PakNet Technologies on Jefferies Highway in Walterboro was featured in the 2019-2020 annual report of the Lowcountry Council of Governments (LCOG) published this month.
For several years, PakNet has hosted clients taking part in the Workforce Innovation Opportunity Act (WIOA) which sponsors the Workforce Work Experience (WEX) program. This program prepares clients for employment in different careers. Training focuses on developing the essential soft skills needed to become a successful employee: proper attire for the workplace, effective communications, being punctual and working with colleagues, as well as the technological skills needed for the job.
WIOA is a federal program administered in South Carolina through the Department of Employment and Workforce and the S.C. Works Centers. The program helps businesses meet their needs for skilled workers and provides individuals with access to training that helps them prepare for work. WIOA Title I consists of the Adult, Dislocated Worker and Youth funding avenues.
In 2020, PakNet trained a client as a structured wiring tech in a total of 560 hours. Eventually, this training led to a full-time job offer.
According to LCOG, a total of $5,720 was granted to both the client and employer for the Youth Work Experience (WEX) and On the Job Training (OJT).
These programs have saved PakNet thousands of dollars on its training budget, and in turn, the company has made a commitment to continue to use the workforce training programs to create opportunities for young and older adults interested in the field of technology.
“A lot of students have taken advantage of this opportunity,” said PakNet employee Rebecca Witter. “Two still work here. They were supposed to go to school, but decided to stay on with the company. We help train them to work in the office or go out in the field to different job sites. This gives them experience for work. The workers have to stay a certain number of days for the program and take classes one day a week at a WIOA site. This isn’t just for teens or young adults; older adults can also participate. This is a benefit to employees and employers … this program helps them and us,” said Witter.
Kevin Pak, owner of the company, is on the Lowcountry Workforce Development Board for Colleton County. “We meet every other month. The board is composed of four counties with 24 members. The workforce development programs are amazing. Either not a lot of business owners know about this, or they aren’t taking advantage of it,” said Pak. “The program is geared toward clusters of industries such as welding, technology and health care. Folks who go through the program, sign up and must take a work key test right out of high school or in high school. They send you to adult education classes for help if you need it; but if everything works out, then they put you in a cluster career that interests you. If you are over 24 years old, it is on-job training. WOIA reimburses 75 percent of the business’ payroll. It helps everyone. If adults are under 24, they receive 100 percent employee payment from WIOA. Businesses pay for nothing and get a free trainee. That trainee develops skills, they train and get income and businesses don’t have to worry about spending a lot of money on training people who might not work out in the job,” said Pak.
According to WIOA, On-The-Job-Training (OJT) is a way to compensate employers for providing training to eligible individuals for those job skills that can only be taught by real-world, hands-on training. The program provides payments up to $5,000 to employers for training eligible WIOA participants. Payments are based on a percentage of the wage rate of a WIOA trainee: adult workers, 50% wage rate reimbursements, and youth, 75% wage rate reimbursements.
“There are challenges,” Pak said. “Some people have ambition and think they know what they want to do; however, if they don’t do well or find they are not gifted in a certain job, they sometimes become discouraged and give up. But WIOA can help them find training in another field that is better for them.”
The Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act is designed to help jobseekers find employment, education, training and support to succeed in the job market. It also matches employers with the skilled workers they need.
WIOA services may include: financial assistance for tuition, and books (depending on local area policy, eligibility and need), guidance and counseling, career exploration, training providers, financial literacy help, basic skills studies, remediation, work ready assessment, work experiences, support, occupational skills training, on-the-job training, incumbent worker training, skills upgrading and entrepreneurial skills training.
For information about specific services, contact the Walterboro S.C. Works Center, 843-538-1613, 1085 Thunderbolt Dr.
“This is a win-win for businesses, employees and employers. Everyone gets what they need to be successful,” said Pak.
