DEPARTMENT: Employment and Economic Assistance
FILE TYPE: Consent Action
TITLE
title
Workforce Mobility Program Overview And Authorization To Amend Employment And Economic Assistance And Non-Departmental 2022 Budgets
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PURPOSE/ACTION REQUESTED
Receive Workforce Mobility Program overview and authorize amendments to the 2022 budgets in Employment and Economic Assistance and Non-Departmental.
SUMMARY
The Dakota County Technical College (DCTC) and Inver Hills Community College (Inver Hills) would like to collaborate with the Dakota County Department of Employment and Economic Assistance and area CareerForce Centers to draw more people into the workforce. This pilot program will provide free tuition in credit or non-credit training for Dakota County residents in key identified in-demand industry sectors. This initiative would also support incumbent workers looking to upskill or shift to high-wage industries. Staff is asking to use $250,000 of American Rescue Plan (ARP) State and Local Fiscal Recovery Funds (SLFRF) funds to finance the program.
The partnership would replicate the successful collaboration between Pine County and Pine Technical and Community College. Pine County used ARP SLFRF funds to support the WorkFast program, providing free training in in-demand areas like manufacturing, healthcare, welding, transportation, and information technology to fill jobs at area businesses. The Workforce Mobility Program will focus on training programs for: CDL Class A; Certified Nursing Assistant; Boiler Operator; Phlebotomy; Early Childhood & Youth Development; Welding; and Emergency Medical Technician.
The Workforce Mobility Program will prioritize enrollments Dakota County residents ages 18 and older and who are also enrolled in other county programs such as social services, SNAP, etc. and/or are in CDA housing. The next priority group are resident who are not enrolled in programs who have annual family incomes under the 250% of poverty guideline. This will be based on self-attestation. If the number of applications exceeds the number of available training slots, selection will be based on the order of when the colleges receive the applications.
The DCTC and Inver Hills are well-positioned to support workers to re-enter or shift within the workforce. They can leverage marketing expertise and existing partnerships with high schools, community-based organizations, adult basic education providers, employers, and CareerForce Centers to identify unemployed or underemployed individuals. The CareerForce Centers and Dakota-Scott Workforce Development Board can provide key connections to job seekers and employers as well as provide labor market information.
The Marketing and Public Relations Department for the colleges is prepared to distribute postcards to Dakota County residents and flyers to area CareerForce Centers. The colleges can promote the opportunity through social and print media and leverage relationships with area Chambers of Commerce to promote the opportunities through their websites. With funding, they could also do additional print, radio and digital ads. The goal in advertising is to draw prospective students to a landing page that outlines available classes.
The programming would have the following design elements:
• Accelerated format with delivery modalities tailored to the discipline and student needs
• Free training-related materials and equipment
• Integrated and holistic support services, such as:
o Completing college application
o Filling out financial aid paperwork should students want to continue their education and use other funding sources like the Governor’s Minnesota Future Together Grants
o Orientation
o Academic advising
o Access to mental health and navigation support for social services
The proposed offerings would start in the summer of 2022. The goal is to provide training that leads directly to viable jobs, and - where applicable - to offer a pathway for further education that may open up additional career opportunities. Programming would be developed through consultation with the Dakota County CareerForce Centers and area employers. See Outcomes (below) for examples of credit and non-credit training that could be provided through this program.
All expenses are ARP SLFRF eligible under the expenditure category of provision of government services pursuant to Final Rule, 31 CFR Part 35, Subp. A, Section 35.6 (d) Providing Government Services - to the extent of a reduction in the recipient’s general revenue.
OUTCOMES
The actual list of Credit and non-credit classes would be developed in conjunction with the Dakota-Scott Workforce Board and could include: CDL (Commercial Driver’s License), Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA), Boiler Operator: Phlebotomy: and Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) and Information Technology (IT) Certification. Additionally, 10 “performance metrics” will help determine program impact. They include: number of program applications, number of program participants who complete training; and number of program completers who secure employment within three months of application.
RECOMMENDATION
recommendation
Staff recommends authorization to fund the Workforce Mobility Program with up to $250,000 of ARP SLFRF funds and amend 2022 budgets in Employment and Economic Assistance and Non-Departmental.
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EXPLANATION OF FISCAL/FTE IMPACTS
There is a $0 net County levy cost anticipated as a result of this action. The total estimated cost for the Workforce Mobility Program is $250,000 funded with ARP SLFRF or fund balance/other available County funds.
☐ None ☐ Current budget ☐ Other
☒ Amendment Requested ☐ New FTE(s) requested
RESOLUTION
body
WHEREAS, the Dakota County Technical College (DCTC) and Inver Hills Community College (Inver Hills) would like to collaborate with the Dakota County Department of Employment and Economic Assistance and area CareerForce Centers to draw more people into the workforce by providing free credit or non-credit training that aligns with positions needed by area businesses; and
WHEREAS, this initiative would also support incumbent workers looking to upskill or shift to high-wage industries; and
WHEREAS, the Workforce Mobility Program will provide free tuition in key identified in-demand occupations; and
WHEREAS, the program has identified priorities for enrollments; and
WHEREAS, the DCTC and Inver Hills are well-positioned to support workers to re-enter or shift within the workforce; and
WHEREAS, the colleges can leverage existing partnerships with high schools, community-based organizations, adult basic education providers, employers, and CareerForce Centers to identify unemployed or underemployed individuals; and
WHEREAS, the CareerForce Centers and Dakota-Scott Workforce Development Board can provide key connections to job seekers and employers as well as provide labor market information; and
WHEREAS, the colleges are prepared to distribute postcards and flyers and can promote the opportunity through social and print media and leverage relationships with area Chambers of Commerce to promote the opportunities through their websites; and
WHEREAS, with funding, the colleges could also distribute additional print, radio and digital ads as well as create a landing page on their websites that outlines available classes; and
WHEREAS, the proposed offerings would start in the summer of 2022; and
WHEREAS, the goal is to provide training that leads directly to viable jobs, and - where applicable - to offer a pathway for further education that may open up additional career opportunities; and
WHEREAS, programming would be developed through consultation with the Dakota County CareerForce Centers and area employers; and
WHEREAS, performance metrics are developed for program evaluation, and
WHEREAS, all expenses are American Rescue Plan (ARP) State and Local Fiscal Recovery Funds (SLFRF) eligible under the expenditure category of provision of government services pursuant to Final Rule, 31 CFR Part 35, Subp. A, Section 35.6 (d) Providing Government Services - to the extent of a reduction in the recipient’s general revenue; and
WHEREAS, staff recommends authorization to use $250,000 of ARP SLFRF funds to finance the program.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, That the Dakota County Board of Commissioners hereby amends the 2022 Employment and Economic Assistance Budget as follows:
Revenue
American Rescue Plan State and Local Fiscal Recovery Funds $250,000
Total Revenue $250,000
Expense
Workforce Mobility Program $250,000
Total Expense $250,000
; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That the Dakota County Board of Commissioners hereby amends the 2022 Non-Departmental Budget as follows:
Revenue
American Rescue Plan State and Local Fiscal Recovery Funds $250,000
Total Revenue $250,000
Expense
Program Expense $250,000
Total Expense $250,000
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PREVIOUS BOARD ACTION
None.
ATTACHMENTS
Attachment: None.
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