Council approves $1.6M in WIOA funds after questions about program metrics and enrollment

Hawaii County approved Bill 112 on Feb. 4, accepting and appropriating $1.6 million in federal WIOA (Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act) funds across adult, dislocated worker and youth programs.

During the second‑and‑final reading, several council members pressed county staff (Deputy Director Dennis Lynn and WIOA program lead Clinton Mercado) for clarity on how performance measures are calculated, what the participation counts represent and how services are delivered. Councilmembers asked for program‑by‑program breakdowns rather than five‑year aggregated percentages to better judge year‑to‑year performance.

Mercado explained that participant registrations are tracked in the state HireNet database, that Goodwill Hawai‘i functions as a primary service provider for many participants and that employment and credential rates are calculated per federal reporting rules (for example, quarterly median earnings and credential attainment among participants who complete program periods). He acknowledged credential‑attainment rates can be depressed when participants leave early after finding employment, and said staff are working on outreach to increase enrollment and reduce returned funds.

Councilmembers suggested clearer future reporting — disaggregated by year and program, with participant counts for youth and adults separated — and asked staff to coordinate with county departments and high schools to connect candidates with local jobs. After discussion, the bill passed on a recorded vote (8 ayes, 1 absent). Councilmembers said they expect further follow‑up and improved program reports to the council.