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Coconino County workforce board seeks employer engagement, broadband kiosks and targeted training as federal funds wane
Summary
The county’s Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) program reported new virtual kiosks, partnerships with higher education and a one-time infusion of funds used to train incumbent workers; presenters warned that federal WIOA allocations have been declining and urged employer engagement to broaden impact.
Coconino County’s Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) team and Workforce Development Board briefed the Board of Supervisors on May 14 about workforce programs, a pilot of virtual service kiosks, regional partnerships and funding pressures.
Program manager Billy Francis and the workforce board outlined the local delivery model: the county serves as the grant recipient, the governor distributes federal funds to local workforce development boards, and title I recipients (the county’s service provider, now Eckerd Connect, and a one-stop operator) are contracted to deliver job seeker services, training and employer recruitment support.
Francis said the county piloted an Atlas virtual kiosk program to provide in-community referral points and described a new website (CoconinoWorks.org) intended to simplify public access to services. He said WIOA title I contractors have placed people in jobs and used incumbent-worker training to upskill 80 workers at six employers with roughly $140,000 in training funds. Francis said federal WIOA funding has decreased around 10% over recent years and that the board is focusing on sectors with high regional demand, stronger employer engagement and partnerships with Northern Arizona University and Coconino Community College to align training and career pathways.
Workforce staff said they have also used one-time funds to pilot employer incentives (sector strategies and the Northern Arizona Good Job Network) and to support a summer youth CTE program. Board members requested more outreach in rural communities and suggested county support to increase business participation. Francis said the workforce board will pursue targeted outreach, sector-based approaches and better employer alignment, and said the county’s role includes convening partners and helping to remove barriers to training for rural residents.
Supervisors asked for follow-up reporting on Eckerd Connect’s early outcomes and for better public visibility of workforce services. Francis agreed to provide updates and noted that many program details depend on federal and state allocations and guidance.
