WIOA State Plan Common Elements

Nevada offers employers and job seekers extensive services that promote workforce development, catalyze employer successes and bolster job seekers’ skill development. Basic skills required of most in-demand occupations include, but are not limited to: reading comprehension, speaking abilities, critical thinking skills, basic writing skills, active listening skills, the ability to monitor, social perceptiveness, learning strategies, and coordination skills. If potential employees have mastered these basic skills, they can be trained to address specific needs upon employment. However, Nevada employers have indicated that it is difficult to find job seekers who possess even the basic skills. To that end, Nevada strives to collaborate with employers to locate the most qualified workers, while also assisting job seekers who need additional skill development.

The state’s workforce development activities, including education and training activities of the core programs, and mandatory and optional one-stop delivery system partners.

Title I Adult Program, Dislocated Worker Program, Youth Program

Local Workforce Development Boards

Workforce Connections, the southern local workforce development board (‘local board’), and Nevadaworks, the northern local workforce development board (‘local board’) carry out system-wide development activities through the following strategies:

One Stop Career Center

Youth

Education activities provided for WIOA Title I Youth include: tutoring; study skills training; evidence-based dropout prevention; alternative secondary school services and dropout recovery services; financial literacy; and, education offered concurrently with workforce preparation activities and training for specific occupations or occupational clusters. Youth programs also include summer employment opportunities that are directly linked to academic and occupational learning, paid and unpaid work experiences that incorporate academic and occupational education, occupational skills training, and entrepreneurial skills training.

Adults and Dislocated Workers

Education and training activities for WIOA Title I Adults and Dislocated Workers programs include short-term prevocational services including assistance with learning skills, communication skills, interviewing skills, occupational skills training, on-the-job training, customized training that is designed to meet the specific employer needs. Services for incumbent workers include training to upgrade existing employees’ skills, internships and work experiences, which provide opportunities to gain the skills and knowledge necessary to perform a job, career counseling, and/or career pathways grounded in employer partnerships.

In support of workforce development activities, the local boards provide a number of activities that are designed to help employers thrive. Outreach to various constituents within the local workforce area includes specialized events, participation in community events and employer compacts, convening of local stakeholders and/or subject matter experts, and public forums.

The local boards conduct intelligence gathering that is used to help address skills gaps, develop dropout recovery strategies, and create occupational skills training. Services assist with work experiences and transitional jobs and utilize on-the-job-training to employ individuals with disabilities and individuals facing other barriers to employment.

Title II Adult Education and Family Literacy Act Program

Nevada Department of Education

Nevada adult education includes seven current WIOA Title II-funded providers:

Clark County:

- Catholic Charities of Southern Nevada’s English Language program

- College of Southern Nevada’s Adult Literacy and Language program

- Clark County-Las Vegas Library District’s Community Adult Learning in Libraries (CALL) program

Northern Nevada:

- Great Basin College’s Adult Basic Education

- Northern Nevada Literacy Council

- Truckee Meadows Community College’s Adult Basic Education

- Western Nevada College’s Adult Literacy and Language programs

These seven programs receive approximately $4.7 million dollars in basic instruction and English literacy/civics funding, and serve approximately 9,000 qualifying students per year. Programming includes foundational skills, high school equivalency preparation, integrated education and training, workforce preparation (i.e., workplace readiness skills), EL/civics, career pathways, and transition to postsecondary education. Foundational skills are defined as a combination of literacy, numeracy and English language (i.e., listening, reading, writing, speaking in English, digital literacy, and the use of mathematical ideas), and employability skills required for participation in modern workplaces and contemporary life.

In addition, Nevada has 14 state-funded adult high school programs that are operated by Nevada’s school districts. Although these programs do not currently receive Adult Education and Family Literacy Act (AEFLA) funding and therefore are not subject to the same reporting requirements, they are an essential part of Nevada’s basic skills and workforce education system, offering adult standard diploma programming as well as high school equivalency (HSE), English literacy, corrections education, and vocational/industry-recognized credential training. These state-funded adult high school programs serve over 20,000 qualifying students each year.

Title III. Wagner-Peyser Act of 1933 Program

The state of Nevada employs strategies to strengthen the state’s workforce and streamline employment related services. While W/P does not provided education or training, it does provide labor exchange services connecting hiring businesses to job seekers and refers to partners that are able to assist with education and training services.The state of Nevada employs a number of strategies to strengthen the state’s workforce and streamline employment related services. State agencies and one-stop partners work both independently and in collaboration with one another to offer comprehensive training and education services to job seekers. Additionally, the state has implemented innovative programs that contribute to the success of Nevada’s employers, thereby helping the state’s workforce system prosper.

