U.S. Department of Labor

1. U.S. Department of Labor Employment and Training Administration The WIA Guide to the Galaxy… (well, at least the National Emergency Grant and Trade Act piece of it anyway)

2. The Guy Up Front & “The Disclaimer” Timothy Theberge Regional Trade Coordinator New York State Lead Region I, Employment and Training Administration theberge.timothy@dol.gov timtheberge@gmail.com @timtheberge

3. U.S. Department of Labor Employment and Training Administration Alternative Session Titles: DWs, NEGs & TAA. OMG! So, you’ve got a National Emergency Grant. Now what?

4. Putting It In Perspective • Program Funding Levels • Participation Levels & Program Outcomes

5. Stuff You’ll Hear About NEGs • NEG Program in Context • Eligibility • Eligible applicants and entities • Eligible events and timing • Types of NEGs • Serving NEG Participants

6. Stuff to Take Notes About in Trade • Trade Adjustment Assistance for Workers • Services Available • Wrap-Around Services • Case Management Expectations Under Trade

7. U.S. Department of Labor Employment and Training Administration Lies, Damn Lies & Statistics: Program Funding, Service Levels and Performance Outcomes

8. Programs in Context: Funding • PY 2012/FY 2013 WIA appropriations: • Adult: $771 million • Youth: $824 million • Dislocated Worker: $1.23 billion • 20% of DW is put into a National Reserve, a portion of which funds NEG • NEG Fund is $125 million • FY2012 Trade Appropriation = $575 million

9. Programs in Context: Participant Outcomes Program Outcomes

10. U.S. Department of Labor Employment and Training Administration National Emergency Grants: When formula funding just isn’t enough.

11. NEG in Context: Project Activity

12. NEG in Context: Program Purpose • National Emergency Grants (NEGs), are discretionary awards that are intended to: • Temporarily expand the service capacity at the state and local levels in response to large, unexpected economic events which cause significant job losses and increased demand for dislocated worker services.

13. Eligibility: Participants and Entities • Eligible Participants • Regular, Dual NEGs: • Dislocated Workers as defined in WIA Section 101 • Disaster NEGs: • Dislocated Workers and long-term unemployed can participate • HCTC NEGs • Eligible TAA or PBGC pension recipient • Eligible Applicants: • State agency • Local workforce area (fiscal agent) • Entity receiving WIA funding through the Native American Program (Section 166 grantee)

14. Eligibility: Formula Fund Expenditure Level • To be eligible for NEG funds, applicants must demonstrate that Dislocated Worker formula funds have reached low levels and are not sufficient to cover the workforce development needs of dislocated workers. • Expenditure threshold at 70% of formula DW funds at the statewide level (TEGL 16-03)

15. Eligibility: Timing • Application before eligible event: • Application may be submitted up to six months prior to the layoff date • Application after eligible event: • Eligible events must occur within the 120-day period (4 months) preceding the date of application • Applications for Disaster projects should be submitted within 15 days of FEMA declaration for Emergency Funding

16. Eligibility: Rapid Response • Early intervention activities are a pre-condition of NEG award • Must include contact with affected workers and collection of information on the needs of the workers through surveys or other mechanisms • Provides the critical indicators of what the need is and what purpose the NEG funding will provide • Aids in determining the number to be served, types of services needed, project start and end dates • If no Rapid Response is provided, applicants must document circumstances that prevented early intervention activities • Alternative methods of contacting workers are expected

17. Types of NEGs: Dual Enrollment • Participants enroll in WIA NEG program and Trade Adjustment Assistance (TAA) • Dual enrollment NEGs provide dislocated workers certified eligible for Trade Adjustment Assistance (TAA) with “wrap-around” services • Supportive Services • Case Management • Training Not Approvable Under Trade • Self-employment, etc.

18. Types of NEGs: Disasters • FEMA “public assistance” declaration events • May use abbreviated application; full application due 60 days following date of grant award • Provide temporary disaster clean up and humanitarian relief employment • Limited to 6 months and $12,000 in wages

19. Types of NEGs: Health Coverage Tax Credit • HCTC – provides 72.5% coverage toward cost of health insurance premiums for dislocated workers covered by a TAA certification • State determines worker eligibility and forwards notice to IRS • IRS administers the program • Premium payments made monthly or end-of-year lump sum

20. NEG Reporting Requirements FSR WIA Quarterly WIASRD QPR Project-level data Individual exiter data Project-level data State-level data Record Layout Form 9090 Form 9104 Form 9130 Grant management Common measures Common measures Financial accountability E-system submittal EBSS submittal EBSS submittal EBSS submittal

21. NEG Policy References • Workforce Investment Act of 1998 – Section 173, National Emergency Grants • 20 CFR Workforce Investment Act; Final Rule – Section 671, National Emergency Grants for Dislocated Workers • Federal Register Vol. 69, No. 8 – Workforce Investment Act: National Emergency Grants Application Procedures • Training and Employment Guidance Letters • TEGL 16-03: National Emergency Grant (NEG) Policy Guidance • TEGL 16-03 Changes 1-5; cover NEGs including BRAC and RIGs • TEGL 10-02, 20-02, 20-02 Change 1; cover HCTC program information • TEGL 19-08: National Emergency Grants (NEGs) funded through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act Resources

22. Participant Services Under NEGs • Sequence of services: • Core Services • Job search and placement assistance, career counseling, Labor Market Information, initial assessment of skills and needs, information about services available. • Intensive Services • Comprehensive assessment, IEP, case management, pre-vocational services. • Training • Occupational skills training, job readiness training, skill upgrades, OJT, entrepreneurial training.

