Workforce Board Partnership
Local Workforce Development Boards are the gateway to WIOA funding. Go through the LWDBLocal Workforce Development Board — the regional body that manages WIOA Title I funds and oversees American Job Centers., not AJCsAmerican Job Center — the physical point of service delivery in the WIOA system, providing career counseling, job search, and training access. directly — LWDBs control funding, procurement, and provider certification.
Understanding the LWDB Structure
Every local workforce area in the United States is governed by a LWDBLocal Workforce Development Board — the regional body that manages WIOA Title I funds and oversees American Job Centers.. The board is appointed by the chief local elected official and is composed of representatives from business, labor, education, and community organizations. Understanding what the LWDB does is the first step to becoming a partner.
- Sets strategic direction — The LWDB develops and updates the local workforce plan, identifying priority industries, occupations, and skill gaps in the region.
- Controls WIOA Title I funding — The board allocates Adult, Dislocated Worker, and Youth formula funds to programs and providers within the local area.
- Certifies training providers — The LWDB manages the process for adding programs to the state ETPLEligible Training Provider List — the state-certified list of training providers authorized to receive WIOA Individual Training Account payments., which determines who can receive Individual Training Account funding.
- Oversees American Job Centers — The board selects and monitors the operator of local AJCsAmerican Job Center — the physical point of service delivery in the WIOA system, providing career counseling, job search, and training access., ensuring they deliver required services and meet performance standards.
- Negotiates partner MOUs — Under WIOA Section 121, the LWDB establishes MOUsMemorandum of Understanding — a collaborative agreement under WIOA Section 121 governing partner integration. with required and additional partners, defining how they will collaborate and share costs.
To find your LWDB: Visit CareerOneStop.org (sponsored by DOL) and search by ZIP code, or contact your state workforce agency. Every state maintains a directory of local workforce areas and their boards.
How CBOs Fit In
CBOs can engage with the workforce system at multiple levels. Each level carries different formalization requirements and funding implications. Most CBOs will progress through these levels over time.
Referral Partner
Your organization exchanges referrals with AJCsAmerican Job Center — the physical point of service delivery in the WIOA system, providing career counseling, job search, and training access. or LWDB-affiliated programs. AJC career counselors send participants to your programs; you refer your clients to AJC services they need. This is the most common starting point for CBOs entering the workforce system.
MOU Partner
Your organization signs a Memorandum of Understanding with the LWDBLocal Workforce Development Board — the regional body that manages WIOA Title I funds and oversees American Job Centers. under WIOA Section 121, formalizing your role in the local workforce system. You may operate as a specialized center, co-locate services, or provide a technology linkage. The MOU defines service commitments, cost-sharing, and referral protocols.
Training Provider
Your organization delivers WIOA-funded training — either through cohort contracting under WIOA §134(c)(3)(G)(ii) or by listing your program on the state ETPLEligible Training Provider List — the state-certified list of training providers authorized to receive WIOA Individual Training Account payments.. This is the highest level of integration and the path to direct WIOA funding for AI literacy programs.
Most CBOs entering AI literacy should aim for Training Provider status via cohort contracting (Section 6). Cohort contracts are faster to establish than ETPL listing and better suited to the group-based delivery model of AI literacy programs.
Memoranda of Understanding
An MOUMemorandum of Understanding — a collaborative agreement under WIOA Section 121 governing partner integration. under WIOA Section 121 is a collaborative agreement governing how partners design and deliver services. It is not a procurement contract. The MOU establishes the terms of integration between your CBO and the local workforce system.
The MOU defines how your CBO integrates into the local one-stop delivery system. There are three primary integration models:
- Affiliate AJC site — Your facility becomes a recognized AJC access point, offering a subset of AJC services alongside your own programming.
- Specialized center — Your CBO operates as a center focused on a specific population or service area (e.g., AI literacy for underserved adults), with formal referral linkages to the comprehensive AJC.
