Narrative: a. 2. C.

West Virginia uses WIOA funds to support a state Rapid Response unit called the State Dislocated Worker Services (DWS) Unit. The unit conducts rapid response activities to dislocated workers through employer outreach, which is coordinated as a joint rapid response team approach between the DWS Unit and the LWDB. The Trade Act unit is also part of the State DWS section to provide information on the Trade Adjustment Assistance (TAA) program. When a rapid response meeting is conducted, research begins with the TAA state office to determine if a company meets the eligibility criteria for TAA and a petition can be filed. If a petition is filed and certified prior to a rapid response meeting, a coordinated meeting is conducted emphasizing all the benefits and services provided through WFWV and partner agencies. 

Each rapid response meeting includes representatives from the American Job Center of West Virginia (AJCWV) explaining services and benefits to assist dislocated workers, including, but not limited to unemployment, job services, career planners for training eligibility purposes, and specific partner agencies. For dislocations, all WFWV processes are discussed. After the meeting is conducted, the individual is registered in WV’s MACC system and a questionnaire is completed highlighting the individual’s employment/training objectives and goals. These questionnaires assist in serving the individual in a timely and more effective manner by following the career pathway of their choosing and involving partner agencies in achieving these objectives and goals. 

Businesses that will be experiencing layoffs or closure come to WFWV through various communication methods: AJC staff, Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notices (WARNs), Business Services Representatives, news outlets, employees and unemployment reports showing noticeable claims, which the Rapid Response coordinator then investigates.

Additional services are organized at Rapid Response meetings such as special sessions with unemployment to answer more in-depth questions, resume writing, and interviewing skills workshops on-site or at an AJC. Sometimes, these workshops are incorporated into the Rapid Response meeting. WFWV’s integrated system provided employment, partner, and resource information to Constellium Rolled Products and Homer Laughlin China Company in 2020 and Mylan Pharmaceuticals in 2021 for workers receiving rapid response informational packets. The dissemination of information included questionnaires to assist in identifying individual goals and objectives and to provide job search and training activities for dislocated workers. Ongoing communication with workers conducted by the rapid response team was conducted through emails, telephone calls, and follow-up letters.

Rapid Response provides a comprehensive array of services to offer transitional assistance in the form of available community resources and contact information, reemployment services available through the AJCWVs, such as job search and training opportunities, and unemployment services to accelerate the reemployment process. Other Rapid Response activities include community resource fairs, job fairs, and training provider fairs, etc. that may be conducted in conjunction with Rapid Response Informational Meetings or separately. While most of the effort is usually expended in the early stages of a dislocation event or an impending dislocation, it is important to continue Rapid Response services until all worker and employer needs are met. Follow-up with workers allows the Rapid Response Unit and the LWBD staff to collaborate and provide appropriate services if needed.

The State coordinates layoff aversion strategies through the direct and immediate efforts of the Governor’s Office in connection with the West Virginia Development Office’s (WVDO) Business and Industrial Development representatives, who mobilize concentrated efforts to salvage at-risk companies or entities through incumbent worker training through the Governor’s Guaranteed Workforce Program, etc. When companies advise the State they are experiencing difficulties, there is timely sharing of all pertinent information of at-risk companies between the State Dislocated Worker Services Unit and the Business and Industry Development representatives so the layoff aversion strategies can be quickly implemented. In the event the strategies have not been shared at all local and State levels because of the sensitivity and confidentiality of some of the processes involved in averting a layoff, the State DWS Unit communicates directly with the Secretary of the West Virginia Department of Commerce with a notification of a need for the provision of Rapid Response services. This occurs often for the majority of dislocations anywhere in the state and usually results in receiving clearance to proceed with Rapid Response services.