Hampton Roads Workforce Council will represent Eastern Shore starting July 1, official says

Sean Avery, president and CEO of the Hampton Roads Workforce Council, told the Accomack County Board of Supervisors on April 15 that, effective July 1, his organization will represent the Eastern Shore in its service region.

"Come July 1, we will actually be representing the Eastern Shore in our service region," Avery said, explaining the change follows a regional realignment and will transfer responsibilities previously held by the Bay Consortium workforce board. He said the council plans to relocate the Virginia Career Works center from its current strip-mall location to the community college campus to create programmatic synergies.

Avery said the council manages a significant share of federal workforce dollars and expects to bring increased training funds and business services to the Eastern Shore. "We represent about 25 to 30% of all the federal workforce dollars that come through the Workforce Innovation Opportunity Act to Virginia," he said.

Board members asked how elected-official representation would be preserved; Avery said elected officials and local board representatives will continue to have a role and that the council will meet quarterly and offer virtual and rotated in-person meetings on the Eastern Shore. The board did not take any formal action on the presentation.

The council also noted plans to partner with local school divisions for programs such as GoTech and to offer business-services outreach to identify employer needs and connect residents to training opportunities.