SUBJECT: Authorization for NOVA to Apply for Governor’s Discretionary Funds in an Amount not to Exceed $800,000 to Support Allied Health Training Initiative
REPORT IN BRIEF
The State of California has issued a solicitation for proposals and guidelines relative to Workforce Investment Act (WIA) Governor’s 15 Percent Discretionary funds and Wagner-Peyser Act Governor’s 10 Percent funds. There are three allowable funding categories designated by the Governor, two of which are in alignment with the Allied Health Training Initiative currently in development. It is recommended by staff that the Sunnyvale City Council, on behalf of the NOVA seven-city consortium, concur with the decision of the NOVA Workforce Board and authorize the submission of a proposal to the State of California for WIA 15 percent funds and optional Wagner-Peyser 10 percent funds in an amount not to exceed $800,000.
BACKGROUND
The federal Workforce Investment Act provides that the Governor may reserve up to 15 percent from each of the amounts allotted to the three funding streams (adult, youth, and dislocated worker) for statewide workforce investment activities. The federal Wagner-Peyser Act provides that the Governor may reserve up to 10 percent of total State Wagner-Peyser funds to provide WIA core and intensive services. The solicitation will make available up to $20 million of WIA discretionary funds and up to $2 million of Wagner-Peyser funds. The maximum total award for each grant will be limited to $800,000 for a grant term of 18 to 24 months. Proposals are due on January 5, 2005, and grants are to be awarded on February 1. At its meeting of December 1, 2004, the NOVA Workforce Board approved the submission of a proposal for up to $800,000.
EXISTING POLICY
The proposed activities are consistent with the City of Sunnyvale's Socio-Economic Goal 5.1F: Provide job training and employment services within constraints of operative, federal regulations and available federal funding, to address the locally-determined employment and training needs of economically disadvantaged residents and others with special needs.
DISCUSSION
The California Workforce Investment Board has approved criteria for focusing the Governor’s Discretionary funds where there is a maximum return on investment both in assisting job seekers to enter employment and to retrain existing workers in high need and high wage sectors of the economy. The Governor’s funding categories for this solicitation are:
- Growth Industries—High Wage, High Skill Job Training
- Removing Barriers for Special Need Populations
- Industries with a Statewide Need—Nurses and Other Health-Related Industries
Growth Industries projects are designed to prepare individuals for high-wage, high skill jobs that help California’s businesses succeed and expand. These projects should address the skills needed by growth industries expected to play a major role in the expansion of California’s economy and where current skill shortages are hampering business growth.
Removing Barriers projects will provide customized services and training to prepare special needs populations for entry-level jobs and/or upgrade skill levels for demand occupations.
Industries with a Statewide Need projects are designed to focus on the nursing and healthcare industries to alleviate shortages of workers through both retention and upgrade skills training of current employees an well as recruitment and training of additional participants in the nursing and healthcare field.
The Allied Health Training Initiative currently under development by NOVA and many workforce, education, and industry partners has as its goal to provide new and expanded opportunities for skill building and certification programs in the high demand allied health field (see RTC 04-390, November 9, 2004, for further description). Its objectives appear to mesh well with both the Growth Industries funding category described above as well as the Industries with a Statewide Need category (particularly the latter).
The funding requested through this proposal will focus on the Allied Health Training Institute, and may include funding for a portion of an Institute Director, streamlined nursing training, and a simulation lab for healthcare training. The amount requested will not exceed $800,000.
Fiscal Impact
There will be no fiscal impact to the City because funds received will offset program expenditures.
CONCLUSION
The State of California has issued a solicitation for proposals and guidelines relative to Workforce Investment Act (WIA) Governor’s 15 Percent Discretionary funds and Wagner-Peyser Act Governor’s 10 Percent funds. The Governor’s categories for focus of these funds are in alignment with the Allied Health Training Initiative currently in development. Staff recommends that Council concurs with the decision of the NOVA Workforce Board and authorizes the submission of a proposal to the State of California for WIA 15 percent funds and optional Wagner-Peyser 10 percent funds in an amount not to exceed $800,000.
PUBLIC CONTACT
1. Public contact was made through posting of the Council agenda on the City's official notice bulletin board, posting of the agenda and report on the City's web page and the availability of the report in the Library and City Clerk's Office.
ALTERNATIVES
1. Council authorizes the submission of a proposal to the State of California for Workforce Investment Act Governor’s 15 percent Discretionary funds and optional Wagner-Peyser 10 percent funds in an amount not to exceed $800,000.
2. Council does not approve submission of a proposal.
3. Other action as determined by Council.
RECOMMENDATION
It is recommended by staff that the Sunnyvale City Council, on behalf of the NOVA seven-city consortium, concur with the decision of the NOVA Workforce Board and adopt Alternative 1: Council authorizes the submission of a proposal to the State of California for Workforce Investment Act Governor’s 15 percent Discretionary funds and optional Wagner-Peyser 10 percent funds in an amount not to exceed $800,000. It is further recommended that the City Manager or her designee be authorized to execute the necessary grant agreements relative to these funds.
Reviewed by:
Michael J. Curran, Director,
Department of Employment Development
Prepared by: Jeanette Langdell
Employment Training Manager
Approved by:
Amy Chan
City Manager