Waccamaw Regional Council of Governments
Workforce Development Programs

Federal Legislation - the Workforce Investment Act - requires each state to establish Workforce Investment Areas. South Carolina is divided into twelve (12) workforce areas. Each area is led by a Workforce Investment Board (WIB) principally made up of private business leaders and education/employment/training professionals. In our area, the designated administering agency is the WRCOG who provides staff support to the Waccamaw Workforce Investment Board, its committees, and the lead state agency, South Carolina Department of Commerce.

WIB Board Members:
Janette Ard Faye Baden Penny Bethea Stephanie Chestnut Ann Hayes DeJuan Hinson Marshall Kirtley Tara Little Hilton McGill	Johnny Morant Mike Parrotta Henry Poston Brent Quillen Annie Lou Spivey Mary Nell Smith Ralph Wilson Michele Winstead

Comprehensive One-Stop Workforce Centers -

The Waccamaw Workforce Investment Area was an early innovator in setting up one of South Carolina’s “One-Stops” - Job Link. Since that time, the region’s full-service comprehensive centers represent models for providing quality employment and training services to the people of the region. The Coastal Workforce Center was recognized by the U. S. Department of Labor as one of six outstanding One-Stop Centers from Region III (Southeast). These Centers, which include Georgetown Workforce Center and the Kingstree Workforce Center continue to offer employers and individuals opportunities to be successful in the competitive marketplace. For instance, in addition to unemployment insurance, veterans program and regular job matching, other services were added including computer applications training, basic skills refresher/upgrading, career and person renewal seminars, one-on-one job search help, career counseling, help getting college financial assistance, expanded on-the-job training opportunities, job task assessments, incumbent worker training, and job readiness training.

Comprehensive One-Stop Workforce Centers

• Georgetown Workforce Center
  Brenda England
  2704 Highmarket Street Georgetown, SC 29440
  Phone: (843) 546-8581    Fax: (843) 545-9869
  www.georgetownworkforce.org

• Coastal Workforce Center
  Mary Nell Smith
  200A Victory Lane Conway, SC 29526
  Phone: (843) 234-9675    Fax: (843) 234-0352
  www.coastalworkforce.org

• Kingstree Workforce Center
  Jimmy Wilson
  530 Martin Luther King, Jr. Ave. Kingstree, SC 29556
  Phone: 843-354-7436    Fax: (843) 354-9620
  www.kingstreeworkforce.org

South Carolina Virtual OneStop –

South Carolina Virtual OneStop (VOS) is a real-time, on-line system for WIA intake, case management, tracking of services, follow-up and reporting. The WIA tracking component is designed to help staff better serve WIA customers and collect accurate information for reporting.

Any individual with access to the internet will be able to use the system. VOS includes a number of helpful tools, such as internal messaging for individuals and staff, links to sign up for free e-mail, program management, monitoring capabilities and much, much more.

Occupational Healthcare Training -

The WIB has paid special attention to the healthcare needs of the region based on projections of critical shortages in skilled healthcare professionals and the trend toward an aging population. Occupational healthcare training represents a special need and offers excellent earnings potential for those interested in receiving intensive training. The WIB supports this type of training through partnerships with Technical College’s “Allied Healthcare Program”, and direct grants to individuals. These efforts will continue to be promoted and evaluated for performance in terms of placements and meeting the critical skills shortfall.

Incumbent Workers Training Program -

The new Incumbent Workers Program has been well received by area companies. The purpose of the Incumbent Worker Training Program is to provide resources for employers to train currently employed workers in an effort to keep businesses competitive. The program is designed to meet changed skill requirements caused by new technology, retooling, new product lines and organizational restructuring. The state of the economy and global competition require that our industries have top-notch employees, trained in the most current technologies and methods. This program helps companies meet their unique training requirements. The source of funding for this program is South Carolina Department of Commerce.

Youth Council/Programs - 

WIA legislation requires that each area establish an advisory Youth Council to help oversee the locally established programs. The Act defines eligible youth to be those individuals between the ages of 14 and 21 who are also termed “economically disadvantaged”. The composition of the Youth Council includes representatives from all three counties, each member possessing a special interest in service to young people such as the Boys and Girls Club, local governments, social service agencies, community-based groups, law enforcement, etc. The Waccamaw Youth Council evaluates the recipient agencies of Youth funds selected by the Workforce Investment Board.

Youth service providers include:

Occupational Training and Development of SC, (843) 545-9978 Georgetown School District, (843) 546-8415 Horry School District, (843) 448-6690  Williamsburg School District (843) 355-0899 Boys and Girls Club of Hemingway (843) 558-1302 Horry-Georgetown Technical College’s Jumpstart Program (843) 347-3186 Palmetto Advancement in Motor Sports (843) 903-6602 Georgetown County Recreation and Leisure (843) 546-3323

Youth Council Members:
Faye Baden Lamar Brown Shirley Collenton Brenda England Ray Funnye DeJuan Hinson Michael Hughes Marshall Kirtley	Amy Lowe Johnny Morant Donna Rogers Wayne Rogers Helen Rudolph Mike Saville Annie Lou Spivey

Related Information:

• South Carolina Department of Commerce

• South Carolina Employment Security Commission

• South Carolina One Stop

• Technical Colleges

• SC Colleges & Universities