Narrative: a. 2. B.

Governor’s set-aside funds will generally be used to promote Governor Wolf’s vision of jobs that pay, schools that teach, and government that works with more specific emphasis on the five goals for the workforce development system articulated in the Strategic Vision portion of the State Plan.

The commonwealth used a portion of Governor’s set-aside funds to support the creation of an Apprenticeship and Training Office (ATO) with the goal of promoting and growing Registered Apprenticeship and pre-apprenticeship programs across the state. The ATO is described in greater detail in the response to how the state will incorporate Registered Apprenticeships into its strategies and services.

The commonwealth also uses set-aside funds to expand and provide additional support for the Next Generation Sector Partnership program as well as similar multi-employer partnerships that conduct workforce development activities that are within the scope of WIOA.

Additionally, the commonwealth intends to use set-aside funds to provide discretionary grants to LWDBs to support programs and activities that better serve targeted groups of workforce development system customers.

The commonwealth also plans to use set-aside funds to identify and replicate proven models for high-risk out-of-school youth, including models that incorporate demand-driven strategies and multi-employer workforce partnerships such as Next Generation Sector Partnerships.

Lastly, a portion of set-aside funds will be used to provide incentives to LWDAs whose performance exceeds negotiated levels and meets the criteria in state policy.

Rapid Response Services

Rapid Response is an early intervention business service that assists workers and employers during the entire business cycle. Rapid Response coordinates layoff aversion and outplacement services for employers and workers affected by layoffs, plant closures, or natural disasters. It is not always event-driven; it is a pro-active approach to planning for and managing economic transitions.At its best, Rapid Response assist employers with their layoffs by coordinating outplacement services prior to layoff, while supporting the business by working with other state and local stakeholders who can then assist in job expansion. Rapid Response is an introduction to the workforce and economic development systems and helps workers and employers navigate the Commonwealth's system of user-friendly resources and information to help transition workers into reemployment, and assist businesses.

The primary objective of rapid response is to provide workers with the resources and services necessary to allow them to find new jobs or get the training and education needed for new careers so they can return to work quickly.

Rapid Response Coordination Services (RRS) also helps communities develop proactive and coordinated strategies to access Pennsylvania’s economic development systems that help businesses at risk of closing to keep their doors open.

The PA Department of Labor & Industry (L&I) Deputy Secretary for Workforce Development is responsible for executive oversight of Pennsylvania’s RRS activity under WIOA. The Rapid Response/Trade Coordination Services Unit within the Bureau of Workforce Partnership & Operations is responsible for the policy development and implementation of the state’s rapid response program.

The commonwealth uses a regional approach to deliver rapid response assistance. There are L&I regional bureau staff assigned to geographic areas covering one or more LWDAs. Regional representatives work closely with PA CareerLink® staff as well as the local board or Chief Elected Official(s), and local and state economic development agencies, as appropriate. They meet with the LWDB staff periodically to share information and to discuss major dislocation events. RRS provides information and access to a comprehensive menu of available services and resources to avert or reduce the effect of plant closings and mass layoffs to businesses, communities and individuals.

Early intervention services provided through RRS offer workers affected by downsizing the best chance to reenter the workforce as quickly as possible. Since inception, RRS has become nationally recognized, often cited by the U.S. Department of Labor as a model for service delivery.

RRS, in concert with partners operating as a single business services team (BST) provides strategic planning that helps area employers become more globally competitive and connect with area economic development and educational institutions to meet their workforce needs. RRS is the state’s lead unit delivering a business-focused approach, working with employers to coordinate layoff aversion activities in coordination with the Strategic Early Warning Network (SEWN) and other economic development stakeholders working with the affected employer and supply chain companies, as applicable.

L&I, through a competitive process, contracted with the Steel Valley Authority to design and manage SEWN, which provides layoff aversion services to help businesses, particularly in the manufacturing sector, remain competitive and keep workers employed. SEWN and RRS obtain referrals to struggling companies through a variety of sources, including workforce development professionals, LWDBs, financial institutions, company customers, suppliers or vendors, industrial resources centers, local and state economic development agencies, unions, or affected workers themselves. Within 48 hours of receiving a referral, SEWN staff and/or RRS will contact the company and attempt to establish a meeting and plant tour. SEWN staff has expertise in several areas of business turnaround and layoff aversion, including: financial restructuring; buyouts; succession planning and ownership transition; labor-management relations; high-performance workplace strategies; operations; and cost management.

Informational and Direct Reemployment Services for Workers

Rapid response activities are triggered when L&I becomes aware of a planned closure or layoff, either by receiving a notice under the Federal Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification (WARN) Act, through the media, or by information provided by community and business leaders. Services may also be offered when Pennsylvania experiences mass job dislocation as the result of a natural disaster. There is no charge to the employer or employee for these services, and they are provided regardless of the reason for the layoff or closing.

RRS initiates a fact-finding meeting to plan for coordination of services within 48 hours of receipt of notice. Contact is made with the employer and any union to develop a preliminary service strategy. Through rapid response, orientation meetings are held either at the workplace or at a convenient site to provide workers with a wide range of information about benefits and services that are critical for a successful transition to new employment or training for a high-priority occupation, based on assessment of their skills and background. When possible, orientation meetings are held prior to the layoff date and on company time. Information is typically provided on the following topics:

• Unemployment insurance;
• Transition teams;
• Outplacement services;
• Health and pension benefits;
• Job-search activities;
• Education services;
• Training programs;
• Trade Adjustment Assistance;
• Social services programs;
• Community and economic development activities;
• Emergency assistance; and
• Crisis counseling.

