NC S147

Expresses the General Assembly's opinion that local Workforce Investment Act (WIA) services should be streamlined by realigning local workforce development areas with councils of governments (COG) boundaries established under G.S. 160A-470.

Recommends reducing the number of local workforce development areas from 23 to 16 by disbanding nine areas, including six single-county areas, based on a March 28, 2012 Program Evaluation Division report.

Notes that realignment would increase area population range from 172,000 to 2,000,000 and expand county coverage from three to 12 counties per area, allowing for more effective resource allocation to job seekers.

Finds that current local workforce development areas are based on employment and training program criteria from approximately 40 years ago and are not strategically aligned with economic development activities in the state.

Acknowledges that 13 of the 23 current local workforce development areas already use COGs as their administrative entity, which already manage other state and federal programs.