TITLE
Recommendation to authorize City Manager to execute all documents with the U.S. Department of Labor to receive up to $2,816,309 in H-1B Visa funds for a Health Sector Training Project; execute agreements with various initiative partner providers in an amount totaling $2,039,250; increase appropriations in the Community Development Grants Funds (SR 150) in the Department of Human Resources (HR) by $855,965; and execute any needed subsequent amendments. (Citywide)
DISCUSSION
Pacific Gateway 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.
Pacific Gateway initiated a Health Sector Training Project (Project) with a consortium of business and education partners in response to a grant solicitation by theU.S Department of Labor in support of demand industries. The four-year Project aims to provide training and educational support for 793 individuals in the healthcare industry at MemorialCare's various campuses in Long Beach and in Orange County. Of this number, 393 trainees will be unemployed individuals (emphasis on the long-term unemployed), preparing for patient care assistants, sterilization technicians, advance directive liaisons, home care facilitators, phlebotomists, and clinical lab scientists positions. Another 400 will be incumbent workers who will receive training to advance along one of three career pathways. Project activities focus on employment and training activities in advancement toward three key, H-1 B Visa impacted occupations: Nursing, Financial Specialists, and Clinical Lab Scientists.
The Project will be accomplished through the execution of on-the-job and/or customized training agreements with our schools and MemorialCare, as well as work experience agreements 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.
Agreements for services through this Project are requested as follows:
Entity |
|
Focus of Training |
Contract |
Contract |
|
|
|
Amount |
Term |
Long Beach |
• |
Patient Care Assistant |
$1,205,400 |
11/16/2011 |
Memoria! Medical |
• Advance Directive Liaison |
|
- |
Center/Miller |
• |
Patient Care Home |
|
9/30/2015 |
Children's Hospital |
|
Facilitation |
|
|
(MemoriaICare) |
|
|
|
|
Long Beach |
• |
Phlebotomy |
$313,850 |
11/16/2011 |
Community |
• |
Advance Directive Liaison |
|
- |
College District |
|
|
|
9/30/2015 |
Los Angeles |
• |
Sterilization Technician |
$520,000 |
11/16/2011 |
Harbor Community |
• |
Medical Billing |
|
- |
College |
|
|
|
9/30/2015 |
This letter was reviewed by Deputy City Attorney Gary J. Anderson on November 3, 2011 and by Budget Management Officer Victoria Bell on November 4,2011.
TIMING CONSIDERATIONS
City Council action is requested on November 15, 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 $855,965 in the Community Development Grants Fund (SR 150) in the Human Resources Department (HR) is requested for FY 12 as part of the recommend action. Staff will request appropriation of the remaining funds through the FY 13-15 Budget processes. There is no impact to the General Fund. Approval of this recommendation will result in job creation and placement around 393 new positions, and skills and salary upgrades for another 400 incumbent workers.
SUGGESTED ACTION
Approve recommendation.
Respectfully Submitted,
APPROVED:
PATRICK H. WEST
CITY MANAGER