DEPARTMENT: Employment and Economic Assistance
FILE TYPE: Regular Information
TITLE
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Workforce Mobility Program Overview
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PURPOSE/ACTION REQUESTED
Receive data on the Workforce Mobility Program including information on enrollments and completions as well as lessons learned.
SUMMARY
By Resolution No. 22-215 (May 24, 2022), the Dakota County Board of Commissioners authorized the use of American Rescue Plan (ARP) State and Local Fiscal Recovery Funds (SLFRF) to finance Dakota County’s Workforce Mobility Program. The program provided free tuition for in-demand credit or non-credit programs at Inver Hills Community College and Dakota County Technical College. The county allocated $250,000 of ARP SLFRF funds for the pilot program. The Dakota County Workforce Mobility Program was recognized by the Dakota County Regional Chamber of Commerce and the Saint Paul Area Chamber with a Leadership in Local Government Award, the Association of Minnesota Counties and the Minnesota Association of Professional County Economic Developers with the 2022 Outstanding Economic Development, and was promoted by the National Association of Counties as a part of their series for Workforce Development Month highlighting American Rescue Plan workforce investment in manufacturing and technology.
The program launched with training offered for occupations such as certified nursing assistant, emergency medical technician, phlebotomy technician, Class A commercial truck driving, boiler operations, welding and early childhood and youth development. The program was marketed to low-income Dakota County residents through direct mailings, including postcards in materials going out to residents receiving public housing assistance. The postcards had a QR code that linked potential students to a micro-site where they could select from the programs being offered. The program was met with high demand, with over 200 applications received over a four-month period (Attachment: Enrollments and Outcomes).
In reviewing results thus far, some programs had excellent outcomes while other programs didn’t. Two fundamental challenges were students either “ghosting” the program or dropping out after a few weeks. From this initial experience, there are important lessons learned to make any future program more successful. Examples include changing the program design, providing more front-end guidance for would-be students as well as more support for students once they start classes.
OUTCOMES
See Attachment: Enrollments and Outcomes, for details.
RECOMMENDATION
recommendation
Informational only; no action requested.
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EXPLANATION OF FISCAL/FTE IMPACTS
None.
☒ None ☐ Current budget ☐ Other
☐ Amendment Requested ☐ New FTE(s) requested
RESOLUTION
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Information only; no action requested.
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PREVIOUS BOARD ACTION
22-215; 05/24/22
ATTACHMENTS
Attachment: Enrollments and Outcomes
BOARD GOALS
☐ A Great Place to Live ☐ A Healthy Environment
☒ A Successful Place for Business and Jobs ☐ Excellence in Public Service
PUBLIC ENGAGEMENT LEVEL
☐ Inform and Listen ☐ Discuss ☐ Involve ☒ N/A
CONTACTS
Department Head: Nadir Abdi
Author: Mark Jacobs