Mississippi Code 1972 (2023) › Title 37 - EDUCATION (§§ 37-NEW-001 — 37-NEW01-004) › Chapter 153 - WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT, TRAINING, EDUCATION AND RETENTION (§§ 37-153-1 — 37-153-223) › Article 7 - MISSISSIPPI K-12 WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT GRANT PROGRAM (§§ 37-153-221 — 37-153-223) › Section 37-153-223 - [Individual Training Account Workforce Reinforcement Assistance (ITA-WRAP)

(1)
There is established the Individual Training Account Workforce Reinforcement Assistance (ITA-WRAP) Program, which shall be directed by the Office of Workforce Development for the purpose of providing education and training to citizens seeking employment in high-wage, high-demand industries with documented workforce shortages prioritized by the office. This program shall be subject to the availability of funds appropriated by the Legislature.
(2)
As used in this section, the following words and phrases shall have the meanings as defined herein unless the context clearly indicates otherwise:
(a)
"Recipient" means a community college, institution of higher learning, local workforce development area or other eligible recipient of grant funding under this section.
(b)
"Trainee" means an individual receiving training or other services through programs under this section with the goal of becoming employed in a high-wage, high-demand industry.
(c)
"High-wage, high-demand industry" means those industries paying above Mississippi's median annual income and prioritized by the office and the four (4) local workforce areas.
(d)
"Eligible expenses" means a cost incurred by a recipient, pursuant to this section, to include trainee support, including tuition or registration expenses and supportive services such as childcare or transportation assistance.
(3)
The Department of Employment Security shall serve as fiscal agent in administering the funds.
(4)
Subject to appropriation by the Legislature, allocations to recipients shall be awarded by the office through an application process, which shall require the applicant to provide:
(a)
A detailed explanation of the program the applicant intends to use awarded funds to create or expand, including:
(i)
A description of the high-wage, high-demand field or workforce shortage area the program is intended to address;
(ii)
The number of trainees who will be served by the program and how each will be tracked for reporting; and
(iii)
The average wage rate for trainees receiving employment before and after completing the program;
(b)
A proposed budget on how awarded funds will be expended, including a plan to consistently report expenditures to the office throughout the funding commitment;
(c)
A plan to provide data on participation and outcomes of the program, including a plan to report outcomes to the office throughout the funding commitment; and
(d)
Other relevant information as determined appropriate by the office.
(5)
The office shall:
(a)
Inform each recipient of its portion of the funds appropriated to the grant program; and
(b)
Develop regulations and procedures to govern the administration of the grant program.
(7)
The office may use a minimal amount of funds allocated for this section for the administration of the grant program, to be approved by the State Workforce Investment Board Executive Committee.
Added by Laws, 2024, ch. 481, HB 1567,§ 3, eff. 7/1/2024.