TITLE
Recommendation to authorize City Manager, or designee, to execute an agreement, and all necessary documents or subcontracts including any subsequent amendments extending the grant term or changing the amount of the award, with the State of California, Employment Development Department (EDD), to accept and expend FY 21-22 Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) grant funding in an amount up to $4,699,714, to implement workforce training programs and strategies for the period April 1, 2021 through June 30, 2023; and
Authorize City Manager, or designee, to execute all necessary agreements with WIOA training vendors. (Citywide)
DISCUSSION
City Council approval is requested to accept and expend Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) funds from the State of California, Employment Development Department (EDD), to implement workforce programs and strategies in the local area and provide services to local residents and business.
In alignment with federal appropriation of WIOA funds to the State, the California Labor and Workforce Development Agency has allocated grant funds to the City of Long Beach(City), Pacific Gateway Workforce Innovation Network (Pacific Gateway) to administer the WIOA program with a term date beginning April 1, 2021 for Youth and Business Services and July 1, 2021 for all other programs. The WIOA grants will enable Pacific Gateway to implement workforce strategies in the local area and provide an extensive array of services to residents and businesses.
Employment and training services for residents will continue to be facilitated through the WorkPlace in Long Beach and operated by Pacific Gateway. Youth services will be facilitated through the Youth Opportunity Center in San Pedro and various community-based service providers. Business services are integrated into each career center.
|
Allocation Breakdown for Program Year 2021-2022 Services |
|
Adult/Business Services |
$1,577,928 |
|
Dislocated Worker/Business Services |
$1,061,078 |
|
Rapid/Response and Layoff Aversion |
$348,760 |
|
Youth/Business Services |
$1,711,948 |
|
Total Grant Funds |
$4,699,714 |
Pacific Gateway will utilize funds to provide vocational and skills development training to residents who are unemployed or underemployed. The training is provided in the form of customized and on-the-job training that is developed and negotiated between the local business and Pacific Gateway or through more traditional classroom-based or online training. For the classroom and online training, the State maintains a master database of approved training institutions and programs through the California Eligible Training Provider List (ETPL), which contains hundreds of local training providers. To ensure that local training investments lead to employment, clients accessing training services must select a State-approved vendor on the ETPL.
Pacific Gateway reimburses training providers for services at predetermined rates ranging from $300 to $7,500 for vocational and skills development training. Prior approvals from the City Council authorized the City Manager to execute required nonfinancial master Educational Agreements with each training provider, as well as the required purchasing documents to reimburse the ETPL training providers, which is 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 July 28, 2021 and by Budget Analysis Officer Greg Sorensen on August 3, 2021.
TIMING CONSIDERATIONS
City Council action is requested on August 24, 2021, to facilitate the processing of required documents.
FISCAL IMPACT
Pacific Gateway will receive approximately $4,699,714 from the EDD. This funding is currently budgeted in the Community Development Grants Fund Group in the Economic Development Department. The grant does not require matching funds or in-kind services. 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 residents.
SUGGESTED ACTION
Approve recommendation.
Respectfully Submitted,
JOHN KEISLER
DIRECTOR OF ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT
APPROVED:
THOMAS B. MODICA
CITY MANAGER