Community leaders in Louisville took a giant step on April 21 toward implementation of the Workforce Investment Act of 1998 (WIA) in their community. Leaders gathered to hear from youth development experts and to share best practices at "Youth: A Capital Investment," a symposium sponsored by Mayor David Armstrong, the Jefferson County Judge/Executive Rebecca Jackson, and the Louisville/Jefferson County Private Industry Council.

WIA, the new federal law addressing workforce development, which was passed in August of 1998, replaces the Job Training Partnership Act of 1982 (JPTA). The legislation includes a special emphasis on youth. In addition, the law replaces Private Industry Councils with Workforce Investment Boards (WIBs). The WIBs will have a broader scope of responsibility for overseeing workforce development for communities. WIA calls all community stakeholders - employers, educators, community organizations, labor unions, and government agencies - together to develop a long-range comprehensive community plan to develop the workforce.

Pamela O. Anderson, Executive Director of the Louisville/Jefferson County Private Industry Council, said the event generated a great deal of interest among youth service providers and provided much information that can be used by those who will be writing an implementation plan as required by the new law. "Several themes emerged from this symposium," she said. "First of all, the speakers and focus group participants said we must involve youth in determining priorities and writing the plan. Second, we already offer many beneficial services, but our efforts must be coordinated and the information about services must be more available. Third, we must hold service providers accountable for results. Fourth, the Youth Council should serve as a broad-based planning and coordination group for our community's youth development efforts."

WIA emphasizes service to youth by establishing Youth Councils as subgroups of the local boards. The Youth Councils will develop the part of the local plan relating to youth. Ideas and priorities generated from this forum will help the local board write their five-year plan, according to Ms. Anderson. This plan will steer local efforts.

Featured speakers were Robert Newman, Senior Program Officer from the Center for Youth Development in Washington D.C. and Lorenzo Harrison, Administrator of the Employment and Training Administration, U.S. Department of Labor and Director of Youth Programs. Mr. Newman emphasized valuing youths and their input, and raising the standards of youth service providers. Mr. Harrison discussed what the new law requires of communities in organizing Youth Councils. Harrison called for a consolidated, systematic approach to youth development, high standards for performance and involving "front-line" youth workers and youths on the Council. He also called on the group to see their efforts as long-term investments saying, "Stick with kids for the long haul."

The Kentucky Statewide Workforce Investment Board has been named, and Louisville Mayor David Armstrong will serve on the Board. The State Board has adopted a plan for implementation of WIA. It was submitted to the U.S. Department of Labor, April 1, 1999. More information is available on the state plan at . The local board will be named by chief local elected officials this spring. Kentucky is among a handful of states implementing WIA early, on July 1 of this year. Most states are implementing the new law July 1, 2000.