In an effort to strengthen Nevada’s workforce, planning and implementation of service and training under WIOA guidelines is overseen by the state board and DETR is the designated state agency that provides administrative resources to the state board. As mandated by Nevada legislation in 2009, on behalf of the state board, DETR established industry sector councils to provide industry intelligence regarding in-demand occupations. DETR has expanded its community and industry-based participation through activities conducted within the sector councils.

As stated above, the 2011 Brookings-SRI report: An Economic Development Agenda for Nevada, initially identified nine industry sectors, which have subsequently been refined to the following seven: aerospace and defense; health care and medical services; information technology; manufacturing and logistics; mining and materials; natural resources (includes agriculture, clean energy and water technologies); tourism, gaming and entertainment. Membership includes private sector and partner agencies. The councils report to the state board and are responsible for assisting the state board with the following:

- Developing a sector strategy to support businesses in meeting their human resource needs.

- Reviewing and recommending workforce development-funded appropriate training curriculum and skills credential certifications.

- Mapping the talent pipeline for respective sectors and identify where the talent needed will come from now and in the future.

- Analyzing and applying workforce intelligence to develop sector-wide strategies to improve the talent pipeline.

- Identifying the critical jobs, skills and competencies needed by the workforce of the industry sector.

- Generating public and private resources, including, but not limited to, grants to support the sector’s work and projects.

- Maintaining communication with GOED to determine the workforce training needs of companies moving to or expanding in the state.

- Providing guidance for future training policy formation and implementation.

The community college component of NSHE is the primary training provider, which receives annual allocations of resources. Specialized training for industry-specific needs is sought, primarily utilizing Nevada’s community colleges, in addition to private for-profit and not-for-profit colleges. Foundational and/or remedial training resources are sought for less employable constituents.

The following strategies and associated resources will be deployed to aid in increasing the number of workers served with regular federal formula dollars in the specific populations of displaced homemakers, low-income individuals, migrant and seasonal farm workers, women, minorities, individuals training for nontraditional employment, veterans, public assistance recipients, and individuals with multiple barriers to employment, including but not limited to: ex-offenders, older individuals, individuals with limited English proficiency, and individuals with disabilities. The development and refinement of a statewide, business-driven worker pipeline is the core of Nevada‘s sector strategies framework to facilitate:

- Focus on identifying workforce needs, with emphasis placed on sector initiatives.

- Bringing businesses to the table through an industry sector framework.

- Raising the credibility of the state workforce development system.

- Supplying industry sectors with qualified human capital.

Workforce Innovations for a New Nevada (WINN)

To assist employers to recruit and retain a well-trained, diverse workforce, the state of Nevada, through the Governor’s Office of Economic Development, Nevada System of Higher Education and the Department of Employment, Training and Rehabilitation established the Workforce Innovations for a New Nevada (WINN) fund utilizing state resources. Through the WINN program, the state will now play a primary role in the recruiting, screening and training of the long-term workforce for certain new and expanding employers. WINN funding is reserved for industries that are identified in the State Plan for Economic Development, and are primarily focused on high-skill, high-wage full-time jobs. Programs conducted under WINN are typically long-term (e.g., years). This program will leverage WIOA Title I funding to amplify its efforts to deliver training opportunities.

Train Employees Now (TEN)

Nevada’s Train Employees Now (TEN) program assists new and expanding businesses to train new or potential employees. Training is developed jointly with the employer, the contact agency and the educational institution, and ranges from recruitment to classroom and on-the-job training. Typically, TEN programs are short in duration (e.g., months) and limited in scope. Trainee selection is at the discretion of the employer. This program provides job assistance to new businesses. The funding provided through this program allows an employer to quickly train workers in the specialized skills that each employer requires. The program is supported by state funding, and participating employers contribute 25 percent of the total training costs.

Governor’s Office of Science, Innovation and Technology (OSIT)

The Governor’s Office of Science, Innovation and Technology (OSIT) was established in NRS 223.600, and reestablished in the 2015 Nevada Legislative session in Assembly Bill 485. The mission of OSIT is to coordinate and align efforts by K-12 and higher education, workforce development and employers to improve science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) education, STEM workforce development, and STEM economic development so that Nevada’s workforce can meet the demands of its growing economy. The office also coordinates broadband activities, supports Nevada’s Advisory Council on STEM and administers STEM Workforce Challenge Grants.

