To encourage workforce investment system leaders to develop and enhance partnerships and resource-leveraging efforts with Registered Apprenticeship programs in order to increase job seekers’ access to career pathways utilizing Registered Apprenticeship. Although state and local workforce system budgets continue to be constrained and high growth employment opportunities are very scarce in this economy, partnering with Registered Apprenticeship is a proven way to improve placements for job seekers looking for a sustainable career, as well as to engage with employers in communities seeking to improve the skills of their workforce.

To provide information on the availability of a UI SIDES Messaging and Communications Toolkit (Toolkit) containing products and tools designed for use by state UI agencies to communicate with employers and third-party administrators (TPAs) about the offerings and benefits of SIDES and SIDES E-Response.

To inform and to remind the workforce investment system of the performance reporting requirements and associated timelines for submitting the reports for the following programs/activities:

• quarterly and annual reports and data validation results for the Workforce Investment Act (WIA) title IB programs and National Emergency Grants (NEGs);
• quarterly reports and data validation results for the Wagner-Peyser Act Employment Service;
• activities authorized under chapter 41 of title 38 United States Code (Local Veterans’ Employment Representative and Disabled Veterans’ Outreach Programs);
• the Trade Adjustment Assistance (TAA) program,
• the Indian and Native American Program (INAP); and
• the National Farmworker Jobs Program (NFJP).

To provide the public workforce system with an overview of VRAP, the role of the system in implementing the program, and inform the system that additional information will be made available as procedures and protocols for implementing the program are finalized.

To announce the release and availability of ETA Occasional Paper – Green Jobs and Health Care Implementation Study: Interim Report.

To announce the release and availability of three ETA reports: Impact of the Reemployment and Eligibility Assessment (REA) Initiative; Department of Labor Report to Congress on FY 2009 Appropriation for Reemployment and Eligibility Assessments; and Impact of the Reemployment and Eligibility Assessment (REA) Initiative in Nevada.

To provide policy and program guidance for the development, management, and delivery of Labor Market Information and Workforce Information (LMI-WI) core and special information services to state and local workforce investment boards (WIBs), One-Stop Career Centers, businesses, other employers, and the job-seeking public.

To provide SCSEP state and territorial grant applicants with application instructions, procedures, and allotments for Program Year (PY) 2012 funds, with a period of performance beginning July 1, 2012.

To provide adjusted funding levels for Program Year (PY) 2011 allotments for the Dislocated Worker program under WIA Title I Section 132(c) on recapture and reallotment.

To strongly encourage states to both promote volunteerism in their communities, and interpret state law to not disqualify individuals from receipt of Unemployment Compensation (UC) as a result of volunteer activities.

To improve public access to frequently requested federal records and contribute to an accountable and transparent government, the Department of Labor (Department) will take steps to post all Forms ETA-9042/OMB No. 1205-0342 petitions for Trade Adjustment Assistance (TAA) (hereinafter, referred to as “petition”) on the Department's Web site.

To provide guidance to states on how to apply for, and the requirements for approval of, demonstration projects provided in Title II of the Middle Class Tax Relief and Job Creation Act of 2012, which is officially named the Extended Benefits, Reemployment, and Program Integrity Improvement Act.

To encourage the workforce system to collaborate with the U.S. Department of Commerce's Manufacturing Extension Partnership program to provide assistance and support to small and medium-sized manufacturing firms with the ultimate goal of supporting economic growth while preserving and creating jobs.

To announce the availability of technical assistance resources for States, local areas, and tribal entities developing Career Pathway systems.

To transmit the subject computation for State Workforce Agency usage in computing minimum weekly DUA amounts for all major disasters declared during the third quarter of Fiscal Year (FY) 2012.

To announce the release and availability of a new Employment and Training Administration (ETA) research report entitled:  Improving the Effectiveness of Individual Training Accounts:  Long Term Findings from an Experimental Evaluation of Three Service Delivery Models.

To provide guidance for the funding and management of FY 2012 annual grant allocations in order to perform FLC program activities.

To share the interagency support for career pathways systems building to meet the education and training needs of adults. This notice is also intended to encourage States and local areas to improve coordination and collaboration across the public workforce, adult basic education, career and technical education, and human and social service systems, thereby promoting the use of career pathways approaches and helping American workers advance successfully in the labor market.

To provide instructions to NFJP training grantees on preparing and submitting PY 2012 grant plans under Section 167 of the Workforce Investment Act of 1998 (WIA).

To provide instructions to NFJP housing grantees on preparing and submitting PY 2012 grant plans under Section 167 of the Workforce Investment Act of 1998 (WIA).