State Seeks Public Comments on Plan for Workforce Development Programming

March 4, 2024

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: March 4, 2024

State Seeks Public Comments on Plan for Workforce Development Programming

AUGUSTA - The Maine Department of Labor and the State Workforce Board have posted the 2024-2027 Unified State Plan for public comment.

The Unified State Plan is a requirement of the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA)federal legislation that directs each state to develop strategies for its workforce development system, which is made up of multiple partners and stakeholders. The Unified Plan is designed to help job seekers access education, training, support, and employment in high-wage in-demand jobs, and to match employers with the skilled workers they need to thrive.

The Plan outlines the steps needed to address the state's workforce needs and identifies tasks and duties of each state agency and core partners.

The State Workforce Board is now seeking public comments on the Plan. Anyone interested in reviewing and commenting on this workforce Plan can find it here: https://www.maine.gov/swb/stateplan/index.shtml

Public comments can be submitted from March 4, 2024, through March 15, 2024, in three ways:

• by emailing DOL@maine.gov,
• through the public comment form available at 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 15, 2024. Comments received after March 15, 2024, without an earlier postmark date will not be accepted.

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

The Maine Department of Labor is an equal opportunity provider. Alternative formats, auxiliary aids and services are available to individuals with disabilities upon request. To make a request, please contact the State Workforce Board at the above address or call the Department at (207) 623-7900 / TTY: Maine relay 711