The Colorado Workforce Development Council (CWDC) is a Governor-appointed, public-private partnership with the purpose to advise, oversee, and integrate the work of the Colorado talent development network. The CWDC Office is the work unit that supports the Council.
Our vision is that every Colorado employer has access to a skilled workforce and every Coloradan has the opportunity for meaningful employment, resulting in individual and statewide economic prosperity. The CWDC’s mission is to enhance and sustain a skills-based talent development network that meets the needs of employers, workers, job seekers, and learners for today and tomorrow. The CWDC's values are equity, agility, and integration.
The CWDC was formed under the federal Workforce Investment Act of 1998 and is responsible for the continuous improvement of the workforce system, oversight of Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) funds, and ensuring a statewide strategic vision created from the bottom up through Council members and local partners. The CWDC acts on behalf of the Governor on policy matters related to programs and activities funded by WIOA.
Additionally, under state statute and executive order, the CWDC is charged with aligning the efforts of economic development, education, workforce development, government and business stakeholders at the local, regional and state levels. We convene partners, leverage resources, and work to remove communication and regulatory barriers in order to help businesses create jobs, retain jobs, and access a highly competitive workforce.
Visualization of CWDC Work
We have developed a visual to help CWDC staff and partners better understand our work and visualize how the various aspects of what we do fit together into the big picture of the CWDC. The video will walk you through the visual and explain how you can dive deeper using an interactive Mural.
- Video - Explanation of the CWDC Visual and how to navigate Mural
- Mural - Interactive version of CWDC Visual
- PDF - .pdf version of CWDC Visual
Council Governance
Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act - Federal Law
Colorado State Statute 24-46.3-101 - State Law
- Executive Orders
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CWDC Executive Order to appoint new members - November 2022
CWDC Executive Order to appoint new members - May 2022
CWDC Executive Order to appoint new members - October 2021
CWDC Executive Order to appoint new members - October 2020
CWDC Executive Order to appoint new members - October 2019
CWDC Executive Order to appoint new members - March 2019
CWDC Executive Order to appoint new members - January 2019
CWDC Executive Order updating the CWDC - October 2015
CWDC Executive Order reconstituting the CWDC - September 2010To access Executive Orders prior to 2019, please contact cwdc@state.co.us.
Council Structure
The CWDC is guided by the work of the Executive Committee. The Council also has three steering committees that provide strategic guidance on various aspects of the CWDC's work:
- Sectors Steering Committee
- Education & Training Steering Committee
- Advocacy Steering Committee
Learn more about the structure of the Council