WORKFORCE INNOVATION AND OPPORTUNITY ACT
ADDITIONAL ASSISTANCE FOR DISLOCATED WORKERS FUNDING
DISCUSSION PAPER
Background
On November 1, 2013, the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) awarded $4,131,089 for military layoffs at the Red River Army Depot and Fort Hood. The Central Texas Workforce Development Board (Board) received $2.lM with an initial increment of $1.2M to serve an estimated 350 military personnel affected by the memo entitled “Risk Mitigation in the Face of Financial Uncertainty.” Since that time, the Board has received notification of an additional 3,500 military service members being laid off from military service. The budget from Fort Hood and the Board shows that they will need an additional $1.5 million to serve the newly laid-off military personnel.
Issue
The Texas Workforce Commission has agreed to apply to DOL for a second Dislocated Worker Grant so that the Board may continue serving this population. To allow the Board to continue services while the grant application is underway, the Board requests WIOA Additional Assistance for Dislocated Workers funds in the amount of $300,000. Funds will be used through January 31, 2017, to provide obligated training in targeted occupations and support services for currently enrolled individuals.
Additionally, the Board is requesting:
· to move qualified customers from the Military National Emergency Grant (NEG) to the Jjob-Driven (JD) NEG that they are a part of to extend the Military funds; and
· request a new National Dislocated Worker Grant (NDWG) in amount of $1.2 million to continue serving the 3,500 newly laid-off military personnel.
Recommendation
Staff recommends that $300,000 in WIOA Additional Assistance for Dislocated Workers funding be distributed to the Central Texas workforce development area for the purposes described above, and a new NDWG be submitted for $1.2M to meet the current needs of newly laid-off military personnel.
Notebook: Commission Meeting 8-9-16