ABOUT THE WDC

For over 38 years, The United States Conference of Mayors (USCM) has demonstrated its support of a locally driven workforce development system by its active sponsorship of the Workforce Development Council (WDC). Established in 1977, the WDC supports and informs the work of the USCM Standing Committee on Jobs, Education and Workforce. The WDC remains the most important voice in the nation for the myriad of workforce issues faced by cities, and a dynamic vehicle for helping Mayors and their staffs address local economic, education, training, and job challenges in an increasingly complex world. 
 
The WDC takes a leading role in calling national attention to the problems and potential of America's cities in areas related to workforce development. In addition to intense work of the implementation of the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA), the most recent issues addressed by WDC include: Apprenticeships, Sector Initiatives, especially advanced manufacturing, Veterans, Individuals with Disabilities, and Youth Development, with a special focus on Out-of-School Youth and Summer Jobs. 

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PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT

The WDC conducts training, focus groups and in-depth technical assistance to cities and local workforce areas on strategies for coordination of their workforce development and training, economic development, literacy, educational, and social services programs.  Papers published on technical issues related to workforce development further assist members to translate their vision into reality on the ground in urban areas. The WDC provides an intimate forum for urban workforce development administrators to exchange best practices, develop shared public policy positions, and collaborate to strengthen the nation’s locally driven workforce system. 

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MEMBERSHIP ELIGIBILITY

To be eligible for full membership in the Council, a USCM member city mayor must designate a representative to the Council. The mayor should send a designation letter to the attention of The United States Conference of Mayors CEO and Executive Director Tom Cochran indicating his/her desire to have that person represent the city on the Council. 

Each full member shall have one vote. The Council representatives shall be employed by the member city, the local workforce investment board or working in a workforce development capacity on a full-time basis and serving as the mayor’s representative. Only the person designated by the mayor shall have the power to vote. 

Those wishing to participate in membership on the Council, but who do not represent a member mayor of the Conference, are eligible to hold an associate membership, which would provide all benefits of the Council but would be a non-voting membership.

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MEMBERSHIP DUES

The Service Fee for annual membership is based on the population of the largest city in the local workforce development area that is a member of The United States Conference of Mayors.  The current service fee is as follows:

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Service Fees

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Cities under 200,000 population……….$907.50

200,000 - 500,000……………………………………................$1,815.00
500, 000 - 1,000,000…………………………………............$3,630.00
Over 1,000,000……………………………………….........................$5,445.00
Associate non-profit member………..…..........$1,210.00
Associate for-profit member………..…...........$5,445.00