State Seeks Public Comments on Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act Performance Measures

March 9, 2018

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: March 9, 2018

Media Contact: Laura Hudson, 207-621-5009

AUGUSTA ? The Maine Department of Labor and the State Workforce Development Board have posted the Performance Measures as part of the 2018 modifications to the workforce development state plan for public comment. Comment period on the rest of the Unified State Plan was held from February 28 through March 7 and is now closed. The State has elected to hold a separate comment period on these performance measures as they were added midway in the modification process by United Stated Department of Labor (USDOL).

The plan modification is a requirement of the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA)?federal legislation that directs each state?s workforce system to develop regional, service-delivery strategies with its Adult Education and Vocational Rehabilitation programs and replaces the Workforce Investment Act of 1998.

The State Workforce Development Board is seeking public comments for the plan. The plan is available at http://www.maine.gov/swb/2018_modification/index.shtml .

Comments will be accepted from March 9 through noon March 16, 2018 at swb.DOL@maine.gov, using the public comment form available through the link above or by mail to State Workforce Board, Attn: WIOA Unified Plan, 54 State House Station, Augusta, ME 04333. Comments sent through traditional mail must be postmarked by March 16, 2018. Comments received after March 16, 2018 without an earlier postmark date will not be accepted.

The federal Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act was signed into law by the president on July 22, 2014. The federal legislation reauthorized the Workforce Investment Act (WIA) of 1998 and the Adult Education and Family Literacy Act. In Maine, WIOA core partners represent roughly $55 million in federal, state and other funding.

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