The vision of the South Bay Workforce Investment Board (SBWIB) for meeting workforce development challenges within the 11 cities that comprise our local workforce investment area (Carson, El Segundo, Gardena, Hawthorne, Hermosa Beach, Inglewood, Lawndale, Lomita, Manhattan Beach,  Redondo Beach, and Torrance) is one that embraces comprehensive strategies to meet the needs of business for a skilled workforce. The SBWIB vision creates opportunities for workers to prepare for and enter into well-paid careers. Central to this objective is collaboration among a wide range of stakeholders including business, labor, education, social services, philanthropic organizations and community-based agencies. Translating this vision into a plan that can be set in motion will require that stakeholders work together to identify the workforce needs of businesses in local priority sectors, as well as develop career pathway approaches to address skill level gaps of the local workforce.

 

With significant input from business and community partners, SBWIB has developed a Five-Year Strategic Local Workforce Plan. The Plan describes the Board's commitment to building and maintaining a comprehensive workforce development system for the greater Hawthorne area that is sector-focused, business-responsive and fosters the development and delivery of training and services. These training and services bridge the gap between skills currently available in the workforce and the needs of growing and emerging sectors of the local economy.

 

SBWIB’s Local Plan meets the requirements set forth in the federal Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act of 2015 (WIOA) along with those promulgated through the State statute that implements the WIA program in California. Furthermore, it complements the California Workforce Investment Board’s “Shared Strategy for a Shared Prosperity – California’s Strategic Workforce Development Plan: 2013-2017,” which promotes the Governor’s vision for better aligning and deploying resources to the workforce needs of industries and communities.