This guidance announces flexible uses of Rapid Response funds to ensure an orderly transition to Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA or the Opportunity Act) for Program Year (PY) 2012 through 2015.

To assist State Workforce Agencies or agencies designated by Governors as "Cooperating State Agencies" (also jointly referred to as "states") by specifying the FY 2019 Second Distribution of TaOA funding amounts to states; describing the formula methodology the Department of Labor (Department) used to calculate these amounts; and providing the process for states to request TAA Program reserve funds for TaOA. TaOA includes training, job search allowances, relocation allowances, employment and case management services, and related state administration.

To provide guidance on real property issues, including using grant funds for capital expenditures and other real property costs, depreciation, maintaining insurance, handling idle facilities and idle facility capacity, retaining records, disposing of real property acquired with Employment and Training Administration (ETA) grant funds, renting real property, and using and disposing of State Workforce Agency (SWA) real property that has Federal (Department of Labor) equity or Reed Act equity.

To inform all Employment and Training (ETA) workforce system agencies of additional Office of Management and Budget (OMB) reporting requirements under the FFATA effective October 1, 2010.

To encourage states to establish parameters for funding entrepreneurial and self-employment training under Title I of the Workforce Investment Act of 1998 (WIA), which authorizes the provision of entrepreneurial training to adult and dislocated workers, and authorizes entrepreneurial work experiences for youth.

This guidance clarifies the governance-related activities that States must complete by July 1, 2015, which is the beginning of Program Year 2015, in order to ensure an orderly transition to the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA). Additionally, this guidance summarizes other governance-related activities that the Department encourages States to complete as soon as possible, but are not required by July 1, 2015.

To provide states with the formula methodology used in developing the FY 2011 initial allocations and to describe the process for requesting additional TAA program reserve funds for training, job search, and relocation allowances.

To inform the State Workforce Agencies (SWAs) of the retroactive legislative reauthorization of the WOTC program for all WOTC current target groups and the Empowerment Zones (EZs) that had previously expired on December 31, 2013. Also, to provide guidance to SWAs, participating agencies and other Federal and State partners for processing WOTC certification applications filed by employers and their representatives during the authorization lapse of 2015 and beyond.

To provide guidance on compliance with the requirements of recent appropriations act provisions, including Section 511, Division E of the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2010, Public Law No. 111-117, regarding the Association of Community Organizations for Reform Now (ACORN).

To inform the State Workforce Agencies of the extension of the approval period for the AOPs, the designation of MSFW states, and the PY 2014 designation of Significant MSFW and Bilingual Local Offices through June 30, 2016. This means that current AOPs, designated MSFW states, and Significant MSFW and Bilingual Local Offices will remain the same through June 30, 2016. States do not need to submit updated AOPs.