U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government

Dot gov

Official websites use .gov
A .gov website belongs to an official government organization in the United States.

Https

Secure .gov websites use HTTPS
A lock () or https:// means you’ve safely connected to the .gov website. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites.

Plan: Louisiana PYs 2016-2017
Combined Plan C

Section: Adult, Dislocated Worker, and Youth Activities

Narrative: a. 2. B.

Published
Located in:

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:

The goal of Louisiana’s Rapid Response unit is to quickly mobilize resources to minimize the adverse impact on companies, affected workers and communities that are associated with a job loss. Rapid Response services expedite the process of obtaining information about where new jobs can be found and training, education and/or supportive services that facilitate re–employment as quickly as possible.

Pursuant to WIOA section 134 (a)(2)(A), the governor shall reserve not more than 25 percent of WIOA Dislocated Worker funding to carry out statewide rapid response activities. These statewide rapid response activities shall include:

  • provision of rapid response activities, carried out in local areas by the State, or by an entity designated by the State, working in conjunction with local boards and the chief elected officials for the local areas; and
  • provision of additional assistance to local areas that experience disasters, mass layoffs, or plant closings, or other events that precipitate substantial increases in the number of unemployed individuals, carried out in local areas by the State, working in conjunction with the local boards and the chief elected officials for the local areas.

The State’s Rapid Response activities will include, but are not limited to the following:

  • Immediate contact with the employer, representatives of the affected works and the local community, which may include an assessment of the layoff plans and the schedule for reemployment orientation sessions.
  • The team provides customized transition services and assistance. These services are provided at the job site, prior to the layoff and are offered at times convenient for the employer and affected workers.

Companies and individuals not covered and/or specifically addressed in the WARN Act are also eligible and provided services through the Rapid Response unit.

Layoff–aversion strategies are the first line of defense. The Rapid Response unit provides companies with industry–specific strategies that have been proven to avert layoffs and closures. Additionally, the Rapid Response unit will quickly convene stakeholders to examine and begin initial implementation of layoff–aversion activities.

These activities and services include, but are not limited to:

• Incumbent worker training, including employer loan programs for employee skill upgrading; and

• Linkages with economic development activities at the federal, state and local levels, including federal Department of Commerce programs and available state and local business retention and recruitment activities.