A skilled workforce is critical to Nevada’s continued economic development and diversification. Likewise, education and skills training help workers qualify for jobs that provide family-sustaining wages. A recent Brookings Institution report found that STEM jobs pay a wage premium of nearly 50 percent over non-STEM jobs requiring a similar level of education.

The State, through STEM Workforce Challenge Grants, seeks to spark the creation of lasting partnerships between industry and workforce training providers. These partnerships must result in:

1. The identification of STEM-specific skills needed by employers in Nevada;

2. The creation of programs that provide the STEM education and skills training to workers that match the needs of employers;

3. Workforce training programs that are in alignment with present and future workforce needs in Nevada as identified by relevant labor market information; and,

4. Are sustainable after grant funds have been exhausted.

In October 2015, OSIT awarded STEM Workforce Challenge Grants to three Nevada community colleges, totaling $335,975. In February 2016, OSIT awarded a second round of STEM Workforce Challenge Grants to Nevada workforce training providers throughout the state, totaling $626,206. Together with matching funds from the institutions and their partners, total investment in STEM workforce training exceeds $2 million during the past year. These grants have funded the creation of new degree and certificate programs throughout the state and are being developed in close collaboration with local employers. Each program will train workers in one of the State’s growing, targeted STEM industry sectors such as advanced manufacturing, IT, agriculture, cyber security, and STEM education. The education and training that these grant monies will provide to training providers will proliferate the highly trained workforce that Nevada employers need to be competitive in the national economy.

Nevada JobConnect (NJC)

Adults and dislocated workers, including low income adults who need new or upgraded skillsets, have access to education and training programs through the state‘s Nevada JobConnect system. Individuals have the opportunity to access services at any of the 10 NJC centers and/or through local area service providers who are affiliates of Nevada’s statewide workforce development system.

To meet the skillset needs of existing and emerging employers, as well as those needed for high-growth occupations, a dual approach to customers has been implemented by ensuring all associated NJC partners collaborate and coordinate clients’ employment and training activities. Through statewide coordinated efforts, employment and training agencies have the ability to leverage their resources, while providing quality support to job seekers and businesses.

Through sector councils, partnerships and statewide workforce development collaborations, alignment has been firmly established. Representatives associated with community colleges, business and labor organizations, registered apprenticeships, civic groups, and community-based organizations are in alignment utilizing workforce development strategies to drive both industry and regional economic development.

Business Services

The health of Nevada’s workforce system depends on a robust and thriving business community. The public workforce system in Nevada provides a wide variety of services to the business community to support workforce development including, but not limited to:

- Recruitment services

- Local/state/national recruitments

- Talent pre-screening

- Applicant assessments

- Hiring event assistance

- Interview space

- Hiring financial incentives

- Workforce intelligence

- Labor market data

Employers have expressed their satisfaction with the value-added benefits from a single workforce system for locating job-ready and skilled potential employees that meet their needs. Through NJC, employers have a single point of contact to provide information about current and future skills needed by their employees and a centralized location in which to post job openings.

The state has determined what factors are critical to ensure the success of services to employers. These factors include identifying the type of business model that will increase employer satisfaction. It has been determined that clear niches of focus exist that connect the state to specific industries, economic development partners and/or community colleges. This design consideration has allowed DETR to further leverage funding and/or human resources. Other critical success factors include maintaining a comprehensive service delivery database that tracks contacts, delivery of services and outcomes. The EmployNV serves as that comprehensive service delivery database. This system has allowed Nevada JobConnect to design a statewide menu of employer services that can be readily accessed.

The NJC is constantly evaluating the state‘s strategies to improve services to business customers. NJC utilizes the single point of contact model for business service. NJC operates two regional business service offices that employ dedicated, specialized business service representatives who establish relationships with employers and industries. This specialized staff conducts local area outreach to individual employers and become the employer‘s primary point of contact in that process. This approach has encouraged employers to post job openings with Nevada JobConnect centers, and helps to eliminate duplication of effort of partnering agency staff who may also engage employers.

The southern and northern Nevada business service offices recently incorporated a telephone placement unit into their business model. This unit is staffed with experienced workforce service representatives. Their sole responsibility is to match and refer qualified individuals to job postings and openings. The purpose of this process is to respond quickly to the workforce needs of Nevada employers.

