TITLE
Recommendation to authorize City Manager, or designee, to execute all necessary documents and any subsequent amendments, with the City of Los Angeles, to accept and expend Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) funds totaling $842,688, to continue operations of the Harbor Gateway WorkSource Center, for the term of July 1, 2019 through June 30, 2020, with the option to renew for three additional one-year periods; and, authorize City Manager, or designee, to execute agreements and amendments with necessary WIOA training provider vendors. (Citywide)
DISCUSSION
Pacific Gateway operates the San Pedro-based Harbor Gateway WorkSource Center (Center) on behalf of the communities surrounding the Los Angeles Harbor under a contract with the City of Los Angeles. That Center functions similarly to other Pacific Gateway job centers by providing training and employment assistance to adults and dislocated workers, and by partnering with businesses to meet their workforce needs.
The contractual relationship with the City of Los Angeles and its Workforce Development Board continues to bridge strategies, allowing the neighboring Long Beach and Los Angeles communities to better work together in tapping into regional employment opportunities, including those of the Harbor area and its twin ports.
The City of Los Angeles notified Pacific Gateway that it would receive $842,688 in Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) funds for continued baseline services to residents and services for program year 2019-2020.
Allocation Breakdown for July 1, 2019 to June 30, 2020 Services
• Adults/Business Services $503,468
• Dislocated Workers/Business Services $339,220
TOTAL GRANTS $842,688
One key strategy will be Pacific Gateway’s continued use of the resources to provide vocational and skills development training to residents who are unemployed or under-employed. The training comes in the form of customized and on-the-job training developed and negotiated between the local business and Pacific Gateway, or can occur through more traditional classroom-based training. For the latter, the State maintains a master database of approved training institutions and programs through the California Eligible Training Provider List (ETPL). To ensure that local skill training investments lead to employment, customers accessing training services choose from the State-approved vendors on the ETPL utilizing Pacific Gateway’s labor market information, its industry partnerships, and one-on-one staff assistance in interpreting employment trends.
Based on actual customer usage of the hundreds of local ETPL vendors, Pacific Gateway reimburses training providers for services at pre-determined rates ranging from $300 to $7,500 for vocational and skills development completion. Prior approvals from the City Council authorized the City Manager to execute required non-financial master Education Agreements with each training provider, as well as the required purchasing documents to reimburse the ETPL training providers - consistent with federal WIOA regulations, and with the State’s ETPL Policy and Guidance. Continued approval by the City Council for these actions is requested.
This matter was reviewed by Deputy City Attorney Amy R. Webber on August 20, 2019 and by Budget Management Officer Rhutu Amin Gharib on August 22, 2019.
TIMING CONSIDERATIONS
City Council action is requested on September 10, 2019, to facilitate processing of required documents.
FISCAL IMPACT
Pacific Gateway will receive an amount not to exceed $842,688 from the City of Los Angeles for the period of July 1, 2019 through June 30, 2020. The funding is currently budgeted in the Community Development Grants Fund Group in the Economic Development Department. Leveraged funds are required in the amount of $644,167 and will be met through existing grant-funded employment training program services appropriated in the Community Development Grants Fund Group. This recommendation has no staffing impact beyond the normal budgeted scope of duties and is consistent with existing City Council priorities. Approval of this recommendation will result in employment preparation, placement, and retention services to several thousand residents.
SUGGESTED ACTION
Approve recommendation.
Respectfully Submitted,
JOHN KEISLER
DIRECTOR OF ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT
APPROVED:
PATRICK H. WEST
CITY MANAGER