Thumb Recovery Act 101 Presentation

Hosted by the Mid-Michigan Innovation Team in collaboration with

Corporation for a Skilled Workforce and ThumbWorks

May 18, 2009

Recovery Act 101

Welcome and Introductions

Marv Pichla, Board Member of Mid Michigan Innovation Team Director of Thumb Area Michigan Works!

General Overview of American Reinvestment and Recovery Act (ARRA)

Diana Carpenter, Team Lead forNo Worker Left Behind

Michigan Department of Energy, Labor and Economic Growth (DELEG)

Overview of ARRA Energy Opportunities

Robert Jackson, P.E., Manager, Green Services

Michigan Department of Energy, Labor and Economic Growth (DELEG)

Overview of ARRA Economic Development Opportunities

Mike Pohnl, Recovery Coordinator Michigan Economic Development Corporation

MEDC’s ARRA Team New Markets Business

Development CATeam Program

Administration

Economic Recovery Coordinators (ERCs) Mike Pohnl Amy Banninga

Summer Interns Research/REMI Legislative Affairs

and Policy

ARRA Current Status Formula funding announcements have begun

Recovery.gov Grants.gov Michigan.gov/Recovery MichiganAdvantage.org/Recovery

Competitive funding announcements will follow More information arrives daily

ARRA Formula Funding Most money will pass through normal process to

state and local governments for administration. Most federal regulations will still be in place, but

some relaxation of rules and match requirements There is some discretion in the allocation of a portion

of formula funds, such as those allocated to the Energy Office. These funds will be allocated based on the governor’s priorities.

ARRA Competitive Funding Opportunities Money will flow through federal agencies by a

formal solicitation process – projects will compete for funds.

Companies, communities and other institutions need to be ready to apply for these opportunities

MEDC Interns will be used to identify opportunities, but companies and communities need to be proactive.

ARRA Opportunities for Government

Existing programs with additional dollars or flexibility.

Michigan to receive a CDBG allocation of $34 million through ARRA. $25 million will be allocated directly to entitlement communities, while $9 million will supplement the CDBG funds already administered by the MEDC.

ARRA Opportunities for Government

Existing programs with additional dollars or flexibility Rural Development (RDA), Economic Development Authority (EDA), VISTA and AmeriCorps, Neighborhood Stabilization, Rural Business Program have all received additional funding.

ARRA Opportunities for GovernmentRDA - Rural Business Program

Bolsters the existing private credit structure through the guarantee of quality loans which will provide lasting community benefits

ARRA Opportunities for GovernmentRDA- Rural Communities Facilities Loan and grant funds may be used to

construct, enlarge, or improve community facilities for schools, libraries, health care, fire and rescue stations, police stations, community centers, public buildings and transportation

ARRA Opportunities for GovernmentEconomic Development Authority

Addresses long-term economic distress in urban industrial cores and rural areas

Public Works, Incubators, Technical Assistance Focus on areas with recent economic distress

ARRA Opportunities for GovernmentAmericorps and VISTA

Funds local and national organizations and agencies committed to using national service to address critical community needs in education, public safety, health and the environment.

Eligible applicants are existing, funded programs. ARRA funds will be add-on grants to current grantees.

ARRA Opportunities for GovernmentBroadband

ARRA funding of $7.2 billion State plan to provide each county seat with broadband access Reduce access costs for underserved and unserved markets Detail of plan still being developed

ARRA Opportunities for Government

Energy Efficiency and Conservation Block Grants

Michigan will receive Energy Efficiency and Conservation Block Grant (EECBG) funding through ARRA for local energy efficiency and conservation efforts. $57.6 million going directly to 69 Michigan communities and tribal governments, $11.4 million to communities through a competitive grant process. More information at www.Michigan.gov/Recovery.

ARRA Opportunities for GovernmentRecovery Zone Bonds

Recovery Zone Bonds are intended to stimulate economic recovery in recovery zones.

A Recovery Zone is any area that has been designated by a county/large municipality as having significant poverty, unemployment, or general distress.

The Federal government will allocate each category of Recovery Zone Bonds to the states. Each state will then allocate its share to counties and large municipalities based on their decrease in employment compared to the state’s decrease in employment.

Counties and large municipalities will issue bonds for activity in designated Recovery Zones, based on this allocation.

ARRA Opportunities for GovernmentTrade Adjustment Assistance

Trade Adjustment Assistance (TAA) programs are improved. Reforms go into effect on May 18, 2009

Expands TAA coverage to more workers and firms, including workers and firms in the service sector

Improves workers’ training opportunities by allowing training through community colleges and other providers, and improves opportunities for health insurance coverage (grants up to $1 million)

Creates a TAA for Communities grant program to assist communities impacted by trade (grants up to $5 million)

ARRA Opportunities for GovernmentTrade Adjustment Assistance

Benefits for TAA Eligible Communities include: Technical assistance to assist a community affected by trade Help to identify federal, state and local resources available

to assist the community Reimbursement of up to 75 percent of the cost of

developing a strategic plan for the community’s economic adjustment

TAA for Communities grant program to assist communities impacted by trade (grants up to $5 million)

Web Resources

Federal Government Recovery.gov Grants.govState Government Michigan.gov/Recovery MichiganAdvantage.org/Recovery

MEDC ContactsMike Pohnl517-373-6567

[email protected]

Amy Banninga517-241-2092

[email protected]

Overview of ARRA and Worker Transition Supports

Lindsey Webb Trade Adjustment Assistance CoordinatorNational Employment Law Project (NELP)

Trade Adjustment Assistance• The Trade Adjustment Assistance (TAA) program helps workers who have lost their jobs

as a result of foreign trade.• The TAA program offers a variety of benefits and services to eligible workers, including

job training, income support, job search and relocation allowances, a tax credit to help pay the costs of health insurance, and a wage subsidy to workers 50 years of age and older.