- Technology linkage — Your CBO provides virtual or technology-mediated access to AJC services, enabling participants to connect to career counseling, job search, and training information through your facility.
Most AI literacy CBOs start as a specialized center or technology linkage. Both models allow you to deliver your curriculum in your own space while maintaining a formal connection to the workforce system.
The MOU includes an Infrastructure Funding Agreement (IFA) that specifies how partners share the costs of operating the one-stop delivery system. Cost-sharing is proportional to the benefit each partner receives and the resources each brings.
Common cost-sharing arrangements include contributions toward shared space, technology infrastructure, front-desk staffing, and outreach materials.
New CBO partners should not accept cost-sharing obligations that exceed the value of the partnership. If the IFA requires you to contribute more than you receive in referrals, visibility, or funding access, negotiate. In-kind contributions — such as staff time, training space, or technology access — are legitimate offsets under 2 CFR 200.306 and should be documented in the IFA.
All MOU partners must comply with ADA accessibility requirements and use the American Job Center common identifier in materials and signage related to the one-stop delivery system. This is a WIOA requirement, not optional.
For AI literacy programs, accessibility means ensuring your training materials, digital tools, and physical spaces accommodate participants with disabilities. This includes screen reader compatibility for AI tools, captioned video content, and physical accessibility of training facilities.
Budget for accommodations from the start. Retrofitting accessibility is always more expensive than building it in.
Referral Pathways
A well-structured referral pathway ensures that participants move between your CBO and the workforce system without falling through the cracks. Whether you are a formal MOU partner or an informal referral source, these five steps create accountability on both sides.
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1
Designate a referral liaison
Assign one staff member as the primary point of contact for all referrals to and from the AJCAmerican Job Center — the physical point of service delivery in the WIOA system, providing career counseling, job search, and training access.. This person owns the relationship and ensures nothing gets lost between organizations.
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2
Establish referral quality standards
Define what a complete referral looks like: participant name, contact information, services needed, any relevant background, and the reason for the referral. Incomplete referrals waste everyone's time and erode trust between partners.
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3
Use state-mandated Release of Information (ROI) form
Before sharing any participant information between organizations, obtain a signed ROI using your state's approved form. This is a legal requirement. Do not create your own form — use the one your LWDB or state workforce agency provides.
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4
Commit to follow-up
Both the referring and receiving organization should follow up within 10–15 business days to confirm the participant connected and engaged. A referral without follow-up is just a suggestion.
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5
Track referral volume and outcomes
Maintain a simple log of referrals sent and received, including whether the participant followed through and what service they received. This data is essential for demonstrating partnership value to the LWDB and justifying continued collaboration.
Approaching Your LWDB
The initial outreach sets the tone for the entire relationship. Below are three sample scripts for the most common entry points. Adapt the language to fit your organization, but keep the core structure: who you are, what you offer, and what you are asking for.
Subject: AI Literacy Training Partnership — [Your CBO Name]
Dear [Executive Director Name],
My name is [Your Name] and I am the [Title] at [CBO Name], a community-based organization serving [population] in [city/region]. I am writing because the Department of Labor's AI Literacy Framework (TEN 07-25) has created a new opportunity for workforce boards and CBOs to collaborate on AI literacy programming.
We have developed a [X]-hour AI literacy curriculum aligned with the DOL Framework's five content areas, designed for [target population — e.g., adults with barriers to employment, incumbent workers in healthcare, etc.]. Our program includes hands-on AI tool training, sector-specific applications, and documented skill gain assessments.
I would welcome the opportunity to present our program to you or your staff. We are exploring partnership models including cohort contracting under WIOA §134(c)(3)(G)(ii) and would value your guidance on how best to align with [LWDB Name]'s priorities.
Could we schedule a 30-minute conversation in the next two weeks?
Thank you for your time.
