TITLE
Recommendation to authorize City Manager to execute all documents, and any subsequent amendments thereto, with the State of California to receive a $125,000 grant in Workforce Investment Act funds for the High Concentration of Eligible Youth Additional Assistance project; and to increase appropriations in the Community Development Grants Fund (SR 150) in the Department of Community Development (CD) by $125,000. (Citywide)
DISCUSSION
The Workforce Investment Network (Network) submitted a grant proposal to the State's Labor and Workforce Development Agency to implement a program that will focus on foster youth in the City of Long Beach facing formidable obstacles toward self-sufficiency. The project will serve 60 youth ages 16 to 21, who have been emancipated from or are on the path toward emancipation from foster care, and who are in need of academic improvement, occupational skills, and support services as a pathway to productive adulthood.
The proposed activities are a combination of educational assistance and employment services to fill an important gap in these young adults' progress toward self-sufficiency.
Participating youth will be exposed to numerous opportunities within the emerging green economy through structured, site-based learning opportunities led by 8-10 university/college students recruited from sustainability-related majors such as Environmental Science and Policy, Geography and Engineering. The types of projects the youth will participate in include parkway tree planting and existing tree inventories, mulch deliveries to augment landscaping water efficiency, drought tolerant plantings, providing support at community/demonstration gardens, and rain barrel installation.
These activities will be directed through a partnership with the City of Long Beach's Office of Sustainability and the Network's Youth Opportunity Center.
This letter was reviewed by Deputy City Attorney Gary J. Anderson on March 15, 2010 and by Budget Management Offic...
Click here for full text