South Central Michigan Works! - Quinn, Christine

My comments reference the change regarding state merit staffing for TAA (Subpart H—Administration by Applicable State Agencies Authority: 19 U.S.C. 2320; Secretary’s Order No. 03–2009, 74 FR 2279. § 618.890 Merit staffing. (a) Merit-based State personnel) and SUPPORT of allowing the exemption for the three States including Michigan and allowing us to continue to provide service through our local workforce system to better serve local business and workers [(c) Exemptions for States with employment service operation exemptions]. The ability to allocate multiple funds to best meet individuals needs is better focused if consistently provided through the "one-stop" system. Our ability to use all sources of support for these individuals gives us a better targeted plan without confusing individuals with too many "disengaged" sources of contact. An example that has taken place to support this comment - we had a business in our community who employed hundreds of people in our communities. They applied and received certification for TAA. We and the community did not give up on this and continued to meet with business and worker leaders - we set up an onsite resource center as well as providing a Joint Adjustment Committee (JAC). By pooling all possible resources we could - the attitudes of workers stayed positive, they had "go to" local staff to work with and over a year period actually did so well the company - after some initial lay off - kept a large number of workers working, kept work in the States (versus Mexico) and now have most all workers back to work. This was the result of close community relationships, trust, and collaboration while using multiple funding sources both in and outside the workforce system.