Workforce Investment Board

of Lucas County

The Source Northwest Ohio

About

The Workforce Investment Act of 1998

The Workforce Investment Act (WIA) of 1998 created a series one-stop employment centers around that nation.  Each center is governed by a Workforce Investment Board (WIB) that provides direction and guidance to the center’s operations. 

By law, each state is divided into Workforce Investment Areas.  Ohio has 20 such areas and 31 full-service one-stop centers.  In addition, there are 59 smaller satellite centers around the state.  Lucas County makes up workforce area number 9 – a single county region. 

In Lucas County, the WIB oversees The Source Northwest Ohio, located in Downtown Toledo.  At The Source, job seekers have access to a host of services including workshops, computers, fax machines, printers and other tools necessary to find employment in today’s job market.  For those individuals hoping to make a career change, staff at The Source can provide career counseling and connect individuals with funding for training in high-demand occupations.

The Board and Committees

Authorized through the Workforce Investment Act of 1998, the Workforce Investment Board is governed by a Board of Directors appointed by the Board of Lucas County Commissioners. Our board members include community leaders from business, labor, education, economic development, and non-profit service organizations.

Currently, there are 30 members of the full WIB board with eight representatives sitting on the Executive Committee.  Individuals interested in applying for a seat on the board are encouraged to submit a volunteer application.  A complete calendar of upcoming meeting and minutes of past meetings are also available. 

Members of the WIB also sit on the regional Youth Council which develops strategies to meet the needs of the next-generation of workers for high-demand high-wage careers.