The Eastern Area Workforce Development Board (EAWDB) was formed in 2000 under the Workforce Investment Act (WIA) of 1998. The EAWDB currently serves twelve counties on the East side of New Mexico. Those counties include Chaves, Curry, De Baca, Eddy, Guadalupe, Harding, Lea, Lincoln, Otero, Quay, Roosevelt and Union. The EAWDB service area has 45 incorporated communities and dozens of unincorporated villages and encompasses 44,000 square miles with a wide diversity of local business and infrastructure conditions.
The EAWDB vision includes making employers the number one focus; establishing a highly coordinated employment and training system that meets the needs of the employer and job seeker; developing a seamless one-stop delivery system for both the employer and employee, and addressing the educational needs and future work skills of all youth.
The vision can be realized by identifying the employers’ workforce needs and encouraging their involvement in the system; focusing workforce and economic development efforts through a comprehensive strategic plan that provides services to fit the needs of all customers; ensuring that one-stop services are available and accessible throughout the entire Eastern Area; and maintaining and improving comprehensive, year-round youth programs in each county.
The EAWDB goal is to identify workforce needs and opportunities and guide the development of training programs and services to meet those needs. It is committed to attracting more businesses, higher wages and employment opportunities through the enhancement and development of partnerships with economic development agencies.
The Board currently oversee WIA funding that provides individual training for Adult and Dislocated Workers; Adult and Dislocated Worker On-The-Job training and WIA Youth. In addition the Board in conjunction with the New Mexico Human Services Department oversee the Temporary Assistance to Needy Families (TANF) and the Food Stamp (FS) Employment and Training (E&T) programs in their twelve county area. Currently, the EAWDB has contracted with five community colleges—Clovis Community College, Eastern New Mexico University in Roswell, Eastern New Mexico in Ruidoso, New Mexico State in Alamogordo and New Mexico State in Carlsbad to provide these services.