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Working Poor Families Project Policy Academy Strengthening State Data Systems to Improve Outcomes for Low-Income Adults June 30, 2010 Mississippi Economic Policy Center www.mepconline.org. Mississippi Workforce Enhancement Training (WET) Fund.
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Working Poor Families Project Policy Academy Strengthening State Data Systems to Improve Outcomes for Low-Income Adults June 30, 2010 Mississippi Economic Policy Center www.mepconline.org
Mississippi Workforce Enhancement Training (WET) Fund • Approximately $20 million annually for incumbent worker training • 160,000 people trained annually • Training used by diverse groups of Mississippians by race, gender and educational attainment • Paid for by diversion of UI Taxes • Threatened by Recession
Outline for Policy Change: Mississippi Workforce Enhancement Training Fund Problem (WET Fund Solvency Threatened due to Recession) Policy Change $20 million for Workforce Training Policy Solution (Separate WET Fund from UI Solvency) Politics (Opposition, Supporters, Competing Policy Issues)
Problem: UI Trust Fund Balance Declining due to Recession WET Fund ceases to exist when one of three UI Trust Fund Solvency Triggers Trips Cost: $20M and 160,000 trainees annually $500 Million Trigger
Policy Solution: • Separate WET Fund Collections from UI Solvency • Tie Solvency and Associated UI Tax Rates to Benefit Payment Levels
Lessons Learned • Relationships are key • The State Workforce Investment Board meeting convenes all longitudinal data system stakeholders • Policy makers are interested in new and credible information • WPF groups are positioned to be unique messengers • Agency leadership relationships are key to getting access to information • Be specific with information to advance specific policy changes
For more information: Mississippi Economic Policy Center www.mepconline.org Ed Sivak (601) 944-4174 esivak@ecd.org Sarah Welker (601) 944-9193 swelker@ecd.org