Federal, state, and local agencies; the private sector; and community organizations engaged in workforce development and welfare-to-work should integrate their programs so that those most in need of help can access a seamless system of support services. The box on .Sustainable Approaches to Workforce Development. (following) lists ideas for thinking about the requisite systems, people, and commitments to accomplish this objective.

The U.S. Department of Transportation, in cooperation with other federal agencies, should continue aggressive implementation of the Job Access and Reverse Commute Grant program to address gaps in the transportation system that hamper welfare recipients and other low-income people from getting to jobs and other support services. Transportation has been identified as a key element of job placement and retention. Those who seek work cannot work if they can't get to work.43 At the local level, agencies, nonprofits, community organizations, and other public and private sector entities should coordinate efforts to ensure that employment transportation needs are identified, prioritized, and integrated with the existing transportation system. Employers should take a lead role in identifying and meeting the transportation needs of their workforce, both by directly providing services and working with other employers and transportation providers to ensure effective and timely access.

HUD should be able to provide funding to managers of affordable housing projects to enable them to implement and provide services to help residents of HUD-assisted housing developments find and retain jobs. These funds will enable HUD to complement the efforts of the U.S. Department of Labor and its Temporary Assistance to Needy Families program. The funds will also expand the agency's current efforts to link residents of poor neighborhoods with support services and jobs outside of their neighborhoods.

Local elected, community, and business leaders; labor representatives; and local government agencies should establish strong linkages between economic planning/development activities and education and training systems. Business development and recruitment efforts frequently are not firmly linked with education and job training programs. All too often, this means that even though businesses decide to locate in a particular community, the residents of that community who have the greatest need for jobs do not have the skills to acquire and/or retain jobs in these businesses. Firmer linkages will establish feedback mechanisms whereby education and training programs can better prepare participants for future jobs that are expected to be located in an area.