Title
a. Approve and authorize the Executive Director of the Monterey County Workforce Development Board and the Chair of the Board of Supervisors to sign a Regional Agreement with the Workforce Development Boards of Santa Cruz and San Luis Obispo counties, effective January 28, 2020 through June 30, 2022, for the provision of regional workforce development services funded by various grants in the total amount of $1,489,975; and
b. Authorize the Executive Director of the Monterey County Workforce Development Board to sign amendments to the Regional Agreement, subject to approval by County Counsel, that reflect increases or decreases in funding levels of up to 25% ($372,494), so long as the amendments do not substantially change the terms of the Regional Agreement.
Report
RECOMMENDATION:
It is recommended that the Board of Supervisors:
a. Approve and authorize the Executive Director of the Monterey County Workforce Development Board and the Chair of the Board of Supervisors to sign a Regional Agreement with the Workforce Development Boards of Santa Cruz and San Luis Obispo counties, effective January 28, 2020 through June 30, 2022, for the provision of regional workforce development services funded by various grants in the total amount of $1,489,975; and
b. Authorize the Executive Director of the Monterey County Workforce Development Board to sign amendments to the Regional Agreement, subject to approval by County Counsel, that reflect increases or decreases in funding levels of up to 25% ($372,494), so long as the amendments do not substantially change the terms of the Regional Agreement.
SUMMARY:
Background
The Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) of 2014 mandated the identification of planning and service delivery within defined geographical regions. In 2016, the California Workforce Development Board (CWDB) designated the local workforce development boards (WDBs) of Santa Cruz, Monterey, San Luis Obispo, and Santa Barbara counties as the Coastal Region Planning Unit (Coastal RPU), one of the 14 regional planning units within California. The WIOA mandates that RPUs develop regional plans and service delivery strategies and share administrative costs. The Board approved the required modifications to the Coastal RPU’s Regional Plan for Program Years 2017-2020 on April 23, 2019.
Regional Funds
During 2019, the CWDB awarded various grants, in the total amount of $1,489,975, to the Coastal RPU to support regional coordination and industry engagement in Regional Plan priority industry sectors such as healthcare, tourism, and agriculture. The Regional Agreement implements the Slingshot 2.0 grant focused on priority sector business engagement ($200,000); the Regional Organizer and Regional Plan Implementation grants to coordinate information, training, and funding for the region ($163,000); and the two separate Prison to Employment (P2E) Implementation grants: Implementation Direct Services ($647,983) and Supportive Service Earn and Learn ($478,992), with both P2E grants focused on providing vocational preparation, work experience and employment opportunities to a total of 109 formerly incarcerated and justice-involved individuals.
Although Santa Barbara County is part of the Coastal RPU, its contracting requirements necessitated a separate agreement with Monterey County WDB; therefore, regional funding distributed to Santa Barbara County in the amount of $382,628 will be discussed subsequently as a separate agenda item.
Regional Grant Fund Source Total Grant Amount
Slingshot 2.0 Implementation $200,000
Regional Organizer/Regional Plan Implementation $163,000
P2E Implementation Direct Services (IDS) $647,983
P2E Supportive Services Earn and Learn (SSEL) $478,992
$1,489,975
The Monterey County WDB is the designated fiscal agent for the Coastal RPU and is responsible for disbursement of grant funds, regional procurement, regional fiscal management, and grant reporting activities as well as delivery of workforce development services. Under the Regional Agreement, the Monterey County WDB retains up to 10% of each grant fund, per federal regulations, to deliver fiscal services.
The Regional Agreement designates a mix of regional funding for each local WDB, as detailed below:
Local Board Contract Amt. Purpose
Santa Cruz County WDB $131,984 A mix of Slingshot 2.0 and Prison
to Employment funds
Monterey County WDB $688,980 A mix of Regional Organizer and
Regional Plan Implementation,
Slingshot 2.0, and Prison to
Employment funding
San Luis Obispo County WDB $194,266 A mix of Slingshot 2.0 and Prison
to Employment funds
Monterey County WDB $92,117 Fiscal agent activities and
administrative costs
The Board is asked to authorize the Executive Director of the Monterey County WDB to execute amendments to the Agreement in the event that additional funds are allocated by the CWDB, or
if funding is decreased, in an amount not to exceed 25% per grant fund, subject to review by County Counsel. This will allow for more timely expenditure of funds.
Coordination between WDBs within the Coastal RPU is vital to introducing regional funding and leveraging resources to improve the workforce system in the Coastal Region. The proposed
Regional Agreement is also crucial to the success of the Regional Plan. On December 4, 2019, the Monterey County WDB approved the Regional Agreement and voted to submit it to the Board of Supervisors for approval, acting as CEO of the Monterey County local workforce area.
OTHER AGENCY INVOLVEMENT:
The WDBs of Santa Cruz and San Luis Obispo counties worked with the Monterey County WDB to develop the Regional Agreement. County Counsel has reviewed the proposed Regional Agreement as to form.
FINANCING:
The Board’s approval of the Regional Agreement will have no impact on the Monterey County General Fund. Prison to Employment funds awarded by the CWDB underwrite the contemplated activities and services. These grant funds identified in the agreement are budgeted in Fund 021, Appropriations Unit CAO030, Department 1050, Unit 8478.
BOARD OF SUPERVISORS STRATEGIC INITIATIVES:
Approval of the Regional Agreement will foster regional efficiencies and alignment in service delivery and industry engagement among the local boards of the Coastal RPU.
√ Economic Development - Through collaboration, strengthen economic development to ensure a diversified and healthy economy.
√ Administration - Promote an organization that practices efficient and effective resource management and is recognized for responsiveness, strong customer orientation, accountability and transparency.
√ Health & Human Services - Improve health and quality of life through County supported policies, programs, and services; promoting access to equitable opportunities for healthy choices and healthy environments in collaboration with communities.
Prepared by: Approved by:
______________________________ ______________________________
Elizabeth Kaylor Chris Donnelly
Management Analyst Executive Director
(831) 755-5385 (831) 759-6644
Attachments:
Regional Agreement between the workforce development boards of Santa Cruz, San Luis Obispo, and Monterey counties