Narrative: III. a. 2. G.

Strategically positioned under the Arkansas Department of Commerce, the Arkansas Division of Workforce Services and WIOA core programs are closely connected with the Arkansas Economic Development Commission (AEDC).  This positioning allows for a unified approach to workforce development and economic development; two areas that cannot be disjointed.

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 Partners 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.

Adult education utilizes the Division of Workforce Services Labor Market Information to identify labor and occupational trends in the state. In addition, Adult Education staff participates in the Arkansas Economic Development Commission (AEDC) meetings and training to stay abreast of the companies that are either coming to Arkansas or expanding. This allows for further collaboration, especially for the opportunity of student referrals. With the recent federal legislation of the CHIPS and Science Act, the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, and the Inflation Reduction Act, the state now has an opportunity to help Arkansans access new, high-quality jobs. The legislation will help WIOA core programs leverage business outreach efforts to identify those employers who will be pursuing these incentives to help them increase access to training and employment opportunities for those with barriers to employment.

ARS provides counseling to clients in the development of the individual plan for employment, which includes a vocational goal as a core component. The vocational goal considers the clients’ interests, strengths, and abilities. As part of this process, the availability of jobs and skills required are included.

DSB partners with the local and state economic development entities to ensure visibility for Division of Services for the Blind and consumers for employment related activities. DSB partners with WIOA partners to ensure activities implemented are accessible to blind and visually impaired consumers.

Arkansas received a comment requesting that more language be added to this section to address the infrastructure investment component. 

Response: 

“Coordination and Alignment with Federal Infrastructure Investments"

Governors and State workforce development boards are encouraged to use the 2024 WIOA state planning process to reshape education and workforce development service delivery to take advantage of historic federal investments made possible through the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, also known as the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL), the Creating Helpful Incentives to Produce Semiconductors (CHIPS) and Science Act, and the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) (collectively referred to as Investing in America (IIA)). The majority of the jobs created through these investments will involve occupations that require some type of postsecondary credential. The programs incorporated into WIOA State Plans are well-positioned to assist workers in accessing good jobs created by these IIA investments and businesses to find the workers they need to flourish.

In alignment with the Arkansas workforce strategy developed by the Chief Workforce Officer and the Governor’s Workforce Cabinet, the state workforce system will support Arkansas Investing in America programs through the following data-driven strategies, services, and practices:

• Infrastructure employer collaboratives will be established to identify and communicate current and future occupational, credential, and skill demand.  The state will support these through Talent Pipeline Management tools, methodologies, data, and facilitation for continuously aligned sector strategies.
• New occupational, credential, and skill demand from infrastructure investments will be added to state labor market information, credential targets, and consumer information products.
• Updated data products, incorporating new infrastructure job creation and up/reskilling needs, will be provided to workforce boards, education and training providers, and other relevant stakeholders to inform alignment of programs with evolving needs.
• Infrastructure-related programs and credentials will be published as linked open data on credentials (LODC) to support credential transparency, interoperability, and issuance of Learning and Employment Records (LERs).
• Jobs created through infrastructure investments will be posted on the LAUNCH learning, employment, and advancement platform for skills-based connection of residents with opportunities.
• Integrated Service Delivery strategies will grow the skilled labor force through connection of available talent pools with training, employment, and wraparound supports.
• Infrastructure talent pipelines will be monitored leveraging the Statewide Longitudinal Data System (SLDS) to support continuous alignment and improvement efforts.
• Evaluation and research on the workforce and economic impact of infrastructure investments will be performed to inform policy and practice with data and evidence.”