Incentive/Training Programs

In the efforts to encourage businesses to hire people who are unemployed, the state offers financial incentives. These incentives include:

Employer-Based Training: This incentive provides laid-off workers who qualify for unemployment insurance benefits to simultaneously receive on-site workplace training. Training allowances of up to $200 biweekly, for a maximum benefit of $599, are available. During this program, job seekers are required to train 24 hours per week for up to six weeks while continuing to search for work regularly. Business services representatives at the NJC centers develop training sites and coordinate the completion of all the necessary employer and participant documentation. There is no cost to the employer.

On the Job Training Program: Under this incentive, employers enter into a contract that establishes an agreed upon wage, number of hours required to master the job tasks identified, and the maximum amount of reimbursement based on the wage paid. Employers are reimbursed up to a maximum of 50 percent of the participant’s agreed upon gross wage for the contract period, with a maximum of 40 hours per week. Contract length is based on the time estimated to complete requisite training. Employers submit a timesheet, invoice and progress report monthly to receive the reimbursement.

Incentive-Based Employment: This initiative supports employers who hire and retain eligible individuals in full-time employment (i.e., 30 hours or more per week) by providing a wage and training subsidy based on the total amount of time the qualified individual remains actively employed. The employer enters into an employer agreement that outlines the role and responsibility of the employer to the employee, which is executed by both the employer and the agency representative. Upon completion and satisfaction of specified requirements, the employer may receive a wage retention supplement up to $2,000, payable in four equal increments of $500 following each 30 days of successful employment, up to 120 days.

Work Opportunity Tax Credit: Another financial incentive available to employers is the Work Opportunity Tax Credit (WOTC), which provides eligible employers with a tax credit up to 40 percent of the first $6,000 of first-year wages of a new employee, if said employee is part of a targeted group, e.g.,an individual with a disability, provided the appropriate government agency has certified the employee as disabled. The credit is available to the employer once the employee has worked for at least 120 hours or 90 days.

Career Enhancement Program: The Career Enhancement Program (CEP) assists job seekers and employers. CEP is an employer-funded training and reemployment program that provides job seekers with training opportunities designed to improve earning potential and increase job skills required in today’s workplace. This program also provides job seekers with intensive re-employment assistance by paying for job-related expenses (e.g., certifications, work permits, uniforms, and small tools) that businesses require in order to facilitate entry or reentry into the workforce.

Title IV Rehabilitation Act of 1973 Program

DETR’s Rehabilitation Division

Incentives: Vocational Rehabilitation (VR) supports workforce development activities by providing employment services to businesses by educating them about how people with disabilities can contribute to the success of their operations. VR offers hiring incentives that are applicable to the benefits of employers hiring people with disabilities, such as the WOTC, the disability access credit and barrier removal tax deduction. VR also provides training incentives to employers that hire people with disabilities. VR also assists employers in bringing diversity into their workplaces. Disability adds another dimension to diversity efforts, contributing to the development of unique and creative business solutions.

Community-Based Assessments: Vocational Rehabilitation partners with approximately 65 employers statewide to provide community-based assessments for VR clients that are individuals with disabilities. Community- based assessments provide the ability to examine participants’ work-related skills and abilities at actual job sites performing hands-on job duties. These assessments also help identify barriers individuals with disabilities may have in the workplace. VR then provides services and support to mitigate these barriers. While on the job, VR participants in community-based assessment programs are paid wages by VR through a third-party temporary agency. Assessments last up to 100 work hours.

Educational Training: In the area of education and training, VR provides training such as warehousing, clerical, fork lift driving, cosmetology, culinary, and gaming. It also provides industry-recognized certificate programs, such as commercial driver’s license and certified nursing assistant, as well as postsecondary education support, HSE preparation and testing, and English as a second language instruction. VR is unique in that it may pay for college tuition.

Job Search and Preparation Skills: VR assists individuals with disabilities enrolled in VR programs and in job ready statuses by providing job seeking services through its business development team and/or through contracted providers of job seeking or job development services. Job seeking services include assessment of strengths and weaknesses, instruction on attendance, professionalism, problem-solving, critical thinking, proper communication, enthusiasm and attitude, networking, teamwork, conflict resolution, resume building, interviewing techniques with mock interviews, instruction and assistance with online and other job search and job application methods.

