WIA has been around for years upon years, federal program that each state administers differently that provides job assistance to the unemployed or soon to be unemployed. The program will provide training to a NEW field that is demand, it also opens the door for additional assistance if needed. Again, each state runs it differently with regards to additional assistance.
Additional assistance can be bus passes, gas cards, rent/utility assistance, car insurance assistance, interview clothes assistance, and the list goes on.
it is a fixed rate and fixed time period, generally 2 years and the financial part can be upwards of 10K depending on your state. Approval can take days to months to attain, the red tape can be painful but in the end it can be worth it.
You can be trained in another state, higher power (737 type) for a period would actually help people through the WIA process and usually WIA covered the entire cost for the type.
The current situation is two-fold, post 9/11 every pilot rushed to WIA and raped them for types in anything that flew and WIA paid. After the states were burned because the those new types rarely netted new jobs, no state will pay for a new type unless you have a letter from an employer stating with the type they will hire you. Even then, most training providers for types are no longer authorized. The second side is everyone knows there are no aviation jobs, most states now go by DOL quarterly reports on jobs/careers. If there is flat or negative growth no state will fund that WIA training program. Even in low growth, the individual case manager will have to be convinced.
WIA is a great program, just be realistic in your goals, apply for any additional assistance (and KY offers quite a bit). It is a one shot deal for 2 years, you will never, ever get WIA a second time.
this is a second chance for some people who just don't have the facilities to be re-trained. It is also a second chance for those who put all the eggs in one basket hoping this career would pan out. I respect the other views, but heck what ever it takes at the end of the day to put the food on the table is what counts. How you get there is your own choice.
Lastly, almost every community college has record enrollment, the sharp increase is partly from WIA. If you are going to use WIA, get some college credit would be my suggestion. That will stay with you longer that any dispatch or type rating. Most community colleges have fast track programs to get you that certificate/degree for a new job/career within the WIA timeframe and financial limitations.