Working in close partnership with CWIA, along with PA CareerLink® and LWDBs, RRS developed an outplacement curriculum delivered to affected workers that uses comprehensive, customizable workshops and a proven “Surviving a Layoff” publication. The customized workshops include information about the realities of job loss, job-search strategies, local Labor Market Information (LMI), using social media as a job-search and networking tool, resume development, job-search resources, household budgeting, and job-interviewing tips.

Crucial to the program’s success is the ability of RRS to gather and synthesize real-time LMI and conduct needs-profiling of Dislocated Workers accomplished through surveys distributed, completed, and collected at RRS informational sessions with affected employees. By understanding the local, regional, and in some cases statewide cause and effect related to a dislocation event, along with the way these circumstances directly affect individual workers, RRS has become an essential component in the commonwealth’s layoff-aversion and reemployment network. The sharing of this information between the workforce development and economic development agencies will enhance the state’s ability to be proactive with services and provide earlier intervention with our employers.

RRS realizes its full potential for employers when it is managed as a business service during the entire business lifecycle. The commonwealth will continue to invest rapid response dollars to fund a layoff-aversion system targeting small- and medium-sized manufacturing firms. RRS staff sits on local PA CareerLink® and regional economic development BSTs to help employers with turnaround and to market Dislocated Workers to employers, enhancing the value of business services provided by the workforce and economic development systems. RRS, as well as the regional SEWN representatives, will also receive technical training to effectively market the Shared-Work Program operated by the Office of Unemployment Compensation Benefits & Services as a component of layoff-aversion strategy.

RRS staff will maintain a comprehensive set of partnerships to provide customers the services, resources, and benefits they are eligible for and need. To complement the current network of partnerships, RRS will continue outreach efforts to other entities such as local chapters of the Society for Human Resource Management, manufacturing associations, state and local economic development entities, chambers of commerce, Next Generation Sector Partnerships and sector-based associations and business groups, central labor councils and area labor federations increasing awareness of rapid response services as a business-cycle service linking workforce and economic development.

Rapid Response Additional Assistance (RRAA) funding will be directed to serve LWDAs when local funding balances are insufficient to ensure a continuum of services for Dislocated Workers. Funds may be provided to LWDAs that experience increased numbers of unemployed individuals due to natural disasters, plant closings, mass layoffs, or other events for provision of direct services to participants.

Through the fact-finding process, Rapid Response staff gather information from the employer related to the layoff/closure. At times, the information shared by the employer reveals that the loss of business is due to foreign trade impacts. When such information is shared, the RR staff informs the employer, employees, and union (if applicable) to apply for Trade Act benefits. RR works with any entity (employer, union, workers) willing to file a Trade petition with the U.S. DOL. RR provides the technical assistance to complete the Trade petition application and file it with the U.S. DOL accordingly.

The fact-finding information gathered is shared with all partners in the LWDA to ensure that planning for such dislocation occurs in a timely manner. It also provides the opportunity for RR to recommend to the LWDAs to request additional RR funds to ensure that services can be provided for the Dislocated Workers (DW). When a company has applied for Trade benefits, the additional RR funds can be used to provide “on-site” DW services prior to the company closure. RR and LWDA staff develop a comprehensive plan with the company and union, if applicable, to provide workers with services such as JobGateway® registration and access to various workshops related to topics such as healthcare, retirement, training opportunities in the workforce area, and soft skills to re-enter the workforce.

Funds can also be provided to develop customized pre-employment/training services. Local partnerships with community colleges and organizations will help with development and planning of basic computer skills training and pre-GED/basic skills workshops. Planning these services in advance enables the DW to obtain or refresh skills that are needed for the current job market. It may also serve as a platform for more in depth training.

The additional funds will also be used to re-enforce the partnerships established with local employers in the respective workforce area. The RR staff, with the collaboration of LWDA partners, can opt to arrange various job-fairs for the Trade affected Dislocated Workers. Companies in the workforce area may benefit in filling current open positions and/or take the opportunity to engage in on-the-job-training for workers with transferable skills.

Ultimately, RRS have substantial benefits for the impacted employees, employers and community at large.

RRS helps Dislocated Workers turn the challenge of a layoff into an opportunity by providing information about, and access to, the following services:

• Unemployment compensation;
• Career counseling, resume preparation and job-search assistance;
• Education and training opportunities, including Trade Adjustment Assistance;
• Locally available supportive services;
• Referrals and information about English as a second language or Limited English Proficiency classes;
• Referrals and information about Adult Basic Education and GED classes;
• Referrals and information about services available through the Office of Vocational Rehabilitation;
• Dislocated Worker transition teams;
• Surviving a layoff, resume preparation, and interviewing skills workshops;
• Information about the local labor market;
• Information about retirement-plan benefits, Social Security and health-insurance options; and
• Services exclusively for veterans and adults with disabilities.

When employers contact RRS, they can expect:

• A quick response to transition planning needs;
• Confidentiality concerning business decisions;
• Help throughout their entire business cycle;
• Help understanding government regulations;
• Information about alternatives that may reduce or avoid layoffs;
• For small- to medium-sized businesses, referral to agencies that can help in re-structuring to avoid layoffs or closing the business; and
• Higher productivity and worker morale and lower absenteeism during the layoff event due to reduced stress.

Lastly, community involvement forms the basis for some of the most dynamic and effective transition services available. The benefits of rapid response to the community include:

• Working with elected officials at the state and local levels;
• Helping to save the local tax base by keeping workers employed;
• Lessening adverse economic effects on other businesses within the community;
• Responding to job and business loss when a natural disaster occurs;
• Coordinating available resources by tapping into the community’s service providers;
• Reducing emotional and financial stress on the community by offering workshops for unemployed workers, and local affected supply-chain or vendor companies; and
• Coordinating support groups and transition teams for unemployed workers.