FAQs

This handy Q&A resource points you in the right direction for practically anything you might want to know about the WIB.

The Quick Overview

1.   What is the WIB?  What can you tell me about the WIB in 90 seconds or less?

2.   How does the WIB improve the region’s economy?

3.   Where does the WIB serve?  What is its coverage area?

4.   Why does the WIB exist?  Mission? Principles?

5.   Who is the WIB?  Members?   Staff?   Customers?   Stakeholders?   Partners?

Products and Services:

6.   How does the WIB provide regional leadership to improve the region’s economy?

7.   Why is market research so important?  What does the WIB offer to help my research needs?

8.    How does the WIB help improve our region?

9.    Does the WIB work across state lines?  What’s available to me in SE KS, NE OK, or NW AR?

10.  What is economnic development?  How is the WIB involved?

11.  What does the WIB offer for local businesses or employers?

12.  What is workforce development?  What is the WIB’s role in the workforce system?

13.  What does the WIB for individual customers seeking better jobs and skills?

14.  Is the WIB involved in economic recovery efforts?  What is the WIB’s role in the Recovery Act and Stimulus Package?

15.  Are there other local websites available on economic and workforce development?

More in depth about the WIB:

16.   What is the WIB’s mission statement and values?

17.  What are the strategic priorities of the WIB?

18.  What types of initiatives are common with the WIB?

19.  How is the WIB organized?  What is the WIB’s corporate structure?

20.  Who are the members of the WIB?  How is the leadership structured?

21.  Who are the staff that operate the WIB to meet outcomes established by the Board?

22.  What types of organizations are in partnership with the WIB or regular join with the WIB for mutual benefit?

23.  How is the WIB affiliated with other regional, state, or national organizations or associations?

24.  What is a public/private partnership?   I realize the WIB is not a governmental organization, but how does it interface with government on our behalf?  Does the WIB help government function better for us?

25.  What is the Missouri Career Center?  How is it a storefront to deliver workforce systems and meet the WIB’s objectives?

26.  What is the WIB’s role and authority over the Career Center?

More about Southwest Missouri and the Four States Region:

27.  As someone not familiar with the area, what can you tell me about Southwest Missouri?

28.  How is Southwest Missouri linked to the greater Four States Region?

29.  What is the Southwest Missouri labor market like?

30.  What types of market research can I get through the WIB?

31.  How do I learn more about labor availability beyond just the numbers?

32.  Tell me about Local Employment Dynamics.  What can this resource do for me?

33.  If I want to learn about individual communities or counties, where I find a good source for local profiles?

34.  How do I dig deeper in the issues of skill gaps?  How do I find out about gaps in quality or availability of the workforce?  What solutions are available?

More about specific initiatives, products, or structures:

35.  What are targeted industries?  How does a targeted industry strategy make the resources go farther and boost the WIB’s return on investment?

36.  How does the WIB work with businesses and partners in specific sectors?

37.  How does the Business Retention & Expansion program help keep the economy strong?

38.  What is Regional Transformation?  What does WIRED mean?  How is the WIB involved in WIRED?

39.  Tell me about the WIB’s Business Development strategy?

40.  What is the WIB’s strategy for Skill Development?

41.  How does the WIB’s Regional Transformation strategy help our area remain globally competitive and economic prosperous?

42.  How does the WIB work to improve its internal structures through the Organizational Development strategy?

43.  How does the WIB measure its effectiveness?  Is there a national standard available for benchmarking the quality of the WIB?

44.  How does the WIB work with youth and youth organizations to ensure the region has a strong pipeline for workforce needs?

45.  How does the WIB connect with customers through the Business Services Marketing and Outreach initiative?

46.  How does the WIB work with non-traditional populations to boost the available workforce pipeline?  (ie older workers, veterans, immigrants, ex-offenders, ect.)

47.  What is the Missouri-Arkansas Partnership and how does the WIB help strengthen collaboration in this dynamic area?

48.  How does the WIB help the new Regional Chambers initiative underway with several of our local Chambers of Commerce across the Four States Region?

49.  How did the National Business Learning Partnership strengthen the WIB’s ability to excel?

50.  What does the WIB do to help boost the work ethic or soft skill abilities of the workforce?

51.  How does the Career Readiness Credential help improve the match of businesses and job candidates?  What does the CRC say about a job seeker?

52.  What types of training programs are available through the WIB?

53.  What types of assistance can the WIB provide to new business startups or firms looking to move a business to the region?

54.  How are members selected and appointed to the Board of Directors?

55.  What types of research products can I get through the WIB that are hard to find elsewhere?

56.  Where do I find bid opportunities or RFPs from the WIB?

57.  How is the WIB funded?

58.  How does authority for the region’s workforce system flow through the WIB?

59.  Where do I find public notices for meetings or actions that require official disclosure?

60.  How do I contact the WIB?  Where is the WIB office located?

Is there a question we missed?  Feel free to email us with your suggestions for other FAQs that should appear on this list.