Adult, Dislocated Worker, and Youth Activities

The State intends to use the Governor’s set aside funding for the following projects:  

Apprenticeship Readiness Training

With many high-profile projects coming to the City of Detroit, including the construction of the Gordie Howe International Bridge, the WD and the Michigan Department of Transportation are committed to working in partnership with the City, the MWA (Detroit Employment Solutions Corporation [DESC]), educators, and labor organizations to fill the need for skilled and general labor through an apprenticeship readiness training program; and in the process, assist Detroit residents – especially those who face significant barriers – with access to long term employment.  Services will be provided to approximately 1,000 participants.

Funds are supporting:

• Occupational, classroom and/or work-based learning, including apprenticeships;
• Job readiness (soft/employability skills) training;
• Basic skills (literacy/numeracy) training;
• Wrap-around support services; and
• Job placement assistance. 

Customer Relationship Management (CRM)

Workforce Development identifies funding in support of electronic systems for CRM.

The funding is to be used to support existing CRM systems or for the purchase or renewal of software licenses that will aid in the identification of and information gathering for potential layoffs or opportunities for layoff aversion.  This funding is being made available as the WD works on integrating CRM functionality into the state data system.  By using data systems to identify and gather information, it allows the local areas to provide assistance to employers in managing reductions in force, which may include early identification of firms at risk of layoffs, assessment of the needs of and options for at-risk firms, and the delivery of services to address those needs.  An electronic CRM system will allow for a more proactive approach to assist employers for those companies at risk of having a layoff or to identify where layoffs have already occurred.

Career Exploration and Experience Events

Funding has been awarded to the local areas to further expand career exploration and experience events.  The WD supports Talent Tours that introduce young adults, parents, and educators to available career paths in their region by offering a behind-the-scenes look into in-demand businesses and industries.  Talent Tours provide real time information regarding employer, education, and training requirements necessary to secure employment.  Impacts include relationship building, establishing a talent pipeline, talent retention, and the opportunity to see real life application of coursework.  The funding awarded will support similar career exploration and experience of multiple businesses and industries at a single, coordinated location instead of individual, on-site efforts at single institutions.

MWAs will organize and coordinate multiple business and industry representatives at a single location, similar to “MiCareer Quest^TM” style job fairs.  The MWAs should ensure these career events include the following components:

• Local in-demand businesses and industries are targeted.  These industries will be identified regionally and locally.
• An overview of the industry and key positions in-demand.
• Hands-on activities, whenever possible, to provide practical knowledge of the positions available in the various industries.
• Information pertaining to the educational requirements for key positions in-demand (certificate, apprenticeship, two- or four-year degree, etc.).
• Highlight the key aspects of an “average day on the job."
• Potential should exist for job shadowing, internships, and/or other work experiences with participating employers after the conclusion of the event.

Jobs for Michigan Graduates (JMG)

For Michigan to remain competitive nationally in job retention and growth, it must continue to address the low graduation, post-secondary education attainment, and employment rates of youth within the state.  JMG is the state-based affiliate of the national Jobs for America’s Graduates (JAG) program.  Since 2008, Jobs for Michigan’s Graduates (JMG) has equipped more than 10,000 young adults with the skills to overcome barriers and win in education, employment, and as citizens.  Essential programming includes dropout prevention, dropout recovery, and school to work activities.  JMG uses JAG Model programming that consists of a comprehensive and structured program design and curriculum that targets career readiness skills.  JMG’s expansive partnership network includes Michigan Works! Agencies, school districts, community colleges, and non-profits. 

Research supports that the JAG Model is most effective when services are delivered to those youth at risk of not completing requirements for a high school diploma, transitioning from school to the workplace, and/or enrolling in a post-secondary institution.  Model components administered via coordination of partner entities include classroom instruction, competency-based curriculums, adult mentoring, advisement and support, employment training, student-led leadership development, job and post-secondary placement services, and twelve-months of follow-up services.

Funding is provided to the local areas for JMG Specialists to deliver engaging and outcome-based services to youth, giving them a reason to stay in or return to school.  Core program components include competency education, leadership development, mentoring, post-secondary education and training placement, and follow-up services.  JMG has proven a strong complement to WIOA Youth programming, providing a service delivery model that drives positive outcomes for Michigan’s most in-need youth. 

Fiat Chrysler Automobiles

The WD has established grants with Detroit Employment Solutions Corporation (DESC) and the Southeast Michigan Community Alliance (SEMCA) for the purpose of supporting Fiat Chrysler Automobiles (FCA) in identifying, preparing, and hiring Detroit residents to fill new positions at the Jefferson North Assembly Plant and the Mack Avenue Engine Plant.  As a result of the expansion of the Jefferson North Assembly Plant and the Mack Avenue Engine Plant, FCA will be hiring more than 5,000 new employees in Detroit.  DESC, the City of Detroit, and the State of Michigan are committed to supporting FCA in identifying, preparing, and hiring Detroit residents and applicants surrounding Detroit to fill these new positions.  The DESC will develop and implement a comprehensive plan for marketing, outreach, preparation, and screening to assist Detroit residents in obtaining employment with FCA.   Detroiters had priority access to jobs for a four-week period in late summer/early Fall of 2019. 

