This document outlines Massachusetts' process for utilizing Workforce Investment Act funds set aside for rapid response assistance to local areas experiencing job loss events. It describes how: 1) Additional funds are made available to local areas through a proposal process to provide direct services to participants, such as intensive training services, when adequate local funds are not available. 2) The proposal process involves local areas developing proposals in coordination with the Rapid Response Coordinator for review and potential approval by a set-aside committee. 3) Approved proposals receive quick turnaround funding within two weeks, and grantees must track services and spending according to state requirements.

1. Deval L. Patrick, Governor
Timothy P. Murray, Lieutenant
Governor
Joanne F. Goldstein, Secretary
George Moriarty, Director

2. Department of Career Services
Rapid Response
Set Aside Funding
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3. Workforce Investment Act 1998
(665.340 WIA Sec.134(a)(2)(A)(II))
• Allows Rapid Response 25% funds to be
utilized for additional assistance to local
area’s experiencing events that
substantially increase the number of
unemployed individuals
• Direct services to participants (such as,
intensive and training services) if there
are not adequate local funds available
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4. Massachusetts Rapid Response
25% Set-Aside Process
Additional Assistance Funds are
made available for Local Area’s
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5. Utilization of Set-Aside Funds
• Funds for a layoff or layoffs
that would be to small to
apply for a National
Emergency Grant (NEG)
• For use as a bridge while
waiting for NEG funds to
arrive
• Assistance with Trade
related companies
• Layoff Aversion 5

6. Proposal Process
• Rapid Response Regional Coordinator
meets with Local Area representatives to
discuss needs
• Rapid Response identifies potential (set-
aside) company layoffs and discussion is
held with Local Area representatives .
• Proposal is developed in coordination with
the RR Coordinator , Local Area
representatives
• Proposal is sent to the set-aside committee
for review and decision on grant approval 6

7. Proposal Process (cont’d)
• All proposals must meet the criteria outlined in the
MA set-aside policy (current policy WIA
communication No.11-XX)
• The chair person sets up a meeting with the set-
aside review committee
• The committee reviews each proposal and decides
whether to approve or deny funding
• Most proposals are incrementally funded
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8. Quick Turnaround Funding
• Once a proposal is
approved the field is
notified immediately
• In addition, the goal of
the set aside process
is that funding is
issued within a two
week time frame.
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9. Set Aside Committee
• Rapid Response
Manager
• Finance/Monitoring Staff
information
• Workforce Training Fund
• NEG Staff assistance
• Trade Staff assistance
• Local area’s may have
representation
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10. Grant Tracking
• All programmatic grant information is
captured on the Massachusetts One-Stop
Employment system (MOSES)
• All fiscal information is tracked separately
through the finance department (FSR’s)
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11. Field Responsibilities
• Outlined on award letter/statement of
work
• Enter services in MOSES system
• A Fiscal Spending Report (FSR) needs to
be updated on the 20th of each month on
each set aside award
• Local Area’s need to set up separate set
aside grant participant grant tracking in
MOSES
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12. Contact Information
Ken Messina
Rapid Response Manager
Department of Career Services
19-Staniford Street 1st Floor
Boston, Ma. 02114
617-626-5703
kmessina@detma.org
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