STATE OF CONNECTICUT WORKFORCE INNOVATION AND OPPORTUNITY ACT Unified State Plan - “Working” DRAFT 2020 ‐ 2023 (July 1, 2020 to June 30, 2023) 1 CONTENTS I. WIOA State Plan Type – Unified State Plan ……………………………………………… II. Strategic Elements…………………………………………………………………………………… Economic, Workforce, and Workforce Development Activities Analysis State Strategic Vision and Goals State Strategy III. Operational Planning Elements……………………………………………………………… State Strategy Implementation State Operating Systems and Policies IV. Coordination with State Plan Programs………………………………………………… V. Common Assurances……………………………………………………………………………… VI. Program‐Specific State Plan Requirements for Core Programs……………… Adult, Dislocated Worker, and Youth Programs Activities Title 1B Assurances Wagner‐Peyser Act Program Agricultural Outreach Plan (AOP) Wagner‐Peyser Assurances Adult Education and Family Literacy Program Activities and Assurances Vocational Rehabilitation Program Activities and Assurances Appendix 1: Performance Goals for the Core Programs Attachment 1: State Agency Organizational Charts 2 I. WIOA STATE PLAN TYPE – UNIFIED STATE PLAN The State of Connecticut has opted to submit a Unified State Plan encompassing the six core programs covered by the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) – Adult Program, Dislocated Worker Program, Youth Program, Wagner‐Peyser Act Program, Adult Education and Family Literacy Act Program, and Vocational Rehabilitation Program. In addition to the six aforementioned core programs, the Connecticut Unified State Plan also includes reference to the linkages for various Federal and State funded education and training, workforce development grants and programs. Becoming a Leader in Effective Workforce Development Governor Lamont has stated his goal to ensure our CT workforce system is designed to meet the needs of 20th the 21st century. Toward that end, the Governor signed Executive Order No. 4 on October 29, 2019, which directs the creation of the Governor’s Workforce Council (GWC) – formerly known as the Connecticut Employment and Training Commission. This body is responsible for partnering with the business community and knocking down barriers amongst state government agencies so that Connecticut can have the most aligned, high- quality, and equitable workforce development system in the country. The Council includes top executives from key industries as well as leaders of nonprofits, unions, the legislature, and educational institutions. The Council is emblematic of our administration’s approach of bringing the public and private sectors together to drive our state’s economic growth. Strategic goals of the Council include: strengthening the bridge from secondary to post-secondary education; reducing barriers to training; and measuring data-informed outcomes. The first meeting of the GWC was held on November 21, 2019 and included a review of the Council’s role, functions and structure. Six committees have been formed to address the state’s primary industry clusters, data performance and planning, education and training, and supportive services. Council meetings will be held quarterly. The Council Chair has conducted a listening tour of businesses, universities and educational institutions, State and local leaders, philanthropic organizations, and Workforce Development Boards. A strategic plan will be submitted to the CT Legislature and Governor in October, 2020. The Council and its chair will take a lead role in advising the Governor on the state’s workforce development strategy and supporting the state’s economic growth. It will also coordinate among stakeholders in the workforce system, including businesses, state agencies, quasi-public and independent entities, boards, councils, and commissions, public and private education and training institutions, workforce development boards, nonprofit institutions and labor unions. 3 Economic Development Key components of Governor Lamont’s vision to transform the state’s economic development strategy include aggressive business recruitment, collaborative work across agencies to better support existing businesses and onboard new ones, as well as a strategic and long-term economic policy focus, including in the important area of opportunity zones. To execute on this vision, Governor Lamont appointed David Lehman, a partner with Goldman Sachs, to serve in dual roles as the Commissioner of the Department of Economic and Community Development (DECD) and as the Governor’s Senior Economic Advisor. In addition, Governor Lamont announced that two of Connecticut’s principal economic development entities – the nonprofit Connecticut Economic Resource Center, Inc. (CERC) and DECD – will form an innovative public-private partnership known as the Partnership to Advance the Connecticut of Tomorrow (PACT). Through this collaboration, CERC will function as the outward-facing recruitment arm on behalf of the state, and DECD will continue to support, promote, and advocate for existing businesses while also serving as the central resource to help new businesses navigate state and local government to minimize lag time, enhance services, and expedite relocation. As part of his mandate, Commissioner Lehman will ensure tight alignment between CERC and DECD. In recognition of the vital role manufacturing plays in the state’s economy, the Governor has appointed a chief manufacturing officer to oversee efforts to grow the state’s manufacturing sector. This new position will operate under the umbrella of the DECD and will seek better coordination over multiple agencies, assuring that training and education is available to meet job demands, maintaining supply chains, providing a regulatory process that protects safety and the environment but is not redundant or unnecessarily burdensome, and establishing Connecticut as welcoming to such industries are all vital components for growth. Opportunity zones are another facet of the Governor’s vision for economic development. The federal Opportunity Zones program was designed to incent public and private stakeholders to work together to rebuild American cities. Eligible investors who make qualified investments within those zones may be eligible for significant capital gains tax benefits. Seventy-two urban and suburban areas across Connecticut have been federally designated as Opportunity Zones. Connecticut’s state government and its 27 municipalities with designated Opportunity Zones are eager to leverage this program to encourage investments in Connecticut. CT innovation hubs continue to grow in the state, including incubators, accelerators, co- working spaces and maker spaces of all types. These include: The Borough496 incubator in Hamden, CT will offer below-market rent, mentoring and other services to entrepreneurs. It’s also an example of adaptive reuse of old buildings – in this case, the long-shuttered Newhall School. 4 In Fairfield, CT Sacred Heart University’s new iHub, a partnership with Verizon, offers entrepreneurs access to university students, staff and services. Digital Health CT, an accelerator for digital health and medical technology startups opened in 2019 in Hartford. It’s a partnership of Hartford HealthCare, Trinity College and UConn. State Budget Impacts The State is investing in Connecticut’s future by positioning the state as a leader in effective workforce development efforts. This begins with supporting towns in their effort to provide every student with a high-quality K-12 education that lays the foundation for a lifetime of success, continues as students move through our excellent state college and university system, and culminates in our agencies’ collaborative approach to scaling the programs that have proven most successful in preparing the people of Connecticut with the skills they need and our businesses need to thrive in a 21st-century economy. Apprenticeship pipelines have proven to be an excellent way to develop skills for good- paying careers in manufacturing and other industries. Fifteen million dollars has been authorized through the state bond commission to support the Apprenticeship Connecticut Initiative and the development of workforce pipeline programs for entry-level workers in manufacturing and other industry sectors in the state that are experiencing sustained workforce shortages. The initiative includes outreach to underserved populations and youth. Thus far, two of the state’s workforce development boards were awarded a combined $4.7 million to train workers for manufacturing jobs through this funding. The Workforce Alliance Manufacturing Careers Partnership will receive $3.45 million to connect qualified candidates to unfilled employment opportunities in central Connecticut and shoreline areas through its Skill Up for Manufacturing program. The Northwest Regional Workforce Investment Board Manufacturing Industry Partnership will receive $1.25 million to address the shortage of skilled workers throughout the northwest workforce region (which includes Waterbury, Torrington and Danbury). Strategic Initiatives In 2019, the Partnership for Connecticut was launched to strengthen public education and promote greater economic opportunity in Connecticut. The Partnership aims to achieve three goals through the public outreach process: identify communities and organizations currently helping children and young adults graduate high school and get jobs; discover areas in which these communities and organizations need more resources to advance their goals; and identify proven and promising programs that could