[{"_1":2,"_124":-5,"_125":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,76,88,100,112],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},"mediaId",6555766,"mediaKeyId","3347587-ff82ba118e15e2951f2586a1826dc599","parentId",3347587,"title","State workforce board approves previous meeting minutes","audioSeconds",122,"startMs",501000,"endMs",623000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=3347587-ff82ba118e15e2951f2586a1826dc599&start=501&end=623","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3347587-ff82ba118e15e2951f2586a1826dc599/thumbnail_501000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6555766/Tennessee/State-workforce-board-approves-previous-meeting-minutes","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6555766-20d00abd63d77274ddf7a364be5f5e7b/orig.mp4?Expires=1770496331&Signature=ChXljBh-h9Q4MJanKamJB6qjEhCZ71fzti2XAbtMwrXcq5kHJV8PwUgO13H8BjI3KLEbB9I9YZkh0Y2rkG3gfpOISvDWEyl31aoB5ANnz56w7LUPYuTwLx3mCixlFkiFquPmy7iqEH1SRPMdHa-~bBqtAihfL6oG9o3W0Apc3KCFLPsYMdN9UK98f1BfnaR2Qg664vOu0jmi8aU-hL2YJfS83ITgviKQVx-gcGRvI6RcQv27JlQU40EChWSJr1RHqy7YQiwow9Dy5dc5d3MSjpfYI8U2eYYbULXkRjTrrwDQpHVrnXgdQFhu54IlI--wXwWF1PRMaII6-8XIUKypmw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Labor and Workforce Development","date","2025-05-16T00:00:00Z","article","The Tennessee State Workforce Board approved the minutes from its prior meeting by voice vote at the start of the May meeting.

A board member moved to approve the minutes and the motion was seconded by Martha Axford. The chair called for discussion; hearing none, the board approved the minutes as presented with members responding ‘‘aye’’ and no recorded opposition.

This action appeared on the consent portion of the meeting with no substantive debate recorded.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","State Workforce Development Board Meeting 2025-05-16","oneSentenceSummary","The Tennessee State Workforce Board voted to approve the minutes from its prior meeting by voice vote; no opposition was recorded.","taxTitle","Labor and Workforce Development, Deparments in Office of the Governor, Organizations, Executive, Tennessee","taxId",17393,"location","Tennessee","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":77,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":78,"_41":79,"_43":80,"_45":81,"_47":82,"_49":83,"_51":84,"_53":85,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":86,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":87,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6555768,"State workforce committees report new funding targets, apprenticeship growth and credentialing initiatives",685,2853000,3538000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3347587-ff82ba118e15e2951f2586a1826dc599&start=2853&end=3538","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3347587-ff82ba118e15e2951f2586a1826dc599/thumbnail_2853000.jpg","/articles/6555768/Tennessee/State-workforce-committees-report-new-funding-targets-apprenticeship-growth-and-credentialing-initiatives","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6555768-664f2a386a004319c37ddc886fa8c3b6/orig.mp4?Expires=1770496331&Signature=WTBGvBFkQFoSsYyAsXAB~jT8lCUQ3GpZBiipGDUWUYqXCjs0yp7~AUp0ObogJ2LDammNINKC4dGtpxd~OYvUQGDilf5HeGKBHFqgokQuLeSzZm2T3HCCQXFfJWzYwZwW7Dh7PlBj7js0McpYAcO04mDHmNj1wrdar8VN3MqxnE7qR38ilJrDnQ~soCp0QDfofgJEbyobXrMUfdi9xSqnBNQ8xQa9~nk~opHMfJuDG4pf-mWXN0wGk2UYw6XxR7pgAEhPwAUUAa72YIM-NjZa9L82NzjJnkmmzGDvRS2NFiuBIjrEMZ0z1tW8qz7Tx1JG0i8nOp-Fwo6DpYfMSwVdxQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Committee chairs summarized work from oversight, operations and innovation committees, including state appropriations and program metrics the board will use to guide local implementation.

