Located in:
- III. Operational Planning Elements
The Unified or Combined State Plan must include an Operational Planning Elements section that supports the State’s strategy and the system-wide vision described in Section II(c) above. Unless otherwise noted, all Operational Planning Elements apply to Combined State Plan partner programs included in the plan as well as to core programs. This section must include—
- a. State Strategy Implementation
The Unified or Combined State Plan must include–
- 2. Implementation of State Strategy
Describe how the lead State agency with responsibility for the administration of each core program or a Combined Plan partner program included in this plan will implement the State’s Strategies identified in Section II(c). above. This must include a description of—
- 2. Implementation of State Strategy
- a. State Strategy Implementation
III. a. 2. D. Coordination, Alignment and Provision of Services to Employers
Describe how the entities carrying out the respective core programs, any Combined State Plan partner program included in this plan, required and optional one-stop partner programs will coordinate activities and resources to provide comprehensive, high-quality services to employers to meet their current and projected workforce needs and to achieve the goals of industry or sector partners in the state. The activities described shall conform to the statutory requirements of each program.
Current Narrative:
The coordination and alignment of service delivery has been of tremendous interest among workforce and economic development partners in the last eighteen months. Several important leadership changes have occurred that have helped elevate the level of planning and system restructuring. First, the former Commissioner of Labor was appointed to Secretary of Commerce and Community Development, overseeing the state’s Department of Economic Development – a key partner in employer engagement. Her deep knowledge of WIOA and the VDOLs workforce system have helped surface opportunities to communicate and partner more around delivering employer services under Title I and III, as well as TAA, JVSG, Rapid Response, WOTC, and Registered Apprenticeship. Senior staff at VDOL and ACCD plan to continue meetings to identify areas where coordination can better serve the needs of Vermont’s employers.
VDOL recently welcomed the Employment Services Manager from VR into a new Assistant Director position. With two decades of experience working directly with employers to meet their workforce needs, this individual helps connect VDOL and VR’s employer services efforts, identifying and facilitating more opportunities for improving quality and communication. The VDOL also created a new manager position specifically to oversee employer services – bridging TAA, Rapid Response, layoff aversion and registered apprenticeship outreach services through state policy changes, training enhancements, and participating in interagency and community efforts to support employers.
In 2019, Governor Scott appointed a new chair of the State Workforce Development Board upon the retirement of the former chair. The current chair also serves as the executive director of one of Vermont’s Regional Development Corporations (RDC) and as the chair of the RDC association. In these roles, he is able to identify and facilitate opportunities for stronger collaboration at the state and local level. These connections are already fostering better service delivery as local RDCs and core partners, and other one-stop partners participated in a dozen regional workforce summits this fall – learning more about the demand and supply sides of local workforce challenges, building relationships, and identifying areas for greater focus and collaboration. Many of the ideas that were generated during these summits informed the development of the goals and strategies for this plan.
The risk of overwhelming employers with contacts from multiple “helpful” one-stop partners necessitates the need for coordination with local regional core partners in offering services to employers and in identifying job placement opportunities for students. VDOL and AEL providers participate in local Creative Workforce Solutions (CWS) groups hosted by VR. These groups share information about employers who are hiring and what skills are needed. The connections established and information disseminated through these regular meetings with local One-stop partners benefits all customers. Partners intend to continue these local team meetings in pursuit of better service delivery for both jobseekers and employers.
Over the next few years, the state plans to: explore procurement and shared use of a common (business) customer information management system, expand the variety of services offered to employers by workforce partners – including trade assistance, layoff aversion, and registered apprenticeship program development support, explore co-delivery of employer outreach and services among core partners, develop state and local versions of employer services resource directories, and strengthen sector partnerships in the development of career pathways, pipelines, and on-the-job learning and training opportunities.