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.

Martha M. Herron, regional community relations director for PPL Corp., has been appointed chairman of the Luzerne/Schuylkill Workforce Investment Board.

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.