The oversight committee reported the department expects approximately $18,000,000 in new state appropriations for micro‑credentialing, youth employment and strategic support activities. The committee also noted a pending discretionary apprenticeship grant application for $5,900,000.

The operations committee described the Tennessee Youth Empowerment Employment Program (YEPTN), a year‑round program for 14‑ to 24‑year‑olds that paid up to $4,000 per participant in 2024. The committee reported 4,800 enrollments in 2024 with 1,200 employers participating and a 2025 goal of 8,000 enrollments.

The innovation committee reviewed plans to roll the state board’s certification work out to local workforce boards beginning July and highlighted a $6,300,000 state fund to support non‑degree, stackable credential grants to local boards, schools and other providers. The committee also heard from Tech901, a Memphis‑area nonprofit running technology certification programs and reported about 960 individuals served over roughly a decade and plans to train about 300 trainees a year going forward.

Apprenticeship updates included 458 registered apprenticeship programs in the state, wage gains for participants of up to 28% reported recently, and new registered occupations including K‑12 teacher apprenticeships and student nurse apprenticeships. The committee noted reimbursements available to employers: $2,500 per registered apprenticeship and $1,500 for pre‑apprenticeships.

Committee leaders said they will continue subcommittee work on vocational rehabilitation data, local board certification phases, and employer outreach to increase awareness of apprenticeship and credential funding opportunities.","Oversight, operations and innovation committees reported state investments in micro‑credentialing, youth employment and apprenticeship expansion, plus an applied apprenticeship grant and plans for local board certification.",{"_33":89,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":90,"_41":91,"_43":92,"_45":93,"_47":94,"_49":95,"_51":96,"_53":97,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":98,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":99,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6555770,"Tennessee Chamber highlights partnerships, BePro BeProud trailer and advanced‑manufacturing workforce needs",688,1030000,1718000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3347587-ff82ba118e15e2951f2586a1826dc599&start=1030&end=1718","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3347587-ff82ba118e15e2951f2586a1826dc599/thumbnail_1030000.jpg","/articles/6555770/Tennessee/Tennessee-Chamber-highlights-partnerships-BePro-BeProud-trailer-and-advancedmanufacturing-workforce-needs","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6555770-c56136eb15ae8544c63be8164c4776b0/orig.mp4?Expires=1770496331&Signature=jqZ81Xyg~CGReAZSiJou8Ugiu8gsNnDgcRXIYeIjbXfOAga-RNg5IGDFhbGJQr8YWgDy~mAlmtOLTITuzAmSu6TUgDqSMPxOYnp6L~cSlovYt8VRQ6ciBm00QZNUiHK1qDkvfAD2rRCshQisQBEcoEOB-UbJ2SBoCrcqs0sz9tgYIIM6NyB~L9x~WLypmxV4rsodLDxx6~I4ca~0jakAjSkbd3uYi19Ao1StpLxQQzFYQ~XcsFw9v03UL7IDjE9VIFjyXEBDa6k8diZ~xU2~IqKWGKTlzGtuXwHXK1~01tw7Zd7f0ShnaQz2N~5x~iPFPkApO9NUSkGpxqYmN4dWEw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Josh Brown, president of the Tennessee Chamber of Commerce & Industry, told the state workforce board the chamber’s role is to ‘‘connect, convene, and collaborate’’ with state agencies, employers and education providers to close workforce gaps.

Brown described three priorities the chamber intends to support: enhanced access to data, micro‑credentialing and stronger labor‑market intelligence. He highlighted a public‑private program, BePro BeProud, in which an 18‑wheeler outfitted with simulators visits high schools to expose students to trade and technical careers. Brown said the trailer ‘‘parks outside the high school and students … get to experience different simulations of different skills and trades.’’

Board members asked Brown about employer skill needs. He said advanced manufacturing was the most frequent area of concern raised in recent regional manufacturing forums and cited examples of large investments in the state — LG Chem’s cathode facility in Clarksville and Ford’s BlueOval City — that are driving demand for high‑tech manufacturing skills.

