The Workforce Institute, which functions as a workforce intermediary for the greater San Jose and South Bay area, has delivered customized training programs in alliance with Evergreen Valley College and San Jose City College since 1988 and has extensive experience in the management and operation of a variety of contracted training/grant programs and educational services for specifically targeted a
udiences. Also available are professional development classes, which are held on-site at the Tech Center at the San Jose City College location; in addition, the institute provides supportive services to individuals funded through a variety of agencies, industries, and businesses to the complexly diverse population of Santa Clara County residents. The Workforce Institute manages an annual budget of over $6 million. The Institute has been the major vendor providing WIA intensive services (case management, job readiness training, and job placement) under contract with work2future, the local workforce investment board, from greater San Jose south through Gilroy. Last year alone, the Institute provided workforce development workshops to 20,000 participants through its WIA contract. The Workforce Institute is also a leader in providing career transition services to job seekers as a result of maintaining strong, on-going relationships with hundreds of employers throughout California. By understanding the local economic trends and workforce development needs of employers (including defining the training and placement initiatives required to create career paths from entry-level jobs to higher-skill, higher-wage positions), WI in its role as a workforce intermediary is informed and properly positioned to proactively meet the economic and workforce demands of the community as well as serve as a hub for regional employer services. Through its Business Solutions unit, the Institute provides on-site customized training programs and services through a variety of instructional models and flexible schedules:
Core Areas
• Leadership Development
• Business Communications
• Communications for Foreign Born Professionals
• Cultural Proficiency
• Customer Service [tailored for each industry sector or company environment]
• Computer and Technical Skills
• Performance Consulting and Needs Assessment
• Simulation Training for Incumbent Health Care Professionals
• National Career Readiness Certificate
• Career Readiness and Employability Skills
• Other areas as requested
The San Jose/Evergreen Community College District (SJECCD), located in the heart of Silicon Valley, has been providing general and vocational education programs, academic assessment, and career counseling services since 1921. This District serves the majority of low-income college students in Santa Clara County; both its colleges are recognized as Hispanic Serving Institutions. Its staff is experienced in working with individuals who possess significant barriers to employment including CalWORKS recipients, persons with disabilities, ex-offenders, and others whose characteristics and circumstances may create obstacles to their obtaining and retaining employment.
