The Jefferson County Board of Supervisors has approved a Chief Elected Officials Shared Liability Agreement that formally joins the county with 21 others in the newly structured Eastern Iowa Workforce Development Area (EIWDA).
During their meeting, supervisors discussed the agreement, which outlines how the counties will collaborate to oversee workforce programs funded through the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA). After discussion, the board passed a motion to approve the measure.
The restructuring combines two previously separate workforce regions — the Mississippi River counties and the former Indian Hills region, which stretched from the Fairfield area north toward Grinnell.
Supervisor Susie Drish, who has extensive experience working with workforce programs, said the change is intended to streamline services and expand opportunities for residents across the larger 22-county area.
“The purpose of the new agreement is basically to combine two areas,” Drish said. “This gives a new 22-county involvement with federal money that is used to help with job training, relocation, at-risk kids — anybody that is losing their job will have a venue they can go to for assistance to retrain and get jobs.”
Drish added that the Workforce Development Area plays an important role in helping individuals improve or expand their skills, change career paths, or access support during major employment disruptions.
“It’s a good starting point for folks to enhance their skills or look to a different skill,” she said. “It helps at-risk kids and recipients or anybody that needs help.”
Iowa previously divided workforce programs into smaller regional structures, but Drish noted that the combined area aims to create a more unified system for managing federal workforce dollars. She also emphasized that the funding comes directly from the federal government to the local regions rather than through the state.
The Shared Liability Agreement also outlines the responsibilities of the 22 participating counties, including board appointments, fiscal oversight, conflict-of-interest rules, and collective liability procedures for federal funding. The agreement becomes effective once all member counties approve and sign it, after which it will be filed with the Iowa Secretary of State.
Key Provisions of the Agreement
- Participating counties: Des Moines, Lee, Henry, Louisa, Clinton, Jackson, Scott, Muscatine, Appanoose, Davis, Hardin, Jefferson, Keokuk, Lucas, Mahaska, Marshall, Monroe, Tama, Poweshiek, Van Buren, Wapello, and Wayne counties.
- Liability: A central component is the shared liability for misspent WIOA funds. If expenditures are disallowed, each county will be responsible for a proportional share of the liability based on population. Jefferson County’s share is currently calculated at 2.5%.
- Governance: The agreement outlines the election of a Chief Lead Elected Official (CLEO), defines the appointment process for the Local Workforce Development Board (LWDB), and mandates compliance with the Iowa Open Meetings Act.
- Fiscal agent: The LWDB’s 501(c)(3) nonprofit will serve as the Local Grant Recipient and Fiscal Agent.
By approving the agreement, Jefferson County ensures its continued participation in regional efforts to improve workforce skills and expand employment opportunities for residents.