Brown urged employers to share hiring and skills data with the state to improve the feedback loop to K‑12, TCATs and community colleges. ‘‘You also have to be telling us what jobs do you have … the state needs to know that,’’ he said.

The chamber’s push aligns with statewide efforts including Tennessee Works, micro‑credential funding referenced elsewhere in the meeting, and apprenticeship expansion. The presentation was informational; no board action resulted.","The Tennessee Chamber presented a strategy of connecting business, education and government to expand labor‑market intelligence, micro‑credentialing and hands‑on exposure programs such as BePro BeProud; advanced manufacturing was cited as a pressing skills need.",{"_33":101,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":102,"_41":103,"_43":104,"_45":105,"_47":106,"_49":107,"_51":108,"_53":109,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":110,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":111,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6555771,"State board warned of proposed federal Labor cuts; Tennessee to pursue waivers and expand Tennessee Works and apprenticeships",323,563000,886000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3347587-ff82ba118e15e2951f2586a1826dc599&start=563&end=886","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3347587-ff82ba118e15e2951f2586a1826dc599/thumbnail_563000.jpg","/articles/6555771/Tennessee/State-board-warned-of-proposed-federal-Labor-cuts-Tennessee-to-pursue-waivers-and-expand-Tennessee-Works-and-apprenticeships","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6555771-dd68cd586023f29f1e0ed23b23350052/orig.mp4?Expires=1770496331&Signature=Uh43liuMMw87Kyzo7Qb8I4XuHKoljqe6ZAIzQ-DRc2AiQkZYsT8TtshIx4PfxB9lubl1Y7EDklMaekf2vmvbkkDbrLZ2rWNMpfNnEebp4pB7egvGq7NowgfqnrG6ZFUk4A-CbidtdTUBrKrFahwJgFS-X2JZvNIW2w3zZx~Yvj7Djo4ZRFc1DYzA2n6KeZ8I~MNY4~1R-RerAE7KsBXBr4OYVbynfpHnOvfGQI--8VYM1Uom4DocobFPDIRcl1c16I6aJjm-wbxMYxprtaXcCHeN76smzE2pvpzTZLaG98VdTurhSicM6-Yb75LVJz9yg0Z334co6CDcaUAQWpki1Q__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","State workforce officials told the Tennessee State Workforce Board that preliminary federal budget documents show about a 35% proposed cut to U.S. Department of Labor programs and that the state is preparing waivers and other measures to protect workforce services.

Commissioner Denise Thomas briefed the board on the ‘‘skinny budget’’ the department saw earlier in the congressional process and identified programs flagged for potential reduction, including Job Corps and the Senior Community Service Employment Program. Thomas said the agency is ‘‘preparing a package that will include several waivers that we will submit to our federal partners’’ to allow more flexible use of existing funding streams.

Thomas said the department has been working with associations and congressional offices and expects further congressional action and possible requests to testify. The department also intends to seek waivers outside of routine planning cycles to increase flexibility for state programming.

The commissioner highlighted Tennessee Works, a cross‑agency initiative to align state and community partners, and said the governor’s office and state funding have supported early efforts. ‘‘Tennessee Works … brings together not just the state agencies … but it also leaves space and room for all of our partners … community based organizations to chambers to employers,’’ she said.

On apprenticeships, Thomas said the state is maintaining and expanding its emphasis: ‘‘We are not seeing a shrinkage in is the focus on apprenticeship … our state apprenticeship director, Sholanda Rashaw, … continues to lead those efforts.’’ The board heard that the federal administration’s goal of a million apprenticeships nationwide provides a further incentive for Tennessee to expand programmatic incentives and policies.

Board members asked about next steps; Thomas said staff will return with waiver drafts and additional information in coming meetings and that the department will continue advocacy with the federal delegation about funding priorities.

