American Recovery and Reinvestment Act WIA Programs Overview
$138 million

The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA), signed into law by President Barack Obama in February, provides a total of $138 million through the Workforce Investment Act (WIA) program to the Ohio Department of Job and Family Services (ODJFS) and will assist adults, youth and dislocated workers with job training, job search assistance and youth employment services.

The $138 million includes $20.7 million for state-funded programs, $14.6 million for rapid response efforts and $102.7 million to be distributed by formula to the state's 20 Workforce Investment Boards (WIBs). Ohio's workforce system is locally driven and administered by the 20 WIBs. Services are provided by One-Stop Career Centers on behalf of the WIBs, and every county in Ohio has its own One-Stop Career Center. Cuyahoga and Delaware counties each have two One-Stop Career Centers.

Of the funds being distributed to the WIBs, $19.8 million will support services for adults, $35.7 million will support services for dislocated workers, and $47.7 million will support programs for youth. The stimulus amounts will supplement existing WIA allocations.

Ohio's WIBs establish local policies for the state's workforce system. The ARRA WIA funds distributed to local WIBs are based on a federal formula that incorporates variables including unemployment statistics and numbers of disadvantaged low-income individuals. The WIBs will distribute their funds for these and other local initiatives to each One-Stop operator in their area in strict accordance with ARRA guidelines and with full transparency and accountability.

ODJFS, in cooperation with its partners at the Ohio Department of Development (ODOD), the Ohio Board of Regents (OBOR), and the Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR), will utilize $20.7 million in WIA funds from the ARRA to create four new initiatives in partnership with Ohio's 20 workforce investment boards (WIBs).

The four new initiatives - Urban Youth Works, Recovery Conservation Corps, Constructing Futures, and Ohio Learning Accounts/Project HIRE - will expand employment opportunities for urban and rural youth and traditionally underserved adults, broaden inclusion in apprenticeship programs across the state and provide an enhanced job matching program to link employers and job seekers to training funds and tax credits in targeted regional industries.

State agencies will coordinate with the workforce investment boards to make optimal use of the ARRA resources, including a portion of the $102.7 million allocated directly to the WIBs, through the new programs.

Programs for Youth
Urban Youth Works: This initiative will fund workforce development initiatives targeting low-income urban youth in fiscal year 2010. The state will provide $6.7 million for the program and fund grants ranging from $50,000 to $500,000 through an open, competitive Request For Proposal (RFP) process. Priority will be given to those proposals effectively serving the highest number of youth in a 12-month timeframe, and to programs that most often and best lead to permanent jobs.

Recovery Conservation Corps: This initiative will provide employment sites for the Workforce Investment Boards to hire youth ages 16 to 24 to improve Ohio’s state and local parks and natural areas. Focusing on both rural and urban areas, particularly those in economic decline, Corps workers will assist with projects such as building recreation lands, boardwalks, observation areas and trails and curbing the spread of invasive species. The state will provide $2 million for support services through a partnership with the workforce investment boards on this initiative.

Programs for Adults
Constructing Futures: Constructing Futures is an $8 million project to support initiatives around the state that will comply with model best practices in pre-apprenticeship. The State of Ohio will utilize $4 million in ARRA WIA statewide funds for grants to local areas, and will require a 50 percent local match for grants awarded. This preapprenticeship program will include remedial education, supportive services, and training that will lead to trade apprenticeships. The goal is to train low-income Ohioans and Ohioans of historically underrepresented populations, such as minority groups, women,
veterans, dislocated workers and ex-offenders, in the building trades so that they may excel in a career in construction. Constructing Futures will support program participants in their mastery of a skilled trade and also assist them in attaining the occupational pride and fulfillment enjoyed from a career in the construction industry.

Ohio Learning Accounts and Project Hire: Ohio Learning Accounts and Project Hometown Investment in Regional Economies (HIRE) will provide $8 million for specialized, multi-dimensional support to remove barriers for dislocated workers seeking training and employment.

Through Ohio Learning Accounts, Ohio will provide flexible training accounts of up to $6,000 for individual dislocated workers who require training or certification in order to find jobs. Participants may establish a personalized Career Training Plan, and those who establish plans at their local One-Stop Centers will be able to request state funds for short term training.

Project HIRE continues the process by providing an enhanced job matching program linking employers and job seekers to training funds and tax credits. Using labor market and business community knowledge, the Ohio Department of Development will identify employers in targeted regional industries of high need that are looking for employees with specific skills that may be matched through Project HIRE. The state and local workforce investment specialists will coordinate Project HIRE events to match employees and employers.

The local WIA areas and University System of Ohio will be critical partners in this program, and these initiatives may all work in conjunction with OhioMeansJobs.com, the state’s online job matching service.

» Workforce Investment Act Youth Program

» Governor, Director Announce American Recovery and Reinvestment Act Workforce Development Programs (pdf)

» ARRA Board Presentation (May 27, 2009) (ppt)

» State Energy Sector Partnership and Training Grant (pdf)