Narrative: a. 2. B.

Governor’s set aside funding: 

Colorado expects to utilize 5% of the Title I set aside funds for the administrative purposes allowed under Sections 128 and 133 of WIOA, and the remaining portion (10%) of the set aside for both the required statewide activities, as well as the allowed statewide activities that support the strategic goals set forth in this four-year Combined Plan. On an annual basis, the Colorado Workforce Development Council prepares a recommendation for the Governor on the use of funds. After the Governor has approved the priorities for the funds, the CWDC approves a specific budget for Council Initiatives. These initiatives will support the strategies outlined in this state plan as follows: 

• Formulate, test and scale the braiding and blending of funding across programs 
• Enhance the execution of SNAP 50/50 so that all communities are maximizing available resources 
• Promote collaboration models between Colorado Works and workforce programs 
• Educate Coloradans on all career pathways through the enhancement of My Colorado Journey 
• Increase the flow of individuals into the network through educator training on existing resources and career advisor training 
• Map and promote in-demand industries in a future-ready way with embedded opportunities for work-based learning and apprenticeships 
• Focus on career attachment strategies with a path to prosperity 
• Create lifelong upskilling opportunities with earn and learn approaches  
• Strengthen the alignment and information sharing across programs 
• Support local boards in engaging businesses and key employers to address community issues such as childcare, transportation, and affordable housing 
• Support equity and inclusion in all employment and training programs

State’s Rapid Response and layoff aversion activities: 

The State Rapid Response Team uses a variety of approaches and strategies to avert and respond to layoffs. These include the early identification of at-risk industries and companies through the utilization of a variety of data including labor market analyses, layoff trends, and policy analysis including the impact of federal, state and local policies and regulations on businesses and industries. State unemployment insurance company layoff data is used to identify layoff trends and specific companies that are approaching WARN levels. These data are used to conduct outreach activities to businesses whose employees might benefit from Rapid Response services.  

Additionally, the State Rapid Response team provides resources and technical assistance to local area Rapid Response staff who are charged with developing local layoff aversion plans. These annual plans include additional strategies to address the following: 

• Ongoing engagement, partnership and relationship building activities with businesses in the community in order to create an environment for successful layoff aversion efforts and the provision of assistance to dislocated workers in obtaining reemployment as soon as possible. 
• Partnering or contracting with business-focused organizations to assess risks to companies, propose strategies to address those risks, implement services, and measure the impact of services delivered. 
• Funding feasibility studies to determine if a company's operations may be sustained through a buyout or other means to avoid or minimize layoffs. 
• Developing, funding and managing incumbent worker training programs or other worker upskilling approaches. 
• Connecting companies to State provided short-term compensation or other programs designed to prevent layoffs or to quickly re-employ dislocated workers, employer loan programs for employee skill upgrading and other federal, state and local resources as necessary to address other business needs. 
• Establishing linkages with economic development activities at the federal, state and local levels including the Federal Department of Commerce programs and available State and local business retention and expansion activities. 
• Engaging in proactive measures to identify opportunities for potential economic transition and training needs in growing industry sectors or expanding businesses. 
• Connecting with businesses and impacted workers at the point of layoff announcement to achieve the rapid reemployment of the affected workers prior to their layoff dates. The Rapid Response Team provides an early connection to the resources needed for rapid reemployment including access to workshops delivered both in-person and virtually, the Help After Layoff site that provides a wealth of information from assessments to accessing career services through local area workforce services, filing for unemployment, health care options after their employer sponsored healthcare ends, how various decisions about their company sponsored 401K can impact unemployment insurance benefits, and how to manage their budgets and credit after a layoff. It also provides direct links to statewide workforce centers, workforce events, registration forms for workshops, assessments and more.

The State Rapid Response Team has formed collaborative partnerships to identify and design appropriate interventions. Partnerships include Colorado’s local workforce areas and Workforce Development Boards, the U.S. Department of Commerce’s Trade Adjustment 

Assistance program for firms, Chambers of Commerce, Small Business Development Centers, 

State agencies such as the Office of Economic Development and International Trade, the Public Health Department, and Vocational Rehabilitation, community-based organizations and quasi-governmental organizations such as Connect for Health Colorado (Colorado’s healthcare exchange).  

Rapid Response early interventions may include a variety of services tailored to the needs of the company and its employees and may include onsite or virtual workshops, onsite registrations, orientations and intakes for WIOA and TAA, and onsite “reverse” hiring events at which dislocated workers are connected with companies hiring for similar positions.