DEPARTMENT: Employment and Economic Assistance
FILE TYPE: Regular Action
TITLE
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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 by providing free credit or noncredit training that aligns with positions needed by area businesses. 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 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 residen...
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