The Dislocated Worker Program provides workforce investment activities that increase the employment, retention, earnings, and occupational skill level of participants, which will improve the quality of the workforce, reduce welfare dependency, and enhance the productivity and competitiveness of the economy.

Description
Dislocated worker programs are operated on a year-round basis by the 25 local Michigan Works! Agencies (MWAs). The funds allocated to the MWAs for the dislocated worker program must be used to provide core, intensive, and training services to dislocated workers. Core services include, but are not limited to, outreach, intake, orientation to other services, initial assessment, job search, and placement assistance. Intensive services include comprehensive and specialized assessment, group counseling, and short-term pre-vocational services. Training services include on-the- job training, skill-upgrading, and occupational skills training.

Eligibility
An individual must be 18 years of age or older to receive core services in the dislocated worker program. An eligible dislocated worker is an individual who:

• Has been terminated or laid off, or has received a notice of termination or layoff; or
• Is eligible for, or has exhausted entitlement to, unemployment compensations; or
• Has been employed for a duration sufficient to demonstrate attachment to the work force, but is not eligible for unemployment compensation, and is unlikely to return to a previous industry or occupation; or
• Has been terminated or laid off, or has received a notice of termination or layoff from employment as a result of any permanent closure of plant, facility, or enterprise; or
• Is employed at a facility where the employer has made a general announcement that the facility will close within 180 days; or
• Was self-employed but is unemployed as a result of general economic conditions; or
• Is a displaced homemaker.

Intensive services under the dislocated worker program are available to dislocated workers who are unemployed or employed, have received at least one core service, and are unable to obtain employment or retain employment that leads to self-sufficiency. Training services may be made available to employed and unemployed dislocated workers who have met the eligibility criteria under intensive services, have received at least one intensive service, and have been determined to be unable to obtain or retain employment through such services.

Procedure
The federal funds are allocated by formula to the 25 local MWAs. The local MWAs must submit annual plans to the Michigan Department of Labor & Economic Growth (DLEG) for approval. Funds are allocated on an annual basis starting in July of each year.

Additional Information
For general information, contact Michigan Works! at 1-800-285-WORKS (9675) or the local MWA. For technical program questions, contact:

Department of Labor & Economic Growth
Office of Workforce Development
201 N. Washington Square, 5th Floor
Lansing, Michigan 48913
Telephone: (517) 335-5858
FAX: (517) 335-5945