Agenda Item #4

Columbus Consolidated Government
Council Meeting

05/09/17
Agenda Report #127


TO: Mayor and Council

SUBJECT: Georgia High Demand Career Initiative (HDCI) Sector Partnership Capacity Building Grant Proposal

INITIATED BY: Department of WIOA/Job Training Division


Recommendation: Approval is requested to accept grant funds set aside for Region 8 in the amount of $250,000.00 with a 10% match “in kind” requirement, awarded through Georgia Department of Economic Development Workforce Division and to authorize the City Manager to approve any contract(s)/documentation on behalf of the City; authorize capacity building purchases for educational / industrial training and to amend the WIOA Department / Job Training Division fund (0220) by the applicable amount.

Background: The Governor’s High Demand Career Initiative is preparing Georgia’s future workforce today. During the first two years of HDCI, the primary focus of the initiative was to engage the private sector by collecting information about their present and future workforce needs. A range of in-demand and difficult-to-fill positions were identified, along with essential workforce skills that are difficult to find in potential employees. The data and information collected has equipped the HDCI team in providing a clear depiction of statewide workforce needs that has helped influence statewide policy and programming. Although this data is sufficient for describing the workforce needs of Georgia employers statewide, it lacks the ability to provide adequate details for implementing solutions at the local and regional levels. However, programs can be difficult to accomplish when solely leveraging existing formula funding, WFD is making HDCI funds available to allow for program development for target populations (i.e. Adult Ed students, adult and dislocated workers, incumbent workers, returning citizens, opportunity youth, soldiers in transition, etc.). Awarded funding will be expended over a two-year period.

Analysis: The funding from the grant will allow the (Lower Chattahoochee Workforce Area) WIOA Department / Job Training Division and Middle Flint Workforce Boards, representing 16 counties in Region 8 to team up to develop, and propose a plan that will utilize HDCI funds to develop an infrastructure of communication between the public and private sectors to identify the in-demand human capital needs of businesses, and align education and training programs to meet those needs. Since all workforce partners engaged in the regional One-Stop system will be connected to, and participating in this system, we will be better prepared to identify and create modes of entry for various segments of the target population. The Lower Chattahoochee Workforce Board will be the administrative entity for this grant with Columbus Technical College as the lead partner, or sector convener. Information on existing pathways, and plans/implementation of other high-demand pathways will be reported via semi-annual reports.

Financial Considerations: The grant amount awarded to Region 8 is $250,000.00, with a 10% math “in-kind”, for the WIOA Department Job Training Division as acting administrator. There is no financial obligation for the City.

Legal Considerations: A resolution from the City Council authorizing acceptance for the grant award on behalf of the City and authorize the City Manager to execute contract(s)/documentation to implement the proposed programming.

Recommended /Actions: Approval is requested to accept grant funds set aside for Region 8 in the amount of $250,000.00 with a 10% match “in kind”requirement, awarded through Georgia Department of Economic Development Workforce Division and to authorize the City Manager to approve any contract(s)/documentation on behalf of the City; authorize capacity building purchases for educational / industrial training and to amend the WIOA Department / Job Training Division fund (0220) by the applicable amount.



A RESOLUTION
NO._____

A RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE COLUMBUS CONSOLIDATED GOVERNMENT OF COLUMBUS, GEORGIA, TO ACCEPT GRANT FUNDS SET ASIDE FOR REGION 8 IN THE AMOUNT OF $250,000.00 WITH A 10% MATCH “IN KIND” REQUIREMENT, AWARDED THROUGH GEORGIA DEPARTMENT OF ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT WORKFORCE DIVISION AND AUTHORIZE THE CITY MANAGER TO APPROVE ANY CONTRACT(S)/DOCUMENTATION ON BEHALF OF THE CITY; AUTHORIZE CAPACITY BUILDING PURCHASES FOR EDUCATIONAL/INDUSTRIAL TRAINING AND TO AMEND THE WIOA DEPARTMENT/JOB TRAINING DIVISION FUND (0220) BY THE APPLICABLE AMOUNT.

WHEREAS, the Georgia High Demand Career Initiative (HDCI) Sector Partnership Capacity Building Grant is funded by the US Department of Labor made available through the Georgia Department of Economic Development Workforce Division (WFD) with the purpose of funding the state’s economic development regions. The Lower Chattahoochee, and Middle Flint Workforce Boards, representing 16 counties in Region 8, will team up to develop, and propose a plan that ties into Chamber’s 2025 Committee utilizing HDCI funds to develop an infrastructure of communication between the public and private sectors to identify the in-demand human capital needs to businesses, and align education and training programs to meet those needs with a 10% match “in kind” for a two year period ending June 30, 2019; and,

WHEREAS, the Workforce Innovation & Opportunity Act (WIOA) Department and Workforce Development Board (WDB) Chair requests permission to submit proposal for said funds for Region 8 for the Georgia High Demand Career Initiative (HDCI) Sector Partnership Capacity Building Grant; and,

WHEREAS, the purpose of this funding is to establish the Health Care and Advanced Manufacturing sector partnerships in the Lower Chattahoochee and Middle Flint Workforce Development areas. Becoming better prepared to identify and create modes of entry into the workforce for various segments of the population (i.e. Adult Ed students, adult and dislocated workers, incumbent workers, returning citizens, opportunity youth, soldiers in transition, etc.); and,

WHEREAS, the WIOA Department and WDB are committed to coordinating a collaborative effort aimed in the development of an infrastructure of communication between the public and private sectors to identify the in-demand human capital needs of businesses for industry growth for Workforce Development Area Fourteen at no cost to the Columbus Consolidated Government.


NOW, THEREFORE, THE COUNCIL OF COLUMBUS, GEORGIA, HEREBY RESOLVES AS FOLLOWS:

That the WIOA Department and WDB Chair are hereby authorized to submit proposal to accept the grant from the Georgia Department of Economic Development WFD for $250,000.00, with a 10% match “in kind requirement and authorize the City Manager to approve any Contract(s)/Documentation on behalf of the City; authorize Capacity Building purchases for educational/industrial training; and to amend the WIOA Department/Job Training Division fund (0220) by the amount of the grant awarded.
_____________


Introduced at a regular meeting of the Council of Columbus. Georgia, held the _____ day of ________________ 2017, and adopted at said meeting by the affirmative vote of _______________ members of Council.


Councilor Allen voting __________.
Councilor Baker voting __________.
Councilor Barnes voting __________.
Councilor Davis voting __________.
Councilor Garrett voting __________.
Councilor Henderson voting __________.
Councilor Huff voting __________.
Councilor Turner Pugh voting __________.
Councilor Thomas voting __________.
Councilor Woodson voting __________.




_____________________________ ________________________
Tiny B. Washington, Clerk of Council Teresa Pike Tomlinson, Mayor