WIOA State Plan Common Elements

Successful talent development programs can be further improved by close collaboration and partnership with economic development entities and State and local workforce development boards.  Economic development entities assist in providing information, assistance and data to the thousands of job seekers across the State of Michigan.  The following innovative audit and communication systems will be provided to better review, understand, communicate, and serve all of our customers: 

• Talent Connections:  The workforce system is made up of a variety of diverse entities and partners that span federal, state, and local government and includes a wide variety of private employers and non-profits.  To improve communication and coordination between partners, we utilize the Pure Michigan Talent Connect.  The Talent Connect is a state-wide communication network designed to expand and improve communications between “talent partners.”  “Talent partners” include employers, Michigan Works! Agencies (MWAs), local economic development agencies, etc. — basically anyone working with a focus on talent.
   
• Coordination with Economic Development Strategies and Activities:  To facilitate the match between job seekers and employers, strengthening and aligning talent development and training opportunities will assist in meeting the needs of employers and Michigan workers.  Business Service Teams are utilized at the One-Stop centers and work closely with companies in high-growth/high-demand industries.  The Talent Development Liaisons and the Michigan Economic Development Corporation collaborate with the MWA Business Services Teams to provide information and support for employers growing within or moving into the local area.  The partnerships between the One-Stops, the Michigan Industry Cluster Approach Team, and the Michigan Economic Development Corporation establish a relationship with employers to obtain skilled workers through Michigan’s system.
   
• Governor’s Workforce Development State Board and Local Workforce Development Boards:  Michigan continues its efforts to become a national leader in developing a talented workforce.  Governor Whitmer signed Executive Order 2019-13 to locate the State Workforce Board within the Department of Labor and Economic Opportunity.  State staff will continue to facilitate closer working relationships with the Governor’s Workforce Development State Board and local Workforce Development Boards and assist the boards in becoming more effective, through communications, training, regional partnership building, and selection of appropriate board members.  The State’s strategy moving forward includes a three-pronged effort.  First, we will provide an orientation effort which includes welcoming new members with contact information and an orientation guide to assist them with understanding responsibilities and mission.  Second, we will work more closely with both the Governor’s Workforce Development State Board and local Workforce Development Boards to connect with them directly through information sharing, visiting board meetings, and working together on state/regional projects and building state and regional partnerships.  Third, we will review and collect feedback from the Governor’s Workforce Development State Board and local Workforce Development Boards and provide training and technical assistance to boards, as needed.
   
• Department of Labor and Economic Opportunity Reforms.  The Michigan Department of Labor and Economic Opportunity has gone through a reorganization to provide more effective and efficient services to job seekers, employers, and others who partner and participate with the workforce investment system.  The newly created Department of Labor and Economic Opportunity joins the efforts of the Unemployment Insurance Agency to integrate new workers into the economy and help those workers that have been in or out of the workforce transition into new jobs.

• The Department of Labor and Economic Opportunity will spearhead Governor Whitmer’s talent enhancement initiatives, which are critical to Michigan’s economic prosperity.  By putting all talent investment efforts within a single agency, Michigan can leverage its ability to build talent that possesses in-demand skills while helping our state’s businesses grow.

• The Department of Labor and Economic Opportunity continues to include a focus on our customers through the Michigan industry clusters.  This unique approach provides a geographic concentration of related employers, industry suppliers, and support institutions in a product or service field that creates a framework in which many employers within a single industry jointly engage with the workforce system to identify their talent demand and challenges. 
   

• Federal Program Flexibility:  The Department of Labor and Economic Opportunity will work with the U.S. Departments of Labor and Education to allow more innovative use of federal workforce and career technical education funding to make systemic changes that will make its workforce system grow through innovation and efficiencies.
   
• Equity and Access Regional Approach:  To maximize workforce resources and create a nimble and responsive system, it is critical that the regional workforce system be aligned with economic development and community partners.   This alignment will ensure closing the opportunity gaps for marginalized populations and provide access for all Michigan citizens to receive assistance through the workforce system.  This alignment between workforce services, economic development, secondary and post-secondary education and community partners can be achieved through both coordinated State, local and regional planning.