(1) No later than July 1, 2015, the Governor shall designate local workforce development areas within the state: Through consultation with the Arkansas Workforce Development Board; and
(2) After consultation with chief elected officials and local workforce development boards and after consideration of comments received through the public comment process.
(3) In making the designation of local workforce development areas, the Governor shall take into consideration that local workforce development areas: Are consistent with labor market areas in the state;
(4) Are consistent with regional economic development areas in the state; and
(5) Have available the federal and nonfederal resources necessary to effectively administer activities under Subtitle B of the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act, Pub. L. No. 113-128, 29 U.S.C. §§ 3151–3153, 3161–3164, 3171–3174, and 3181, including whether the local workforce development areas have the appropriate education and training providers, such as institutions of higher education and area career and technical education schools.
(6) During the first two (2) full program years, the Governor shall approve a request for initial designation as a local workforce development area from any area that was designated as a local workforce development area for purposes of the Workforce Investment Act of 1998, 20 U.S.C. § 9201 et seq., for the two-year period preceding July 1, 2015, performed successfully, and sustained fiscal integrity.
(7) After the period for which a local workforce development area is initially designated under this section, the Governor shall approve a request for subsequent designation as a local workforce development area from the local workforce development area, if the local workforce development area: Performed successfully;
(8) Sustained fiscal integrity; and
(9) In the case of a local workforce development area in a planning region described in § 15-4-3714, met the requirements of § 15-4-3714.