Narrative: a. 1. B.

Process for Designating Local Areas: 

The Colorado Workforce Development Council (CWDC) consulted extensively with local officials, local boards, partner agencies, and community organizations to assist with the identification of locally designed and supported areas consistent with the articulated needs of the communities. The CWDC determined the procedures for requesting initial and subsequent designation of local areas and the requirements each area must meet in state Policy Guidance Letter 15-04-WIOA and in Policy Guidance Letter WIOA-2015-01, Change 2. The local areas were required to detail in their request and operating plan how the requested local area would meet the criteria identified in the law for “performed successfully” and “sustained fiscal integrity.” The designation process began with the prior designated areas that operated under the Workforce Investment Act. All local officials reviewed the labor market areas and their ability to deliver WIOA services and then submitted their requests for designation as a local area to the CWDC and Governor. Meetings were held with county officials, one-stop operators and local boards for discussions. The nine original local areas requested initial designation, plus Mesa County requested separation from the Rural Consortium as an independent local area. All requests for initial designation were approved by the Governor. All local areas also submitted documentation as required for the subsequent designation process and were subsequently designated. 

Procedures for Determining Performed Successfully and Sustained Fiscal Integrity: 

Each local area seeking designation is required to submit documentation for the following items to the CWDC for review and recommendations to the Governor for final approval: 

Performed Successfully: 

Evidence that the area, in the two program years for which data is available prior to the request, met or exceeded the adjusted levels of performance for primary indicators of performance or the Common Measures for Title I and Title III programs, and was not subject to the sanctions process resulting from missing the same measure two years in a row, as applicable. 

Fiscal Integrity: 

Evidence that during the two program years prior to the request, the U.S. Secretary of Labor, or the State in place of the Secretary, has not made a formal determination that the grant recipient or administrative entity for the local area has misspent funds due to willful disregard, gross negligence, or failure to comply with accepted standards of administration, as applicable. 

Process for Designating Planning Regions:  

The CWDC convened a workgroup of local workforce partners that was chaired by a local area director and the Director of the CWDC. This group reviewed existing regional maps that had been developed by various partner agencies for purposes of delivering program services. In addition, the workgroup examined worker commuting patterns, locations of key industries and the presence of existing partnerships that cut across geographic boundaries. The resulting map that was developed took these factors into consideration. Local Elected Officials reviewed the map and had the opportunity to request changes to best meet the needs of each local area. In advance of the state plan modification period in 2018 and during the PY20-23 state plan creation process, local areas were invited to request changes to the planning regions. In 2018 a change was requested and granted, creating the three planning regions that are still recognized at this time. There were no changes requested during this planning process.