The American Rescue Plan

Find out what it means for our region

Area Agency
on Aging

Community & Economic
Development

Workforce
Development

Housing
Program

Workforce Development

Overview

The mission of the Foothills Workforce Development Board is to facilitate the delivery of workforce development programs in McDowell, Rutherford, Cleveland and Polk Counties; monitor quality and continuously improve programs; develop and maintain a unified system of delivery; and promote the economic well being of our customers by providing high quality and accessible workforce development programs and related services. Our customers are job seekers, training seekers, and employers.

Public Comment Period for WDB Area Plan for Program Year 2024 (Open from April 1, 2023 – May 1, 2023) 

Below are links to the Foothills WDB Local Area Plan, for review by the Workforce Development Board Members.

Please send any questions or comments to Department Director David Lee at 828-351-2371 or [email protected]

Foothills WDB Area Plan for July 2020-June 2024

Below are links to the Foothills WDB Local Area Plan, for review by the Workforce Development Board Members.

Questions or comments on the plan should be addressed to Department Director David Lee at 828-351-2371 or [email protected].

Foothills WDB On-The-Job Training Subsidy Program


If you are an employer and would like to enter into an agreement with the Foothills WDB, please use the following forms:

  1. OJT Summary WIOA
  2. Pre-Award Analysis Blank
  3. OJT Employer Agreement PT
  4. W9 Foothills Address as Requestor

Forms for Employers that have entered into the OJT Agreement with Foothills WDB:

  1. OJT Eligibility Form
  2. OJT Training Plan Blank
  3. OJT Trainee Evaluation Form Blank
  4. OJT Monthly Report Blank
  5. OJT Invoice Timesheet Blank

Foothills Workforce Development Board Labor Market Overview

The Foothills Workforce Development Board is pleased to share the latest regional labor market data with the public. While these data trends are disappointing, it is critical to maintain and share this information in order to best understand and respond to the needs of the region particularly during the COVID-19 Pandemic. To learn more about the region’s labor market data, please click here.


Foothills and local community colleges seeking businesses for apprenticeship program

Foothills Regional Commission has partnered with three area community colleges — Isothermal Community College, McDowell Tech, and Cleveland County Community College — to work toward establishing a registered apprenticeship program in the region. This initiative is focused on closing the “skills gap” and meeting the state’s legislative goal of having two million North Carolinians between the ages of 25 and 44 hold a post-secondary, high quality degree or credential by 2030.

These apprenticeship programs are not only for the manufacturing industry but also for governmental, medical, and educational entities. The partners would like to hear from those wishing to become a registered business in such a program. 

For more information, see the fact sheet and contacts referenced here: Apprenticeship Fact Sheet

You may also contact David Lee, director of Foothills Workforce Development, at [email protected].


Department Links