WIC director outlines data-driven priorities as FY27 budget shrinks

Drew Hubbard, executive director of the DC Workforce Investment Council, told the Committee on Executive Administration and Labor that the WIC’s FY27 operating posture will emphasize better data, clearer definitions, and stronger governance while operating with about six FTEs and a local funding request of roughly $1,226,000. He said the WIC expects an additional transfer of approximately $1.3 million in federal WIOA dollars by MOU and described the council’s role as a board that sets standards and oversees performance rather than a direct service provider.

Hubbard framed the effort as a response to fragmentation: "Over the last 5 years, the district has invested more than $500,000,000 to prepare district residents for careers," he said, and the WIC’s work is to ensure those investments yield measurable results. He told members the district’s workforce activities total about $100 million annually across roughly 85 programs and 24 agencies, but the system lacks common definitions and longitudinal outcome tracking; where available, employment outcomes range widely and the WIC has found that about 5–10% of program completers secure tracked employment in the datasets the council currently analyzes.

Chair Anita Bonds pressed Hubbard on specifics: which agencies are included (the director cited DOES, DHS and other mayoral offices and special agencies), the local-versus-federal split of the $100 million (Hubbard estimated roughly 70% local), and how the expenditure guide will be improved for public transparency. Hubbard said the FY24 expenditure guide is nearly complete, that WIC has expanded reporting coverage from roughly a dozen agencies to 24, and that the next versions will aim for consistent outcome measures and more useful vendor and funding-source breakdowns so the board and public can evaluate return on investment. He also told the committee WIC is addressing a Department of Labor reporting dispute for program year 2025 and is providing technical assistance to partner agencies to improve outcome reporting standards.

Looking forward, Hubbard listed six WIC priorities—expenditure-guide strengthening, developing common definitions, improving training provider quality standards and ETPL oversight, supporting board governance, expanding employer engagement, and deploying data/AI tools for real-time analysis—and asked the committee to consider how funding and modest staff capacity bear on the council’s ability to execute those functions.

The committee did not take a vote; members asked for follow-up materials including a breakdown of local versus federal investments, the expenditure guide chart, and a staffing plan to show how WIC will meet its oversight responsibilities given the proposed personnel and operating levels.