In 2000, the state of Oklahoma established (12) twelve Local Workforce Investment Boards overseeing (12) twelve Workforce Development Areas within the state. In the Tulsa Workforce Development Area, the county board chairs of Tulsa, Pawnee, Creek and Osage, along with the mayor of the city of Tulsa, were designated as the Local Elected Officials (LEOs) for the Tulsa Workforce Development Area. The Leader of this (5) five member board is designated as the Chief Local Elected Official (CLEO). The CLEO, on behalf of the LEOs, appointed the first Tulsa Area Workforce Investment Board. The LEO and CLEO are responsible for appointment of TAWIB members and share a significant amount responsibility with the TAWIB in its management and oversight role.

Oklahoma has been a leader in promoting the integration of employment and training programs across many agencies. As a result of over a decade of effort, this area has (5) five “One-Stop” job centers. These job centers contain much of the infrastructure of the One-Stop system envisioned in the WIA legislation. The Job Centers routinely provide joint services which reflect the coordination action of job center partner agencies. Their joint efforts facilitate the interaction of employers and job seekers in a way that transcends the details of individual programs.

In addition to overseeing WIA funded programs, the TAWIB is working to create a unified workforce, education and economic development system throughout the Tulsa Workforce Development Area. The issues facing the TAWIB are complex and challenging, but the interconnected realities of the new economy demand that a body be in place to identify workforce issues and devise strategies around common solutions to increase the quality and flexibility of our workforce.