Luzerne Schuylkill Workforce Investment Board, Inc.
For Luzerne and Schuylkill Counties 

LEGAL NOTICE

The Luzerne Schuylkill Workforce Investment Board, Inc. (WIB) is seeking qualified providers to operate three programs under the auspices of the WIB. The programs are the Employment, Advancement, and Retention Network (EARN), Workforce Investment Act (WIA) Title I Services for Adult and Dislocated Workers, and Workforce Investment Act Title I Services for Youth (including in-school youth, out of school youth, and summer youth). EARN programs address the employment needs of welfare to work population. WIA Title I Services for Adults and Dislocated Workers provides comprehensive employment, education and training needs for Adult (age 18 and over) Disadvantaged and Dislocated Worker populations. WIA Title I Services for Youth, both in-school (age 14—17) and out of school (age 18—21) provides comprehensive employment and education services for disadvantaged youth. This solicitation covers the period from 7/1/10 - 6/30/14 for EARN programs and 7/1/10 - 6/30/13 for WIA programs. 

Interested proposers may secure any of the three Requests for Proposals through written mail request to Luzerne Schuylkill Workforce Investment Board, Phoenix Building, 22 E. Union Street, Suite 115, Wilkes-Barre, PA 18701, by fax (570) 970-4050, or email at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it . All requests must specifically request each proposal. Proposals must be received by the WIB Office no later than Monday, April 19, 2010 at 12:00 noon.

2010 Health Care Industry Partnership Symposium
April 14, 2010

Money received by the Luzerne/Schuylkill Workforce Investment Board through the federal stimulus package is paying dividends in the region for young and displaced workers.

That was the message relayed during a public meeting of the board Thursday at the Keystone Job Corps Center in Drums.

Earlier this year, the workforce investment board received more than $3.5 million as part of the federal American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 – commonly known as the stimulus plan.

The funding was earmarked to provide adult workforce training, training for displaced workers, and summer jobs for young people throughout Luzerne and Schuylkill counties.

At the time, the WIB projected it will be able to serve 111 adults, 214 displaced workers and 480 youth from ages 14 to 24 with the federal stimulus funds. The program funds can be used over a two-year period.

The commissioners’ chairmen of Luzerne and Schuylkill counties, along with key community stakeholders, recently met to renew their commitment to developing strategies and partnerships to address and meet ever-changing regional workforce needs.

Dr. Robert Garraty, executive director of the state Workforce Investment Board, was the featured speaker during an informal mixer that brought together Luzerne County Commissioners’ Chairman Maryanne Petrilla and Commissioner Steve Urban and Schuylkill County Commissioners’ Chairman Mantura Gallagher.

“These are really difficult times, not only in Luzerne County and in Schuylkill County, but in America. The Workforce Investment Board is important for us moving forward,” Petrilla said. “It’s the way of the future to regionalize projects like this.”

A woman with more than two decades of regional workforce development experience has been hired as the new executive director of the Luzerne/Schuylkill Workforce Investment Board (WIB).
Lucyann Vierling joined the WIB as executive director in early July.

The Luzerne/Schuylkill Workforce Investment Board engages business, industry, education, and economic development and community organizations to identify workforce challenges and develop strategies and solutions to address those challenges. Members of the WIB include representatives from private sector businesses and industry, chambers of commerce, financial institutions, community groups, economic development agencies, state and county agencies, and educational institutions from across Luzerne and Schuylkill counties.