DEPARTMENT: Employment and Economic Assistance
FILE TYPE: Consent Action
TITLE
title
Ratification To Submit Unified Local Youth Plan To Minnesota Department Of Employment And Economic Development For Minnesota Youth Program 2027 And Workforce Innovation And Opportunity Act Youth Program 2026
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PURPOSE/ACTION REQUESTED
Ratify the submission of the Unified Local Youth Plan to the Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development (DEED) for the Minnesota Youth Program (MYP) and Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) Youth Program.
SUMMARY
The Federal Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) of 2014 requires local areas to provide services to low-income, at-risk youth to promote educational and employment success. This requirement is fulfilled by DEED through grants to local governments for the WIOA Youth Program and MYP. The WIOA Youth Program grant is allocated between the Counties of Dakota and Scott based on a DEED formula and anticipated needs. The MYP grant is Dakota County specific, and funding is based on a DEED formula.
Workforce Development Areas (WDA) are required to update individualized Unified Local Youth Plans for activities funded under the Program Year (PY) 2026 WIOA Youth Program for the grant period of April 1, 2026 through March 31, 2028, and the State Fiscal Year (SFY) 2027 MYP for the grant period of July 1, 2026 through September 30, 2027. Updates to Unified Local Youth Plans must be approved by corresponding local Workforce Development Boards (WDB), and narrative updates to the plan were due to DEED on April 17, 2026.
On March 20, 2026, the Dakota-Scott WDB approved the submission of the Unified Local Youth Plan to DEED for the PY 2026 WIOA Youth Program and the SFY 2027 MYP (Attachment: Unified Local Youth Plan). DEED tentatively approved the Dakota-Scott Unified Local Youth Plan narrative updates on April 24, 2026. Full approval was issued on May 29, 2026.
Dakota-Scott Workforce Services was notified on May 29, 2026, that it will receive $442,476 for WIOA Youth PY 2026. Funding will be allocated between Dakota and Scott Counties. Ten percent will be retained for administrative expenses. See Attachment: Dakota-Scott WIOA Youth Allocation, for historical funding levels.
Notification of SFY 2027 MYP funding in the amount of $167,756 for Dakota County was received on December 15, 2025. Ten percent of funding will be retained for administrative expenses. See Attachment: MYP Allocations, for historical funding levels.
OUTCOMES
The Dakota County MYP provided services to youth ages 14-24 who had low family income, special needs and/or other risk factors. During the summer of 2025, Tree Trust served 34 youth.
See Attachment: Performance Outcomes - MYP, for more details.
In 2025, 130 total youth were served in the Dakota County WIOA Youth Program.
See Attachment: Performance Outcomes - WIOA, for additional outcome measures.
RECOMMENDATION
recommendation
Staff recommends the County Board ratify the submission of the Unified Local Youth Plan to DEED for activities funded under the PY 2026 WIOA Youth Program for the grant period of April 1, 2026 through March 31, 2028, and the SFY 2027 MYP for the grant period of July 1, 2026 through September 30, 2027.
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EXPLANATION OF FISCAL/FTE IMPACTS
Funds are included in the 2026 Employment and Economic Assistance Budget.
☐ None ☒ Current budget ☐ Other
☐ Amendment Requested ☐ New FTE(s) requested
RESOLUTION
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WHEREAS, the Federal Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) of 2014 requires local areas to provide services to low-income, at-risk youth, to promote educational and employment success; and
WHEREAS, this requirement is fulfilled by the Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development (DEED) through grants to local governments for the WIOA Youth Program and Minnesota Youth Program (MYP); and
WHEREAS, the WIOA Youth Program grant is allocated between the Counties of Dakota and Scott based on a DEED formula and anticipated needs; and
WHEREAS, the MYP grant is Dakota County specific and funding is based on a DEED formula; and
WHEREAS, Workforce Development Areas (WDA) are required to update individualized Unified Local Youth Plans for activities funded under the Program Year (PY) 2026 WIOA Youth Program for the grant period of April 1, 2026 through March 31, 2028, and the State Fiscal Year (SFY) 2027 MYP for the grant period of July 1, 2026 through September 30, 2027; and
WHEREAS, updates to Unified Local Youth Plans must be approved by corresponding Local Workforce Development Boards (WDB) and narrative updates to the plan were due to DEED on April 17, 2026; and
WHEREAS, on March 20, 2026, the Dakota-Scott WDB approved the submission of the Unified Local Youth Plan to DEED for the PY 2026 WIOA Youth Program and the SFY 2027 MYP; and
WHEREAS, DEED tentatively approved the Dakota-Scott Unified Local Youth Plan narrative updates on April 24, 2026; and
WHEREAS, full approval was issued on May 29, 2026; and
WHEREAS, Dakota-Scott Workforce Services was notified on May 29, 2026 that it will receive $442,476 for WIOA Youth PY 2026; and
WHEREAS, funding will be allocated between Dakota and Scott Counties; and
WHEREAS, ten percent will be retained for administrative expenses; and
WHEREAS, notification of SFY 2027 MYP funding in the amount of $167,756 for Dakota County was received on December 15, 2025; and
WHEREAS, ten percent of the amount allocated will be retained for administrative expenses.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, That the Dakota County Board of Commissioners hereby ratifies the submission of the Unified Local Youth Plan to the Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development (DEED) for the Minnesota Youth Program (MYP) and Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) Youth Program.
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PREVIOUS BOARD ACTION
None.
ATTACHMENTS
Attachment: Unified Local Youth Plan
Attachment: Dakota -Scott WIOA Youth Allocations
Attachment: MYP Allocations
Attachment: Performance Outcomes - MYP
Attachment: Performance Outcomes - WIOA
BOARD GOALS
☐ Thriving People ☐ A Healthy Environment with Quality Natural Resources
☒ A Successful Place for Business and Jobs ☐ Excellence in Public Service
CONTACTS
Department Head: Dana DeMaster
Author: Amber Higgins