TITLE
Recommendation to authorize City Manager to execute all documents with the U.S. Department of Labor and its pass-through fiscal agent, the City of Hawthorne on behalf of the South Bay Workforce Investment Board, to receive up to $4,058,200 in Federal Workforce Investment Act/National Emergency Grant funds to operate a two-year Multi-Sector Workforce Partnership project; authorize City Manager, or his designee, to execute agreements and amendments with training providers and employers; increase appropriations in the Community Development Grants Fund (SR 150) in the Department of Human Resources (HR) by $400,000; and execute any needed subsequent amendments. (Citywide)
DISCUSSION
Pacific Gateway Workforce administers the federal Workforce Investment Act (WIA) and other employment and training funds received annually by the City. Those funds support job training programs and business services delivered by the Career Transition Center, Torrance Career Center, Harbor WorkSource Center, and selected community-based organizations to assist local residents acquire skills leading to employment in high demand occupations with local employers.
In response to mounting public sector and private industry needs, several of the State's local boards collaborated on an unsolicited grant application last year to operate the Multi-Sector Workforce Partnership project. The Project has been approved by the U.S. Department of Labor with funding of $45,080,077 in National Emergency Grant funds. Such grants are discretionary, and awarded by the U.S. Secretary of Labor to provide employment-related services for dislocated workers in extraordinary circumstances or conditions. The project is designed to provide re-employment services to approximately 5,880 workers affected by layoffs from a number of private and public sector employers located in 20 California Counties, and will be operated by 21 organizations.
Of the total grant amount, Pacific Gateway will receive $4,058,200 to assist 515 eligible dislocated workers affected by the current economic recession in acquiring the skills necessary to enter employment in occupations in high demand throughout the region.
Pacific Gateway's Business Services Team will partner with existing and emerging industry partners willing to train and/or hire participants affected by layoffs from the targeted employers which include Long Beach Unified School District, The Boeing Company, Ball Metal Beverage Container Corporation, and Borders Group, Inc.
This will be accomplished through the execution of on-the-job and/or customized training agreements with appropriate employers that will provide the needed training for each impacted resident; the duration of each agreement will factor in the existing skill level of each candidate appropriate to the training occupation.
This letter was reviewed by Deputy City Attorney Gary J. Anderson on July 18, 2011 and by Budget Management Officer Victoria Bell on July 19, 2011.
TIMING CONSIDERATIONS
City Council action is requested on August 9, 2011 in order to facilitate processing of required documents.
FISCAL IMPACT
The receipt of grant funds is not currently budgeted. Therefore, an appropriation increase of $400,000 in the Community Development Grants Fund (SR 150) in the Human Resources Department (HR) is requested for FY 11 as part of the recommend action. An appropriation request of $1,200,000 will be included as part of the Fiscal Year 12 budget process. Staff will request appropriation of the remaining funds through the FY 13 budget process. There is no impact to the General Fund. Approval of this recommendation will result in job training, skills, enhancement, and employment opportunities for approximately 515 individuals.
SUGGESTED ACTION
Approve recommendation.
Respectfully Submitted,
DEBORAH R. MILLS
DIRECTOR OF HUMAN RESOURCES
APPROVED:
PATRICK H. WEST
CITY MANAGER