Resource Links
These are some of the many links to websites of interest to workforce development professionals. If you know of links that would be useful in this site, please contact us.
WASHINGTON STATE ORGANIZATIONS (GOVERNMENT)
Washington State Department of Social and Health Services
http:/www.wa.gov/dshs
Washington State Division of Vocational Rehabilitation
www1.dshs.wa.gov/dvr
Washington State Employment Security Department
www.wa.gov/esd
State Board for Community and Technical Colleges
www.sbctc.ctc.edu
Washington State Developmental Disabilities Council
www.wa.gov/ddc
Workforce Training and Education Coordinating Board
The private-sector-led workforce investment board at the state level. Customers of the state's workforce development system - business and labor - make up a majority of its membership. Directors of key state agencies providing education, employment, and training services also serve on the Board. Appointments to the Board are made by the Governor.
http://www.wtb.wa.gov
WASHINGTON STATE ORGANIZATIONS (NGO)
The Institute for Workforce Development & Economic Sustainability (IWDES) An affiliate of Association of Washington Business
Dedicated to Washington’s future by providing information on the status of its workforce, developing programs to improve the quality of job and skills training and to bring together key partners and functions to advance careers for all workers, increase business productivity and improve competitiveness.
http://www.awb.org/workertraining/iwdes.asp
Washington State Labor Council
A state federation of the AFL-CIO, the WSLC is a voluntary non-profit organization dedicated to protecting and strengthening the rights and conditions of working people and their families.
http://www.wslc.org/
The Washington Economic Development Association
A state-wide, non-profit association of private businesses, economic development councils, ports, governments and others committed to enhancing the state's climate for economic development.
http://www.wedaonline.org/about/default.asp
FEDERAL INFORMATION
Career OneStop
This Department of Labor site connects employment, education, and training services into a coherent network of resources at the local, state, and national level.
http://www.careeronestop.org
Promising Practices
A relatively new DOL funded site offering workforce development practices, documents, videos, research and events.
http://www.promising-practices.org
US Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration Link to the DOLETA home page
http://www.doleta.gov
NATIONAL WORKFORCE AND RELATED ASSOCIATIONS
National Workforce Association (NWA)
NWA focuses on federal legislation related to workforce development issues.
http://www.nwaonline.org
National Association of Workforce Boards (NAWB)
NAWB represents business-led Workforce Boards that plan and oversee state and local workforce development and job training programs.
http://www.nawb.org
National Association of Counties (NACo)
NACo, the only national organization that represents county governments, is a full-service organization that provides an extensive line of services including legislative, research, and technical as well as public affairs assistance to its members.
http://www.naco.org
National Association of State Workforce Board Chairs
A division of the National Governors Association, the National Association of State Workforce Board Chairs equips the chairs, members, and staff of gubernatorially-appointed councils responsible for overseeing state workforce development systems to build their leadership capacity, collectively influence federal workforce policy, and become catalysts for state workforce development system reforms.
http://www.subnet.nga.org/workforcecouncilchairs
National Conference of State Legislators
This is the national association representing state representatives and staff.
http://www.ncsl.org
ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AND RESEARCH
American Economic Development Council
Practitioner-focused website dealing with trends and best practices.
http://www.openweb.com
Brookings Institute
Research and policy on a broad range of public policy issues.
http://www.brook.edu
Heldrich Center
The John J. Heldrich Center for Workforce Development is the first university-based organization devoted to transforming the workforce development system at the local, state, and federal levels.
http://heldrich.rutgers.edu
National Association of Development Organizations
Community based and regional non-profit economic development organizations, partnership issues, rural economic development.
http://www.nado.org
National Council for Urban Economic Development
Conferences, research, best practices and information on federal funding initiatives for economic and workforce development.
http://www.cued.org
Small Business Foundation of America Small Business Foundation of America
http://www.miep.org/sbfa
The Urban Institute
Policy analysis and research on major policy issues.
http://www.urban.org
LOCAL GOVERNMENT
Local Government Network
Best practices in local government.
http://www.civic.net
Local Government Commission
Information on livable communities, community partnerships, transportation initiatives.
http://www.bizline.com
Citistates
Research and policy analysis on regionalism and issues of economic vitality, governance and competitiveness in the "new economy."