• The Trade and Globalization Adjustment Assistance Act of 2009 is part of the Recovery Act

Changes for TAA• In general, changes to worker benefits and the new certification

criteria apply to petitions file on or after May 18, 2009.• Except workers already enrolled in HCTC will experience the

change in the tax credit, from 65/35% to 80/20% starting in May • There will be two parallel programs for 2 years

Certification• Old Law:– Must make a product– Must have lay-offs– Adversely impacted by trade

• Increase of imports of like or directly competitive products• Shift in Production• Secondary certification

Certification• New Law:

– Service & Public Workers – Workers whose firm has shifted production to any foreign country. – Workers whose firm produces component parts of a finished article produced by its customer(s). – Workers in firms that supply testing, packaging, maintenance and transportation services to companies

with TAA-certified workers. – Workers whose firm is identified in an International Trade Commission “injury” determination listed in the

Act.

Benefits: Income Support

• Weekly Income Support: Trade Readjustment Allowance– Old Law: Up to 104 weeks of cash payments for workers in

full-time training; Can extend to 130 weeks if the worker needs remedial training.

– New Law: Up to 130 weeks of cash payments for workers in full-time training; Can extend to 156 weeks if worker needs remedial training.• NB: Law requires workers exhaust State UI benefits first, which

may impact the amount of time a worker receives TRA benefits.

Benefits: Education and Training under the old law.

• On the Job Training– Employer is reimbursed 50% of wages paid

• No other training or weekly income support is available after on the job training. However, workers can still take advantage of other TAA benefits, including HCTC.

• School Training– Up to 104 weeks of fully paid educational training

– Must enhance employability– Training must be completed in 104 instructional weeks– Training can be a shorter period of time

– Training must be vocationally driven and there must be a demand for the occupation

• Remedial Education– Additional 26 weeks of TAA and TRA for workers who need remedial training

Benefits: Education and Training under the new law.

• Training may be approved on a full-time or part-time basis. – Although, full-time training is required for TRA eligibility.

• Certified workers may begin approved training when threatened with lay-off.

Enrollment Deadlines for Education and Training

• Old Law: known as the 8 and 16 week rule– Required that workers must be enrolled in training 8 weeks after certification

or 166 weeks after layoff, whichever is later in order to receive TRA

• New Law: Workers must be enrolled in training, 26 weeks after certification or layoff, whichever is later to get TRA.

Job Search and Relocation Allowances• Job Search Allowances – Old Law: 90% of allowable costs, up to $1,250 – New Law: 100% of allowable costs, up to $1,500

• Relocation Allowances – Old Law: 90% of costs, up to the statutory limit for Federal Employees

• Provides an additional lump sum payment of up to $1,250

– New Law: 100% of costs, up to the statutory limit for Federal Employees• Provides an additional lump sum payment of up $1,500

Alternative Trade Adjustment Assistance

• Old Law – Available to workers 50 years of age or older – Requires a separate certification of group eligibility – Workers may not participate in TAA-approved training – Requires full-time employment within 26 weeks of

separation – Available only for workers earning less than $50,000 per year

in reemployment – Maximum benefit of $10,000 over a period of up to two

years – Participants are eligible for the HCTC

Reemployment Trade Adjustment Assistance

• New Law – Available to workers 50 years of age or older – Does not require a separate certification of group eligibility – Workers may participate in TAA- approved training – Requires full-time employment, unless the worker is also enrolled in TAA-approved training and employed at

least 20 hours per week, and does not set a deadline for reemployment – Available only for workers earning less than $55,000 per year in reemployment – Maximum benefit of $12,000 over a period of up to two years– Participants are eligible for the HCTC

Health Coverage Tax Credit• The legislation amends the Health Coverage Tax Credit (HCTC) program by increasing the

premium subsidy level from 65 percent to 80 percent, and provides workers retroactive payments to help cover the up-front costs of obtaining health coverage.

• Additionally, the legislation provides some expanded coverage of spouses and dependents in the case of death or divorce.

• $150 million in grant funding is available under this legislation to help states improve the availability of health insurance options, such as “mini-cobra” laws.

TAA for Communities and Firms $230 million of new funding for communities affected by trade,

Particularly small and medium sized communities, are eligible for strategic planning grants, sector partnership grants, and community college and career training grants.

Great Lakes TAAC University of Michigan Business SchoolBusiness and Industrial Assistance Division506 East Liberty St., 3rd Floor, Carver BuildingAnn Arbor, MI 48104-2210Toll free: (877) 877-5439

Contact InformationLindsay Webb

TAA Coordinator 734.369.5615 office 734.731.4678 cell [email protected]

Question and Answer

Recovery Act Action PlanningLisa Katz, Senior Policy Analyst, Corporation for a Skilled Workforce

1. How is ARRA relevant to your organization’s work?

2. What opportunities do you see for collaboration because of ARRA?

3. What would help you take the next step to make this collaboration possible?

Concluding Remarks

Marv Pichla, Board Member of Mid Michigan Innovation Team Director of Thumb Area Michigan Works!

Thank you!Don’t forget to fill out the survey and register for a fabulous prize!

More information on ARRA is available at http://recoveryactresource.wikispaces.com/