No formal action was taken on the federal budget at the meeting; the presentation was an informational update.","Department leaders told the workforce board that an initial federal 'skinny' budget would cut roughly 35% from Department of Labor programs, and the state plans waivers, flex funding and an expanded Tennessee Works and apprenticeship push to preserve services.",{"_33":113,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":114,"_41":115,"_43":116,"_45":117,"_47":118,"_49":119,"_51":120,"_53":121,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":122,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":123,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6555772,"Tennessee to launch modernized unemployment insurance tax portal May 27",330,2026000,2356000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3347587-ff82ba118e15e2951f2586a1826dc599&start=2026&end=2356","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3347587-ff82ba118e15e2951f2586a1826dc599/thumbnail_2026000.jpg","/articles/6555772/Tennessee/Tennessee-to-launch-modernized-unemployment-insurance-tax-portal-May-27","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6555772-8e5f3370deb346c46621aab44351b064/orig.mp4?Expires=1770496331&Signature=bQL2QxT8ifRtqZzoOmEdwHpk7R5Ud0HxftsF15beOuo9Z9-CGBJZyX6boJrX-ddGnHZwqrZmeWg1cdq-0PXZ2LBJX1vZyNMgkDrckU0a2bz9NMlKhBusbHKMkFU7OPidqNAMGAtm8d43tnHZARPwLcFwydOmuLo1F8GrlfUFheyGquA9f5npe970PYf5IBHiBahnsZq5pgJ5swQruTiHV~agf43MOknBHCiPua9q03n~z7njKA4SaBUnVP0RYpdk0N8cAPh6UnxUII0INkjApPgMX51uE5RMi7sYU8Ifo2E1n1Za7S970vVa5PhGyxOx1FRMmnGCmtZPkMmPH3PtYw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Tennessee Department of Labor and Workforce Development plans to launch a new unemployment insurance (UI) tax portal, e‑Services, on May 27 to replace a 40‑year mainframe system and bring employers real‑time access to tax and wage data.

Department officials described the rollout at the state workforce board meeting, saying the new platform will unify the agency’s tax data into a single system of record, reduce paper processes and integrate with the department’s recently modernized UI benefits platform. Charles Janssen, director of the department’s Office of Transformation, said the system will ‘‘be a boon not just for us … but … for the users, which are the employers, the third party administrators … where they’re going to be able to see their data in 1 place in real time.’’

The department’s deputy assistant commissioner for unemployment insurance, Chris Russ, told the board the UI benefits modernization already enabled the agency to meet timeliness and quality metrics it had not met in years and that the tax modernization aims for similar gains. The agency said the new tax portal will offer automated filing and payments, built‑in security and fraud detection, and a familiar online navigation for employers, professional employer organizations (PEOs) and third‑party administrators (TPAs).

Officials said employers can register on the new portal ahead of the launch and that the department will track customer satisfaction and support tickets using internal reporting and Zendesk. ‘‘We’ll be tracking that … and they will be able to give us a satisfaction rating of how we’re doing,’’ Russ said.

Board members emphasized why a modern tax system matters for workforce work. Commissioner Denise Thomas (title given in meeting) said improved tax and wage data help produce finer labor‑market analysis and allow the state to move toward job‑level reporting. That intelligence, she added, helps the department and local partners tailor training and recruitment efforts to employer demand.

Officials said the agency has conducted webinars, demonstrations and communications to prepare employers for the change and that security and the ability to update the system in response to legislative or technical changes were design priorities.

The department plans to report back to the board on adoption metrics, customer satisfaction and market‑intelligence outputs after the go‑live.

The modernization is a technical and administrative step intended to reduce manual workloads inside the agency, shorten employer response times and improve the state’s capacity to generate timely labor‑market reports.","The Tennessee Department of Labor and Workforce Development will replace a 40‑year mainframe tax system with a unified e‑services portal on May 27 to reduce manual processes, improve employer access and strengthen labor‑market data.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

State workforce board approves previous meeting minutes

State workforce committees report new funding targets, apprenticeship growth and credentialing initiatives

Tennessee Chamber highlights partnerships, BePro BeProud trailer and advanced‑manufacturing workforce needs

State board warned of proposed federal Labor cuts; Tennessee to pursue waivers and expand Tennessee Works and apprenticeships

Tennessee to launch modernized unemployment insurance tax portal May 27