http://www.citistates.com
National Center for Small Communities
http://www.natat.org
National Business Incubator Institute
Information on using incubators to increase the success of small business start-ups for business and job creation.
http://www.nbia.org
FUNDING SOURCES - FEDERAL
Department of Housing & Urban Development
Housing, economic development and other initiatives.
www.hud.gov
Enterprise Zones/Enterprise Communities
Comprehensive funding, including employer tax credits and other incentives for economically distressed areas.
www.ezec.gov
U.S. Department of Agriculture/Rural Development
Funding for community facilities, housing, business lending programs, and infrastructure in rural areas.
www.rurdev.usda.gov
Economic Development Administration
Funding for economic dislocation, defense adjustment, public works, revolving loan funds, and economic planning.
www.doc.gov/agencies/eda/index.html
U.S. Small Business Administration
Lending programs for small and minority businesses.
www.sbaonline.sba.gov
U.S. Department of Commerce Economic Development Administration
Funding for information technology programs that can be used in training and other community based programs; many other programs.
www.doc.gov/agencies/eda/index.html
FUNDING SOURCES - PRIVATE FOUNDATIONS
The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation
Dedicated to improving people's lives by sharing advances in health and learning, the Seattle-based foundation has an endowment of approximately $24 billion.
http://www.gatesfoundation.org
The Paul Allen Foundation
This is a collection of six foundations that invest in effective organizations that address significant community needs in the Pacific Northwest, reflect best practices, leverage public and private resources, and contribute to lasting social change.
http://www.pgafoundations.com
The Murdock Foundation
A Vancouver Washington-based foundation that has five formal grants programs and assets of nearly $700 million.
http://www.murdock-trust.org/main.html
The Foundation Center
www.fdncenter.org
Alfred P. Sloan Foundation-Information Services
www.sloan.org
W.M. Keck Foundation
Grants for projects in higher education and medical research; in Southern California for projects in health care, pre-college, arts, culture, and civic programs.
www.wmkeck.org
ARCO Foundation
Grants for higher and pre-college education and community needs in the areas of operation, particularly in Los Angeles.
www.arco.com/Corporate/reports/foundation/home.html
The James Irvine Foundation
Workforce development and other programs: to strengthen mature placement and training programs, expand and improve youth employment opportunities, and evaluate employer-linked training consortium.
www.irvine.org
Foundations On-Line
A project of the Northern California Community Foundation.
www.foundations.org
The GTE Foundation
Resources for using technology for education and learning programs and developing community technology capacity.
www.info.gte.com/glance/business/service/docs/found.html
Meyer Memorial Trust
Currently Oregon's largest foundation. Funds are available only in Oregon or Clark County Washington.
http://www.mmt.org
Helene Fuld Health Trust
The Nation's largest private foundation devoted exclusively to supporting student nurses and nursing education.
http://www.fuld.org
The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation
The largest US foundation devoted to improving the health and health care of Americans.
http://www.rwjf.org/index.jsp
DISABILITY ISSUES AND ACCESS
National Center on Workforce and Disability/Adult
The National Center on Workforce and Disability/Adult is a resource for One-Stop Career Centers, state and local Workforce Investment Boards, and policymakers to enable them to increase employment outcomes for people with disabilities.
http://www.onestops.info
Institute for Community Inclusion
ICI offers training, clinical, and employment services, conducts research, and provides assistance to organizations to promote inclusion of people with disabilities in school, work, and community activities.
http://www.communityinclusion.org/
Housing & Mortgages for People with Disabilities
There are over 40 million individuals in the U.S today living with a mental or physical disability. Yet only a small percentage enjoys the benefits of homeownership. This comprehensive guide covers terminology, the process of buying a house, financial assistance and more.
http://www.mortgageloan.com/disabilities/
ELECTED OFFICIALS
Washington State Senate Directory
http://www.leg.wa.gov/senate/default.htm
Washington State House of Representatives
http://www.leg.wa.gov/house/default.htm
Senator Cantwell
http://cantwell.senate.gov
Senator Murray
http://murray.senate.gov
Washington State Delegation Contacts
Includes contact information for all Washington State federal elected officials and a map of Washington's nine congressional districts.
http://www.leg.wa.gov/common/maps/congdist.htm
Contacting Elected Officials
A great site that facilitates local or national contact with elected officials and media.
http://capwiz.com/nawb/home