National Award: Workforce Development Board Ventura County Honored with 2026 WIOA Trailblazer Award
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VENTURA, Calif. - Californer -- The Workforce Development Board of Ventura County (WDBVC), a regional public workforce agency, has been awarded the prestigious 2026 WIOA Trailblazer Award by the National Association of Workforce Boards (NAWB). This national recognition, out of 570 boards across the United States, highlights WDBVC's outstanding leadership, community partnerships, and innovative approach to workforce development.

The WIOA Trailblazer Award is presented annually to a workforce board that demonstrates strategic planning and unique labor and demand forecasts.

The WDBVC was selected as the national recipient by a panel representing more than 570 workforce development boards across the United States.

The WDBVC partners with employers, education institutions, labor organizations, and nonprofit agencies to deliver innovative workforce solutions across the region. Together, these partners provide job training, career pathways, youth workforce services, and employer support programs that strengthen Ventura County's economic vitality.

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"Our community shows every day what is possible when employers, educators, nonprofit partners, and local leaders come together with a shared commitment to lifting people up," said Rebecca Evans, Executive Director of the Workforce Development Board of Ventura County. "We are honored to play a part in creating pathways that change lives and strengthen the fabric of our county."

About the Workforce Development Board of Ventura County

The Ventura County Workforce Development Board (WDBVC) is a dedicated organization that works to connect job seekers with local employers and provides training and resources that support a strong and thriving workforce in Ventura County. The WDBVC collaborates with businesses and community partners to address local labor market needs and help people achieve their career aspirations. The WDBVC is a proud partner of the California Job Center network in the United States. The WDBVC and this project are an employer/equal opportunity program. Auxiliary aids and services are available upon request for people with disabilities. If you have hearing or speech impairment, dial 711 to contact the California Relay Service (CRS). For federal funds disclosure information, visit https://workforce.venturacounty.gov/about-us/funding/.

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About the National Association of Workforce Boards and the NAWB Awards

The National Association of Workforce Boards (NAWB) represents and advocates for the nation's more than 570 workforce development boards, which coordinate with business and economic development stakeholders to administer regional workforce programs which meet the needs of jobseekers, businesses, and communities. For more information on NAWB's latest work and new initiatives, visit www.nawb.org.

Presented annually at The Forum, NAWB Awards recognize the most innovative and impactful work being done by workforce development boards and their partners. The Awards honor efforts which provide models for the nation's workforce system: programs and partnerships which have transcended the expected and achieved the extraordinary for workers, businesses, and communities.