The SEMCA has been designated as the single point of contact for recruitment outside of the City of Detroit for the skilled trades and salaried workforce needed to launch and sustain FCA’s new plant.  Due to the high demand for workers with credentials, FCA anticipates that recruitment for these positions will likely require a timeframe extending well into 2020 to reach full capacity.  The targeted nature of the recruitment, the technical expertise required, as well as the scale and intensity of the project will require a significant amount of staff time and resources. 

Integrated Education and Training

The WD has allocated funding to support Integrated Education and Training (IET) programs that have already been developed by adult education providers and/or that will be developed jointly by our local MWAs and adult education providers.  The intent of IET programming in Michigan is for WIOA Title II adult education providers to partner with a local MWA and/or an existing training provider to co-enroll participants in WIOA Title I and Title II services, when appropriate.

The IET program must be part of a regionally or locally defined career pathway.  The IET program must include three required components – (1) adult education and literacy activities, (2) workforce preparation activities, and (3) occupational training.  The three required components must occur simultaneously within the overall scope of the IET program and must each be of sufficient intensity and quality.

Special Projects Funding:  Some funds have been set aside for yet-to-be-determined special projects generated by LEO.  Special projects could include, but are not limited to, workforce and economic information and data needs, support for statewide planning activities around the WIOA, support for regional and local activities, surveys, evaluations.  Funds may also be utilized to provide additional support for service center operations, commensurate with the level of any remaining set aside funds.

The Michigan Department of Labor and Economic Opportunity (LEO) facilitates the statewide Rapid Response services and serves as the recipient of plant closings/mass layoff notices required under the Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification Act.

 Rapid Response is a key component to Michigan’s strategy to create a unified local approach while working with and providing a comprehensive array of services to employers.  As a business service, Rapid Response promotes a full range of services available to help companies in all stages of the economic cycle.  Michigan promotes Rapid Response as a positive, proactive, business-friendly service, rather than just a reactive service.  Early intervention facilitates a relatively quick and unencumbered transition to employment or training, following either a permanent closure or mass layoff, or a natural (or other) disaster resulting in mass job dislocation.

 In order to provide thorough and complete delivery, Rapid Response activities are carried out by the Trade Adjustment Assistance/Rapid Response (TAA/RR) State Coordinators, located within the LEO.  Each TAA/RR State Coordinator is assigned to a geographic territory with the responsibility for the coordination of rapid response activities between the state and the local areas.  Although, local and state roles are clearly defined, the Rapid Response process involves a unification of state agencies and local service providers, together with the private sector and organized labor.  The goal of all concerned parties is to provide dislocated workers with an array of support, resources, and technical assistance to effectively assist in the transition to reemployment.

 The TAA/RR State Coordinators participate in cross training of crucial re-employment and assistance programs and services most relevant to each local area or region.  Subsequently, the TAA/RR State Coordinator acts as the link between the local Michigan Works! Agency, Unemployment Insurance Agency, and applicable federal, state, and private resources to ensure all re-employment and supportive service information is readily available to assist employers and workers experiencing a mass layoff or plant closing.  With the input and support of all parties involved, the all-inclusive Rapid Response approach ensures that Michigan continues to administer a successful dislocated worker program by providing superior support including specific worker re-training, job placement, and related needs. 

 The state has a comprehensive procedure, that is continuously reviewed for improvement, to serve impacted employers and workers using the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) Rapid Response, the WIOA Dislocated Worker, and TAA Programs.  The Rapid Response team begins the process by interacting with companies that have, or plan to, lay off workers.  Information regarding the WIOA Dislocated Worker and TAA Programs are provided to the company, and if applicable, union officials at this early stage.  Worker meetings are planned at this point to discuss the available workforce programs in more detail.

 Demand-driven strategies target industries based on an area’s perceived comparative advantages and create relationships with key stakeholders in those industries.  Ideally, demand-driven strategies help industries by improving operations, as well as enhancing industry development.  Currently, many demand-driven programs identify shortages of skilled workers as a major impediment to growth.

 To ensure high quality and maximum effectiveness, successful Rapid Response strategies must include at least the following: 

• Convening, facilitating, and brokering connections, networks and partners;
• Strategic planning, data gathering, and analysis designed to prepare for, anticipate, and manage economic transition;
• Informational and direct reemployment services for workers; and
• Solutions for businesses in transition, growth, and decline.

 In addition to acting as a facilitator and resource of re-employment resources, the TAA/RR State Coordinator thoroughly documents dislocation events, allowing for trend analysis and proactive strategy development, organizes necessary communications and aligns relevant services to support affected workers. The aforementioned strategies are all part of a demand-driven system and a key component of a comprehensive layoff aversion strategy.