For Release 8 a.m. CST, July 31, 2002

For more information:
William Sanders, (785) 296-5075, wnsanders@hr.state.ks.us
http://www.kansasjoblink.com/

America's Job Link Alliance Assumes AWTS Product Lines

Rick Beyer, Secretary, Kansas Department of Human Resources announced that effective October 1, 2002 the America's Job Link Alliance will assume the development, enhancement and maintenance of all products previously under the America's Workforce Technology Solutions (AWTS) brand.

The action is being taken to ensure the KDHR staff is adequately positioned to continue the high quality of development and maintenance on which states have come to depend - both from AWTS and the America's Job Link Alliance. A number of market forces have dictated the action including:

• Increased demand for America's Job Link Alliance products;
• Continuation of Kansas as the lead development state for America's Job Link Alliance systems;
• Reduced federal funds for initial one-stop initiatives; and,
• Increased competition for America's Workforce Technology Solutions (AWTS), with fewer available dollars system-wide.

"My primary goal in doing this is to assure current AWTS customers that there is an adequate plan in place to ensure that they have support for the systems on which they depend," said Rick Beyer, Secretary, KDHR.

Despite these changes, many things will remain the same. The National Association of State Workforce Agencies will continue to be the administrative body through which the services will be procured. The systems will still be developed and managed with heavy customer input through the collaborative framework that made AWTS successful for many decades.

"We encourage all AWTS customer states to join the America's Job Link Alliance to take advantage of shared development efforts using new technology being continued under the America's Job Link Alliance organization and to continue to enjoy the benefits they gained from AWTS products and services," said Beyer.

For more information, contact William Sanders, KDHR Chief Information Officer at 785-296-5075.