Local officials press workforce groups on proposed consolidation; providers say services can continue locally

Miami County commissioners on Sept. 10 heard competing presentations and questions about a proposed consolidation of workforce-development areas that could fold Miami County into Kansas Workforce 1 if commissioners do not act.

Leanne Karas, former executive director representing Southeast Kansas Works, told the commission the local area has provided hands-on services in Miami County through pop-up centers at libraries, virtual services and business outreach. Karas said Southeast Kansas Works believes the consolidation merits careful review and expressed concerns about closures in Johnson and Leavenworth counties and the loss of a local office in Paola. "We do work with economic development, but boundary lines, traffic patterns, and congressional districts should not be the sole purpose of how you make this decision," Karas said.

Karas presented activity data she said favored Southeast Kansas Works, including 3,825 employer contacts compared with 269 in workforce area 3 and asserted that Southeast Kansas Works "has always had money and been able to provide those services without running out of funding." She told the commission the local-area contractor model the group uses reduces overhead and allows more funds to go to participants.

Keely Schneider, executive director of Work Force Partnership (which represents Leavenworth, Johnson and Wyandotte counties), said her organization has examined labor-shed data and believes Miami County has strong two-way workforce ties with the Kansas City metro. "I was very surprised to see that 80% of Miami County residents who work work in either our 3 counties or on the Missouri side of the metropolitan area," Schneider said, and she added that 80% of jobs located in Miami County are filled by workers from the three counties and the Kansas City metro.

Schneider said funding for the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) program has declined over time and that many local areas are considering consolidation and smaller footprints for comprehensive workforce centers. She said Work Force Partnership plans to maintain a comprehensive center in Wyandotte and to identify smaller satellite locations in Johnson and Leavenworth; she told the commission she is willing to explore standing up a satellite presence in Paola.

Commissioners pressed both presenters on specific service levels, how often staff meet with county economic development and which services would be maintained locally. Commissioner questions focused on whether Miami County residents would face greater travel burdens, whether employer services would decline and whether local representation on the new board would remain adequate. Commissioners discussed the possibility of placing an action item on the afternoon agenda to register a preference before a comment period closes; staff noted that without affirmative action Miami County would be assimilated into Kansas Workforce 1.

No final decision was recorded Sept. 10. Commissioners asked for more information about service delivery plans, cost and locations for in-person services and representation on the merged board before deciding whether to request to remain with Southeast Kansas Works or to accept assimilation into Kansas Workforce 1.