The Division of Workforce and Employment Services is
responsible for operating the State Rapid Response Team,
under the Workforce Investment Act. Rapid Response is
an early intervention service offered to businesses and
workers affected by layoffs and plant closings. This
team is trained to react quickly to announcements concerning
permanent facility closures or substantial layoff situations
throughout the state. Rapid Response works closely
with the Local Workforce Investment Boards and the Local
Elected Official(s) in adversely affected areas to insure
that dislocated workers receive program information and
services. Rapid Response services are offered at no
cost to the business or the participating employees.
The State Rapid
Response Team is also responsible for receiving employer
notifications pursuant to the Worker Adjustment and Retraining
Notification (WARN) Act (20 CFR 639). In most cases, a Rapid
Response team member coordinates on-site services involving
dislocated workers, employers, the community, and other local
workforce investment area resources and services available to help
the employer manage the layoff and identify the specific needs of
the affected employees.
The Rapid Response Team is an effective example of the collaborative
effort between local and state resources. Local
representatives (from the agencies listed below) provide familiar
faces and hometown support to businesses and dislocated workers.
At the state level, the department's Rapid Response Team coordinates
an array of services available from the following partner-agencies:
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