Located in:
- III. Operational Planning Elements
The Unified or Combined State Plan must include an Operational Planning Elements section that supports the State’s strategy and the system-wide vision described in Section II(c) above. Unless otherwise noted, all Operational Planning Elements apply to Combined State Plan partner programs included in the plan as well as to core programs. This section must include—
- a. State Strategy Implementation
The Unified or Combined State Plan must include–
- 2. Implementation of State Strategy
Describe how the lead State agency with responsibility for the administration of each core program or a Combined Plan partner program included in this plan will implement the State’s Strategies identified in Section II(c). above. This must include a description of—
- 2. Implementation of State Strategy
- a. State Strategy Implementation
III. a. 2. I. Coordinating with Economic Development Strategies
Describe how the activities identified in (A) will be coordinated with economic development entities, strategies, and activities in the State.
Current Narrative:
The State recognizes that workforce development cannot be performed in a vacuum without the connection to economic development and the priorities established by both state and local economic development entities. To ensure that economic development strategies are at the forefront of state, regional, and local planning, representatives of economic development organizations are on the state and local boards. Furthermore, economic development representatives are members of the WIOA Roundtable, which is the interagency WIOA planning team. Seven of the ten local workforce development boards have administrative and fiscal entities that are also local economic development organizations.
This close connection ensures that local planning is on target with local economic development strategies. Furthermore, in 2015, the Arkansas Department of Higher Education implemented the Workforce Investment Initiative, which provided funding for regional workforce development planning. To qualify and apply for funding, applicants had to have a partnership that included the support of the local workforce development board, educational entities, and that planning was based on local economic development strategies.