Supporting Transitions
When businesses in Grant and Adams counties face layoffs or closures, Rapid Response steps in quietly but powerfully, bringing tools, resources, and human connection to a moment that can otherwise feel disorienting.
In the past few months alone, SkillSource has coordinated Rapid Response events for:
- SGL in Moses Lake (42 employees impacted, 16 attended the event)
- Rite Aid in Ephrata (5 impacted, all 5 attended)
- REC Silicon in Moses Lake (220 impacted, with more than 160 attending across three sessions)
These events ensure that affected employees receive timely support to navigate what’s next — from help filing for unemployment to connections with local job openings, training programs, and wraparound services like transportation and childcare support.
“As part of the Grant-Adams One-Stop team, our experience with Rapid Response activities has been highly effective in supporting both employers and displaced workers during transitions,” says Career and Training Specialist, Marisa Cairns. “We provide essential tools and resources, including guidance on COBRA/healthcare benefits, unemployment filing, and access to a variety of community resources. Attendees are connected to upcoming workshops and hiring events, helping many successfully transition to new training or employment opportunities. Through our On-the-Job Training program, many have secured employment with competitive local businesses. We also offer training support not only to dislocated workers but to their spouses as well, helping them return to school to become retrained or reskilled. Both employers and employees express gratitude for the timely, informative support provided.”
Rapid Response is a proactive strategy coordinated by local Workforce Development Boards like SkillSource, in partnership with the Washington State Employment Security Department and community partners. The goal is twofold: to support workers affected by layoffs and to help businesses explore layoff aversion strategies whenever possible. These events are often carried out in collaboration with partners including local WorkSource centers, community colleges, UI Claims Centers, and labor organizations, each playing a role in stabilizing the local workforce and minimizing disruption.
The earlier the engagement, the greater the opportunity to coordinate a smooth transition. That’s where board and committee members play an essential role. With a connection to employers across the region, board members and community partners help ensure that Rapid Response support can be mobilized early — shifting layoffs from crisis to opportunity.
