Mississippi Valley Workforce Board tells Des Moines County supervisors about WIOA services and local impact

The Mississippi Valley Workforce Development Board presented its role, programs and recent performance to the Des Moines County Board of Supervisors on Sept. 10, outlining services offered through local IowaWORKS centers and measures of local impact.

Rhonda Swofford, executive director of the Mississippi Valley Workforce Development Board, told supervisors the board is a 501(c)(3) that administers WIOA (Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act) funds across an eight-county region that includes Des Moines County and that county boards serve as the chief elected officials for oversight. "WIOA legislation is designed to provide services to individuals with barriers to employment to reduce their reliance on public assistance programs and put them on a path to self sufficiency," Swofford said.

Wendy Tripp, the board's compliance officer, and Tyler Lance, a staffer involved with the IowaWORKS system, outlined services available at the local IowaWORKS centers in Davenport and West Burlington, which include career coaching, resume assistance, work-based learning, tuition assistance, English-language services and connections to vocational rehabilitation and adult education. Tripp said the board emphasizes coordination with local workforce partners "to try and reduce duplication of services and maximize our resources."

The presentation included performance figures for the July 1, 2023–June 30, 2024 program year: the board estimates about $5,400,000 in wage impact from participants who entered the workforce after services; customer satisfaction near 94–95%; and numbers served listed in the presentation (example figures cited by staff included roughly 198 adults and 142 youth served, with dozens of participants earning credentials). The presenters said Des Moines County represents about 12% of the workforce area and receives about 13.25% of the board's total services.

Staff described targeted supports for people with barriers to employment — including veterans, people receiving public assistance, justice-involved individuals, immigrants, Native Americans and farmworkers — and said employers can access recruitment and customized training services. An e-learning platform called Scale Up (made available to residents and employers in the eight-county area) was highlighted; staff said it offers more than 7,000 courses and about 1,000 Spanish-language courses at no cost to local residents and employers.

The board requested supervisors' continued participation as chief elected officials and listed upcoming opportunities, including an open house at the Burlington center and a quarterly newsletter. The presentations and local contact information will be posted on the Mississippi Valley Workforce Development Board website, staff said.

The discussion was informational; supervisors did not take formal action on WIOA policy during the meeting. The board thanked the presenters and moved on to routine agenda items.