Programs & Services
Free workforce services for job seekers and employers.
American Job Center Hawaiʻi (AJCH)
Your Local One-Stop For All Your Employment Needs
The American Job Center Hawaiʻi (AJCH) serves as Hawaiʻi County’s physical and virtual one-stop hub for all employment and training services. Designed to seamlessly unite multiple workforce funding streams and partner organizations under one roof, the AJCH provides equal, direct access to career tools for both job seekers and local employers.
Operating under the federal Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA), the AJCH brings together multiple state, county, federal, and non-profit workforce programs under one roof. All basic services, facilities, and resource room tools offered through the AJCH are completely free of charge to Hawaiʻi Island job seekers, youth, and businesses.
Governance and daily operations of the center are structured through a multi-tiered public-private partnership:
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Administrative Oversight & Governance: The County of Hawaiʻi and the Hawaiʻi County Workforce Development Board (HCWDB) provide overarching grant oversight, policy direction, and fiscal management.
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One-Stop Operator (OSO) & AJCH Center Management: Change Makers serves as the contracted One-Stop Operator, responsible for overseeing day-to-day center operations, coordinating partner agencies, managing facility logistics, driving continuous service improvement, and maintaining inter-agency referral networks.
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Title I Direct Service Provider (Adult, Dislocated Worker, & Youth): Goodwill Hawaii serves as the contracted service provider, providing direct one-on-one intake, career planning, Individual Training Account (ITA) management, work experience placements, and supportive services.
Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA)
Our Core WIOA Title I Programs
All WIOA Title I programs and American Job Center operations are administered under the direct oversight of the County of Hawaiʻi and the Hawaiʻi County Workforce Development Board (HCWDB). Together with our contracted service providers and community partners, we strive to remove barriers to employment, promote continuous learning, and elevate economic self-sufficiency across Hawaiʻi Island.
Under WIOA Title I, specialized programs are designed to meet individuals wherever they are in their career journey. Whether you are seeking your first job, re-entering the workforce, transitioning after a layoff, or advancing toward financial stability, our programs provide personalized guidance and concrete resources.
Adult Program
The WIOA Adult Program provides comprehensive workforce preparation for individuals aged 18 and older who are striving to achieve self-sufficient employment. Priority of service is granted to low-income individuals, public assistance recipients, underemployed workers, and adults who are basic skills deficient, with statutory preference given to military veterans and eligible spouses.
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Career Navigation & Counseling: One-on-one employment guidance, comprehensive skills assessments, and tailored Individual Employment Plans (IEP).
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Occupational Skills Training: Tuition assistance via Individual Training Accounts (ITAs) for accredited vocational, trade, and post-secondary certification programs linked to high-demand local industries.
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Workplace Readiness: Pre-vocational workshops covering interview preparation, resume building, financial literacy, and essential soft skills.
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Supportive Services: Needs-based financial assistance for work attire, tools, transportation, licensing fees, and childcare to enable successful program completion.
Dislocated Worker Program
The Dislocated Worker Program supports individuals who have lost their jobs through no fault of their own due to plant closures, general layoffs, economic downturns, or natural disasters. It also serves displaced homemakers, transitioning military service members, and military spouses who have experienced employment loss or relocation.
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Rapid Re-employment & Retraining: Immediate career assessment, skill translation, and funded retraining opportunities to facilitate swift re-entry into growing local sectors.
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Career Transitions: Specialized counseling to help workers evaluate existing skill sets and adapt to emerging occupations or entrepreneurship.
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Supportive Assistance & NRPs: Financial support for training supplies, credentials, and potential Needs-Related Payments (NRPs) for eligible unemployed individuals in active training.
Youth Program
The WIOA Youth Program delivers comprehensive, year-round services for young people aged 14 to 24, focusing heavily on Out-of-School Youth (ages 16–24) facing significant structural barriers. The program emphasizes educational completion, leadership development, post-secondary enrollment, and direct career exposure.
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Work-Based Learning: Paid and unpaid work experiences, internships, job shadowing, and pre-apprenticeship opportunities designed to build foundational workplace skills.
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Educational Pathways: Tutoring, alternative secondary school options, drop-out recovery strategies, and GED/high school equivalency preparation.
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Mentorship & Leadership: Adult mentoring, leadership development, financial literacy education, entrepreneurial training, and guidance through critical life transitions.