23. Support Services • Support services provided under NEGs are expected to be the same as those provided under the formula DW program • Supportive services under NEGs are subject to all existing state and local policies

24. Case Management Under NEGs • Case files must support training decisions and other services • Demand-driven requirement of WIA must be met and documented for services • The case file must “tell the story” of why key decisions were made and actions were taken • NEG funds can be used to hire additional staff (or vendors) to provide case management services • NEG funds can also be used to fund temporary transition centers, if needed

25. U.S. Department of Labor Employment and Training Administration Trade Adjustment Assistance: Setting the standard in workforce development since 1974.

26. Trade in Context: Petition Activity (NY)

27. Benefits Available Under Trade • Training • OJT, classroom, customized, basic and remedial • Trade Readjustment Assistance • Additional income support while in training • Job Search / Relocation Allowance • Provides transportation and other costs • Reemployment Trade Adjustment Assistance • Wage insurance/subsidy • Health Coverage Tax Credit • Covers 72.5% of qualifying health insurance premiums

28. Training Approval • Six Criteria for Approval of Training Under Trade • There is no suitable employment for the worker. • 80% of previous wages at the same or similar skill level • The worker would benefit from appropriate training. • There is a reasonable expectation of employment following the training. • The training must be reasonably available to the worker. • The worker is qualified to obtain and complete the training, including having adequate financial resources available to complete the training when income support is exhausted. • The training is suitable and available at a reasonable cost. • Six criteria must be supported by case notes, documentation

29. Training and Related Costs • Tuition, books, tools, fees, etc. • Laptops may be purchased if required for all students • No personal funds may be used to cover training costs (ie: no student loans) • Subsistence or transportation allowances • If training is outside of the “commuting area” • Training is not limited to the ETPL

30. Waivers From Training 2002 / 2009 2011 Training Not Available Enrollment Not Available Health • Marketable Skills • Recall • Retirement • Training Not Available • Enrollment Not Available • Health • Case file documentation must support the justification for issuance of the waiver.

31. Job Search Allowance 2009 2011 Up to $1,250 90% of allowable costs Interviews and other job search activity outside of the commuting area May cover multiple trips Must be pre-approved Subject to the Federal Travel Regulations • Up to $1,500 • 100% of allowable costs • Interviews and other job search activity outside of the commuting area • May cover multiple trips • Must be pre-approved • Subject to the Federal Travel Regulations

32. Relocation Allowance 2009 2011 90% of allowable costs Lump sum payment up to $1,250 18,000 lbs of “stuff” Relocation to employment outside of the commuting area • 100% of allowable costs • Lump sum payment up to $1,500 • 18,000 lbs of “stuff” • Relocation to employment outside of the commuting area

33. Reemployment Trade Adjustment Assistance 2009 2011 50 Year of Age Not earn more than $50,000 in new employment Up to $10,000 TEGL 10-11 TEGL 02-03 • 50 Years of Age • Not earn more than $55,000 in new employment • Up to $12,000 • TEGL 22-08 • TEGL 02-03

34. Health Coverage Tax Credit • Covers 72.5% of an eligible participant’s premium for a qualifying health care plan • Program is run by IRS and is available either on a monthly or end of year basis

35. Wrap-Around Services • General Case Management • ES, WIA, NEG, Trade • If funded by Trade must be provided by state merit staff • If funded by WIA, NEG, ES, requires co-enrollment • Support Services • WIA, NEG • Requires co-enrollment

36. Trade Is Not WIA • Certified workers have an entitlement to apply for benefits • Workers must still meet certain criteria to receive them • Local policies do not apply to TAA funds • Residency, training limits, etc. • State policies must be pre-approved by ETA • All decisions are subject to Federal review • Participants not subject to Selective Service requirements

37. U.S. Department of Labor Employment and Training Administration Closing Thoughts: If you forget everything else I told you, at least remember this stuff.

38. The List • If it’s not documented, it didn’t happen. • This doesn’t mean it has to be paper, but it has to be somewhere. • This is not your money. Actually, it’s the taxpayers’ money. So, it’s really all of ours money. You get the idea. • All of our programs are about putting people back to work, not just paying extended benefits. • Yes, even UI is really supposed to be about reemployment. • We view all of these programs as one seamless workforce development system, so you should too. • We’re from the Federal government and we’re here to help. No, really, we are.

39. U.S. Department of Labor Employment and Training Administration Questions? Comments and snide remarks are also welcome.

40. The Guy Up Front… Again – A Desperate Attempt At Self-Promotion Timothy Theberge Regional Trade Coordinator New York State Lead Region I, Employment and Training Administration theberge.timothy@dol.gov timtheberge@gmail.com @timtheberge