Located in:
- Program-specific Requirements for Adult, Dislocated Worker, and Youth Activities under Title I-B
The Unified or Combined State Plan must include the following with respect to activities carried out under subtitle B—
a. 2. B. Describe how the State intends to use Governor’s set aside funding. Describe how the State will utilize Rapid Response funds to respond to layoffs and plant closings and coordinate services to quickly aid companies and their affected workers. States also should describe any layoff aversion strategies they have implemented to address at risk companies and workers
Current Narrative:
Arkansas devotes twenty-five (25%) of the Governor's set aside funding to Rapid Response activities on an annual basis. In addition to this funding, the State launched the Arkansas Work-Based Learning Program (WBLP), also utilizing Governor's set-aside funding. This program was initially designed to meet the needs of Arkansas businesses, provide job opportunities and training to populations with barriers to employment, and to increase the diversity and quality of training methods in Arkansas. The State WBLP can be a potential option to assist as a layoff aversion strategy to maintain incumbent worker employment.
Governor’s Dislocated Worker Task Force
The Governor’s Dislocated Worker Task Force engages the resources of ADWS, area health services, the U.S. Department of Labor, the Arkansas Economic Development Commission, the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act partner programs, and other agencies to meet the needs of dislocated workers and employers.
Rapid Response Team
Arkansas’ Business Retention and Workforce Transition Team provides immediate aid to companies and workers affected by
layoffs, closures, and workforce reductions due to the economic climate or man-made disasters. This team quickly coordinates with community service providers to offer on-site workshops for employees in transition, job placement
assistance, information on unemployment benefits, and more.
Layoff Aversion Strategies
Consult with our experts to discover alternatives, including:
- The Shared Work Program
- Liquidation of excess assets
- Negotiation of municipal rents or utilities abatement
- Grant opportunities
Mobile Workforce Centers
The Mobile Arkansas Workforce Centers provide access to all services available in brick-and-mortar Arkansas Workforce
Centers and provides many of those services directly. Each unit has full Internet connectivity and is equipped with computers, printers, copiers, and JAWS (Jobs Application with Speech) software.
The Governor’s Dislocated Worker Task Force operates the mobile units and transports them as needed to areas of worker
dislocation or emergency response.