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. 1. B. Describe the process and policy used for designating local areas, including procedures for determining whether the local area met the criteria for “performed successfully” and “sustained fiscal integrity” in accordance with 106(b)(2) and (3) of WIOA. Describe the process used for identifying regions and planning regions under section 106(a) of WIOA. This must include a description of how the State consulted with the local boards and chief elected officials in identifying the regions
Current Narrative:
The local workforce development areas were selected based on infrastructure already in place under the previous federal law (Workforce Investment Act) and the alignment those areas have with local economic development planning districts. Each of the previous ten local workforce investment areas had sustained fiscal integrity as defined by the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act, and while only one of the ten local areas had met 100 percent of all nine performance targets two years in a row, the local areas did meet performance within 80 percent of targets, which is the measure of success for the state as a whole.
The criteria used by the governor was explained, which included:
- Reviewing each local areas' sustained fiscal integrity under the Workforce Investment Act (WIA).
- Reviewing each local areas' performance under the Workforce Investment Act (WIA).
- Reviewing each local areas' alignment with the state's existing economic development districts.
- Reviewing each local areas' existing infrastructure.
Local boards and chief elected officials were consulted during the formation of both the local workforce development areas and regions. The opportunity for public comment was also provided and many chief elected officials provided positive comments in support of the structure.
Governor's Executive Order 15-20 was signed, certifying the ten (10) local workforce development boards in Arkansas.
On June 9, 2015, the Arkansas Workforce Development Board (AWDB) discussed and passed without opposition to move forward with the designation of local workforce development areas for the purposes of implementing the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act. The former Assistant Director of ADWS reported to AWDB that it was the Governor’s plan to retain the ten local workforce development areas as established under the Workforce Investment Act (WIA) for a multitude of reasons, including that the following have been established:
· Alignment with the economic development districts
· Infrastructure in place
· Workforce centers
· Agreements with the chief elected officials
· Contracts in place to continue services effective July 1, 2015
Subsequent designation would depend on the area’s recertification of local boards and local workforce centers.
The AWDB, local workforce development boards, the Governor, and local chief elected officials have continued this method for the designation of local areas. Subsequent designation depends on whether the local area has performed successfully and sustained fiscal integrity in accordance with WIOA § 106(b)(3). For this purpose, the term ‘‘performed successfully’’ means that the local area met or exceeded the adjusted levels of performance for primary indicators for each of the last two consecutive years. The term “sustained fiscal integrity” means that there has not been a formal determination, during either of the last two consecutive years, that the local workforce development area misexpended funds due to willful disregard of the requirements, gross negligence, or failure to comply with accepted standards of administration.
Chief elected officials may request designation of a local workforce development area to separate from the original local areas, and this request will be considered by the AWDB, who will send the recommendation to the Governor for consideration, as required in WIOA § 106(b)(4). Criteria for this request are: (1) consistency with labor market areas in the state, (2) consistency with regional economic development areas in the state, (3) availability of federal and non-federal funding to effectively administer activities under WIOA title I-B, and (4) availability of sufficient training providers, such as institutions of higher education and area career and technical education schools, as required in WIOA § 106(b)(1)(B).
A unit of local government that requests to be a local area and is not granted such designation may appeal the determination by following the appropriate procedure outlined in WIOA Policy No. WIOA I –6.1 (Arkansas Grievance, Complaint, and Appeal Procedures for WIOA Title I Activities), as required in WIOA § 106(b)(5).