California Workforce Development Board Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) Riverside County Workforce Development Local Plan and Inland Empire Regio
Summary
SCH Number
2025040888
Public Agency
Riverside County
Document Title
California Workforce Development Board Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) Riverside County Workforce Development Local Plan and Inland Empire Regio
Document Type
NOE - Notice of Exemption
Received
Posted
4/17/2025
Document Description
The Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA)
appropriates funding from the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) through the state and
local governments and Local Workforce Development Boards to administer and/or
operate employment and training services for adult residents that are either
unemployed or underemployed and youth. As such, California's 2024-2027 Unified Strategic Workforce Development Plan (State Plan) provides a conceptual outline for Local Boards and their partners as they jointly develop Regional and Local Plans. The State Plan policy objectives, developed in collaboration with WIOA partners, work towards the shared vision of creating a comprehensive system that promotes economic mobility. •WIOA requires Local Workforce Development Boards to submit two separate four year plans: (1) Riverside County Workforce Development Local Plan (Local Plan), which covers the County of Riverside. The Local and Regional Plans will serve as blueprints for Riverside County and the Inland Empire, ensuring the region is well prepared to meet both current and future employer needs, thereby strengthening the local economy. The purpose of the Local Plan is to develop regional, sector-based career pathways in target sectors, ensuring access for the County's job seekers while meeting the needs of the businesses; and (2) Inland Empire Regional Workforce Development Plan (Regional Plan) which covers the Inland Empire Regional Planning Unit (IERPU), consisting of Riverside and San Bernardino Counties. The Regional Plan functions as the primary mechanism for aligning educational and training provider services with regional industry sector needs in the Inland Empire. It also lays out the coordination between the K-12, Community
Colleges, and WIOA Systems. IERPU will continue to oversee the implementation of the Regional Plan while the RCWDB will continue to oversee the Local Plan implementation. Together with partners, they will work to ensure services are effectively meeting the needs of employers while transitioning residents to employment. Consistent with State of California Employment Development Department (EDD) requirements, the Local and Regional Plans were made available for public review and comment beginning January 27, 2025. A public notice on how to access the 04/15/2025 Item 3.19 plans for review and comments was posted on the WDB's website and sent to stakeholders across the region announcing the availability of the plans. Public comments received within the comment period that express disagreement with the plans will be submitted to the Governor along with the plan{s).
On February 5, 2025, the Riverside County Workforce Development Board approved
both the Local and Regional Plans. To request continued designation and recertification, EDD requires submission of the attached the Local Plan and Regional Plan. The WDB Chair and the Chair of the Riverside County Board of Supervisors (as local Chief Elected Official) must sign the Application. The WDB has met requirements set forth in the Directive, including making the plans available for public review and comment for a 30-day period. Subject to the State Board's approvals of the Application, subsequent designation and recertification will be effective July 1, 2025, for a four-year period, ending June 30, 2029, with a maximum value of $0. The Application is identified as the proposed Project under the California Environmental Quality Act {CEQA). No expansion of an existing use will occur. No additional direct or indirect physical environmental impacts are anticipated from the implementation of WDB activities identified in the renewal Application.
Contact Information
Name
Stephanie Adams
Agency Name
Housing and Workforce Solutions / Workforce Development Division
Job Title
Deputy Director Workforce Development
Contact Types
Lead/Public Agency
Phone
Email
Location
Cities
throughout Riverside County
Counties
Riverside
Regions
Southern California
Other Location Info
Riverside County
Notice of Exemption
Exempt Status
Other
Type, Section or Code
15061(b)(3)
Reasons for Exemption
The proposed Project is categorically exempt from the provisions of CEQA specifically by the State CEQA Guidelines as identified below. The Project will not result in any specific or general exceptions to the use of the categorical exemption as detailed under State CEQA Guidelines Section 15300.2. The Project will not cause an impact to an environmental resource of hazardous-or critical concern nor would the Project include a reasonable possibility of having a significant effect on the environment due to unusual circumstances. The Project would not result in impacts to scenic highways, hazardous waste sites, historic resources, or other sensitive natural environments, or have a cumulative effect to the environment. No significant environmental impacts are anticipated to occur with the WDB Application through the partnership between the County and State Board. In accordance with CEQA, the use of the Common Sense Exemption is based on the "general rule that CEQA applies only to projects which have the potential for causing a significant effect on the environment." State CEQA Guidelines, Section 15061(b) (3). The use of this exemption is appropriate if "it can be seen with certainty that there is no possibility that the activity in question may have a significant effect on the environment." Ibid. This determination is an issue of fact and if sufficient evidence exists in the record that the activity cannot have a significant effect on the environment, then the exemption applies and no further evaluation under CEQA is required. See No Oil, Inc. v. City of Los Angeles ( 197 4) 13 Cal. 3d 68. The ruling in this case stated that if a project falls within a category exempt by administrative regulation or 'it can be seen with certainty that the activity in question will not have a significant effect on the environment', no further agency evaluation is required. With certainty, there is no possibility that the Project may have a significant effect on the environment. The WDB activities support workforce services provided by the Count through the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act. The WDB Local Plan and Regional Plan will provide a subsequent approval of the WDB between the two entities that allow for the blueprint of implementation of workforce services in Riverside County. The WDB Local Plan and Regional Plan subsequent approval will not result in any direct or indirect physical effects. Therefore, in no way, would the Project as proposed have the potential to cause a significant environmental impact and the Project is exempt from further CEQA analysis. Based upon the identified exemptions above, the County of Riverside, HWS/Workforce Development Division hereby concludes that no physical environmental impacts are anticipated to occur and the Project as proposed is exempt under CEQA. No further environmental analysis is required.
County Clerk
Riverside
Attachments
Notice of Exemption
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