Work Readiness Training: Additionally, VR delivers work readiness training programs for individuals with disabilities, through employer partnerships including Office Depot ^®, Starbucks^®, Carson Valley Roasting Plant and Distribution Center, and PepsiCo^® at its Las Vegas certified center. These programs provide two to six weeks of pre-training in the classroom and onsite training. Participants learn about the employer's culture, vision and mission; conflict resolution; teamwork; problem-solving and critical thinking; professionalism; and communication. Said teachings are followed up with on-the-job training and skills development that is relevant to the individual employer's worksite.

Third party Cooperative Arrnagements: To serve youth with disabilities, VR has a third party cooperative arrangement (TPCA) with the Washoe County School District (WCSD) in northern Nevada, and Clark County School District (CCSD) in southern Nevada to provide students with disabilities, up to the age of 22 years, work readiness training programs. Vocational Opportunities for Inclusive Career Education (VOICE) is a WCSD program for students with disabilities, aged 18- 22 years. It provides career coaching and skills development to assist students with job searching. Students then interact with employers in the community, who provide them job shadowing opportunities and hands-on work assessments. Job Exploration and Expectation Program (JEEP) is a CCSD program for students aged 18-22 years, that provides similar soft skills and work skills experiences. Students rotate every nine weeks to experience several different job opportunities in four different work settings during the school year.

Through TPCAs with Western Nevada College (WNC) and Truckee Meadows Community College (TMCC), VR provides CareerConnect services to individuals with disabilities entering into postsecondary education at WNC or TMCC. The CareerConnect program provides new or expanded services designed to ensure skills mastery and education leading to employment. Services include academic support and intensive tutoring; hands-on work experiences through internships, job shadowing opportunities or volunteer work; employment preparation; job placement services including job development, site visits, job matching, and job coaching; transportation training; and, assistive technology assessments, equipment and training. VR works closely with WNC and TMCC throughout the referral, eligibility and follow-up processes leading to successful employment outcomes. OTHER - TANF and SNAP

Nevada Division of Welfare and Supportive Services (DWSS)

The DWSS offers comprehensive workforce education and training programs that include a successful in-house two-week job preparation and job search program called Working In Nevada (WIN). The WIN curriculum encompasses self-discovery, life (i.e., soft) skills, money management, mock-interviews, and job retention information with primary emphasis placed on current job seeking techniques. The WIN program is specifically designed to meet the needs of the Temporary Assistance to Needy Families (TANF) New Employees of Nevada (NEON) recipients and provide solutions to the participant’s most common employment barriers. WIN participants graduate from the program with appropriate interview attire, a master job application, a professionally assisted resume, knowledge of up-to-date job search and successful interview techniques, and the confidence to successfully secure employment.

Graduates of the NEON WIN program provide local employers with job ready candidates eager for an employment opportunity. Each month, WIN graduates who have not yet obtained employment participate in a business and community partner presentation day, wherein businesses and partners are invited to speak to NEON-WIN graduates about employment options. These services help foster Nevada’s climate as a business friendly state.

TANF recipients with significant barriers to employment (e.g., drug and alcohol addictions, domestic violence issues and /or mental health concerns) are case managed by the division's licensed social workers. Drug and alcohol treatments, domestic violence shelter and counseling, and mental health treatment are available to work-eligible TANF recipients via contracts with service providers and referrals to community agencies and organizations.

Additionally, DWSS provides referrals to community colleges, adult education providers, WIOA- funded partners, and other community agencies for education and training services available in the participants’ geographical regions. In collaboration with the Clark County School District (CCSD), DWSS offers high school equivalency testing and online preparedness classes with an onsite instructor at the facility. Individual education and training contracts are utilized to provide TANF recipients with access to a wide variety of training opportunities in the community (e.g., truck driving, table game dealer school, certified nursing assistant training, and culinary training).

The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance program (SNAP) provides a job preparation orientation and requires participants to engage in active job searches. Recipients are provided training opportunities to assist in preparing for employment.

Through the community work experience program, DWSS provides training opportunities to clients regarding work place expectations and behaviors in areas of interest. On-the-job training program incentives are available for employers willing to develop the right candidate for their job openings, and eligible payroll costs are reimbursable up to 50 percent with a cap of $1,999.99 per participant.

It is important to look at the current system’s strengths, as well as its challenges, in order to fully assess the work that lies ahead with the full implementation of WIOA.