business service needs of local and even regional employers are and remain the focus of the local workforce development efforts. Santa Ana's business base is predominately manufacturing so to ensure their business needs are being met the Santa Ana WIB instituted the highly successful Manufacturing Roundtable meetings which focus on topics determined by the manufacturing community themselves. The WIB is able to secure speakers/presenters who are specialized and can answer questions as well as provide relevant training and services to these businesses. Various topics have included workers comp insurance, employment and training panel programs, employee skill upgrade and quality improvement programs as well as others designed to assist local employers with productivity and profitability. 2) The Santa Ana WIB will continue its efforts to partner with local educational agencies and other partners to provide training in the high-wage, high-growth occupations available locally. In addition efforts to assist employers in upgrading their workers' skills so that they may move up in the company and make room for new hires or promotions will be a priority for its Business Services Unit. Where appropriate, other resources are expected to be tapped for these efforts such as the Employment Training Panel funds. Additionally Santa Ana will continue to provide vocational training to those laid-off from local employers and those who are unemployed and under skilled. These efforts will enhance the Return-on-Investment for Santa Ana, which was most recently calculated at 473% by a study conducted by California State University, Fullerton in 2005. 3) The Santa Ana WIB supports the Governor's efforts in improving California's educational system at all levels and believes lifelong learning needs to be the goal of each and every person in the 21st century. Santa Ana continues to focus on new and innovative programs for its youth and works closely with the Santa Ana Unified School District, the Regional Occupational Programs, Adult Education and the Rancho Santiago Community College District. Santa Ana's most in need youth are offered a variety of innovative opportunities to get and complete their education and improve their skills which include using music, art, and most recently boxing to engage these high risk youth. Unfortunately Santa Ana is a city with a higher than average rate of non- completions and the WIB along with its Youth Council are working very hard to improve the number of high school graduates as well as those who go on to high education. The Santa Ana WIB is a strong supporter of the Santa Ana School District and Chamber of Commerce in their endeavor to create a new technical high school within an existing high school, an idea that was proposed by the local business community and forwarded by the Chamber to the school board. High School Inc. will be a leader in this innovative approach to education and will focus on seven high growth industry clusters in Orange FWIAD05-19D Page 2 of 8 190-11 6/06