AR SB891

Establishes the Workforce Initiative Act of 2015 to evaluate and address Arkansas workforce training needs through secondary and postsecondary education, career and technical programs, and employer-driven partnerships.

Creates a three-phase grant program administered by the Department of Higher Education: Phase One provides planning grants up to $100,000 to alliances of technical institutes, community colleges, universities, K-12 schools, and employers; Phase Two provides implementation grants for up to two years; Phase Three provides continuation grants for recipients meeting performance measures.

Requires local workforce investment boards to identify industry sectors and employer skill requirements in their ten regional areas to guide grant applications and education-employer alignment plans.

Establishes the "Workforce Initiative Act of 2015 Fund" as a miscellaneous state fund to be used by the Department of Higher Education for distributing grants to approved programs, funded through general revenues and nonfederal sources as authorized by law.

Mandates the Department of Higher Education establish procedures and grant review processes approved by the Governor with input from the Department of Education, Department of Workforce Services, Arkansas Economic Development Commission, and Department of Career Education.