[Your Name]
[Title], [CBO Name]
[Phone] · [Email]
Subject: Follow-Up — AI Literacy Training for [LWDB Name] Area
Dear [Executive Director or Board Chair Name],
Thank you for the opportunity to attend [LWDB Name]'s board meeting on [date]. I appreciated the discussion about [specific agenda item related to skills training, emerging technology, or workforce priorities].
As I mentioned during public comment, [CBO Name] has developed an AI literacy training program aligned with the DOL Framework (TEN 07-25) that could address the [specific need discussed at the meeting]. Our program is designed for [target population] and produces documented Measurable Skill Gains for WIOA reporting.
I have attached a one-page overview of our curriculum and outcomes. I would welcome the chance to discuss how our program might fit into [LWDB Name]'s training strategy for PY 2026–2027.
Best regards,
[Your Name]
[Title], [CBO Name]
Dear [AJC Staff Member Name],
Thank you for connecting me with [LWDB Staff Name]. I appreciate your willingness to make the introduction.
[LWDB Staff Name] — [AJC Staff Member Name] suggested I reach out to you about our AI literacy program. We have been working with [AJC location] on an informal basis, referring participants back and forth for [career counseling / supportive services / job placement]. The results have been encouraging, and [AJC Staff Member Name] thought it would be worth exploring a more formal partnership.
Our program is a [X]-hour AI literacy curriculum aligned with TEN 07-25, serving [population] in [area]. We are interested in discussing how we might formalize this relationship through the LWDB — whether through an MOU, a referral agreement, or a training contract.
Would you have 20 minutes to talk this week or next?
Thank you,
[Your Name]
[Title], [CBO Name]
Attending Public LWDB Meetings
LWDB meetings are public. Attending them is one of the highest-leverage activities a CBO can do to build visibility and credibility with the board. Here are five practical tips:
- Attend before you ask for anything. Show up to at least two meetings as an observer before making a public comment or requesting a partnership conversation. Board members notice who is in the room consistently.
- Review the agenda and minutes in advance. Most LWDBs post agendas online 5–7 days before meetings. Read them. If AI, digital literacy, or emerging technology training appears on the agenda, prepare a brief comment connecting your program to that discussion.
- Sign up for public comment early. Many boards limit public comment time. Arrive early, sign the speaker sheet, and keep your remarks under three minutes. Be specific: who you serve, what you offer, and why it aligns with the board's priorities.
- Introduce yourself to staff, not just board members. The LWDB's executive director, program managers, and fiscal staff are the people who will evaluate and manage any partnership. Board members set direction; staff execute it. Build relationships with both.
- Follow up in writing within 48 hours. After attending a meeting, send a brief email to the executive director thanking them for the meeting and referencing any relevant discussion points. Attach a one-page overview of your organization and program.
Working with American Job Centers
Once your LWDB partnership is in place, your day-to-day interaction will often be with AJCAmerican Job Center — the physical point of service delivery in the WIOA system, providing career counseling, job search, and training access. staff. There are two primary modes of collaboration:
- Receiving referrals. AJC career counselors identify participants who would benefit from AI literacy training and refer them to your program. For this to work, AJC staff need to understand exactly what your program covers, who it serves, how long it takes, and what outcomes it produces. Provide them with a one-page program summary they can keep at their desk. Make it easy for them to refer — a single point of contact, a simple intake form, and a fast confirmation that the participant enrolled.
- Co-delivering services. In some models, your CBO delivers AI literacy training on-site at the AJC or in coordination with AJC programming. This can increase enrollment (participants are already in the building), reduce barriers (no additional travel), and strengthen your visibility within the workforce system. Co-delivery requires close coordination on scheduling, space, and participant tracking — formalize these details in the MOU or a supplemental service agreement.
Go through the LWDBLocal Workforce Development Board — the regional body that manages WIOA Title I funds and oversees American Job Centers., not AJCs directly. LWDBs control funding, procurement, and provider certification. AJC staff can be advocates and referral sources, but the formal partnership — and the funding — flows through the board.