In a globally competitive economy, Virginians will prosper only to the extent that we increase the level of our collective education and skills. While the public focuses on K-12 and higher education, no less important is the training and professional development that occurs after graduation — where people learn specific skills they apply in the workplace.
As a fallible memory serves me, the Gilmore administration estimated that Virginia spends $350 million a year in state, local and federal workforce training programs, and that number doesn’t include support for community colleges. Gov. Jim Gilmore appointed a workforce development czar to rationalize the overlapping, redundant welter of programs but accomplished little. Gov. Mark Warner also grappled with the problem, but got taken to the mat. Warner declared that one of his greatest disappointments as governor was his inability to solve the problem.
Now comes Sen. Frank Ruff, R-Clarksville, with a new proposal to streamline workforce training. His bill would anoint the Governor as “Chief Workforce Development Officer” for the Commonwealth and task him with creating a statewide strategic plan. The plan would establish performance measures for some 24 different programs, evaluate performance based on those metrics, and redirect resources based on performances.
For the past year, Ruff has been working with Del. Kathy J. Byron, R-Campbell, on a legislative commission studying how to reduce duplication and promote the best programs. Byron is introducing a companion bill in the House. Kudos to both. It’s refreshing to see the General Assembly approaching a problem with the philosophy of making government work more efficiently rather than giving it more money.
