The US Department of Labor has offered important guidance to the nation’s workforce development system on using the new ARRA/WIA resources. These guiding principles provide a strong basis for projects that invest in direct-care workforce initiatives.

A summary of these key principles:

1. Low-Income Individuals Targeted
   Priority given to low-income individuals and recipients of public assistance.
2. Focus on Education & Training
   Prioritizes training, education and re-employment services.
3. Supportive Services Encouraged
   DOL guidance specifically emphasizes using WIA funds for supportive services and needs-related payments to enable participants to pay living expenses while receiving training.
4. Contracts for Services Allowed
   Local WIBs are authorized to contract for services with institutions of higher education and other eligible training providers to facilitate the training of multiple workers for high-demand occupations, in addition to training services provided through Individual Training Accounts (ITAs) under WIA.
5. Alignment with Recovery Plans
   States are encouraged states to align their WIA Dislocated Worker formula activities with state and regional economic recovery plans to ensure that training and employment services support anticipated industry growth.
6. Alignment of Funding Streams
   States are encouraged to align programs across funding streams, linking WIA, Wagner-Peyser, and TAA activities.
7. Sectoral Strategies Encourages
   States and local areas are encouraged to develop comprehensive regional partnerships and sector strategies across political jurisdictions that are aligned with economic development, education, business and labor organizations, and other partners for high-growth industries such as health care, green jobs, and advanced manufacturing.
8. Quick & Effective Disbursement of Funds
   States are expected to spend WIA PY 2009 funds concurrently with Recovery Act funding to increase the availability of services quickly and effectively.
9. Promotes Innovation & Future Focus
   DOL guidance directs that employment and training funds should be spent on activities that quickly and effectively provide services and training for workers in need AND that employ “innovative and invigorated approaches that both meet the demands of today’s economy and result in an improved workforce system for tomorrow’s global economy.”

NOTES:  See DOL/ETA Training And Employment Notice No. 30-08 (pdf)