Item Description:
title
Approval and submission of Workforce Innovation Opportunity Act Local Plan to the State of Minnesota
end
Resolution:
body
BE IT RESOLVED, that the Hennepin County Board of Commissioners approves the Hennepin-Carver Workforce Innovation Opportunity Act Local Plan for federal program years 2024 - 2027, and authorizes the Plan be submitted to the Governor of the State of Minnesota as required by the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act. The Hennepin County Board of Commissioners authorizes staff to make modifications to the plans as may be required by the State during the 90-day review period from May 31, 2024 through August 30, 2024.
end
Background:
Under the provisions of Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA), the Governor of each State or Territory must submit a Unified or Combined State Plan to the U.S. Department of Labor that outlines a strategy for the State’s workforce development system. The publicly-funded workforce development system is a national network of Federal, State, regional, and local agencies and organizations that provide a range of employment, education, training, and related services and supports to help all job-seekers secure good jobs while providing businesses with the skilled workers they need to compete in the global economy. In alignment with the State Plan, each local workforce development board must submit a three-year regional and local plan.
The Local Board for Workforce Development Area (WDA) 09, in this case the Hennepin-Carver Workforce Development Board, in partnership with the chief elected official for the local area, has developed the local plan which meets the requirements in WIOA section 108 and requires submission to the Governor.
The local plan includes a description of the strategic planning elements, consisting of:
1. an analysis of the regional economic conditions including existing and emerging in-demand industry sectors and occupations and the employment needs of employers in those industry sectors and occupations;
2. an analysis of the knowledge and skills needed to meet the employment needs of the employers in the region, including employment needs in in-demand industry sectors and occupations;
3. an analysis of the workforce in the region, including current labor force employment (and unemployment) data, and information on labor market trends, and the educational and skill levels of the workforce in the region, including individuals with barriers to employment;
4. an analysis of the workforce development activities (including education and training) in the region, including an analysis of the strengths and weaknesses of such services, and the capacity to provide such services, to address the identified education and skill needs of the workforce and the employment needs of employers in the region;
5. a description of the local board’s strategies and goals for preparing an educated and skilled workforce (including youth and individuals with barriers to employment), including goals relating to the performance accountability measures based on primary indicators of performance described in section 116(b)(2)(A) in order to support regional economic growth and economic self-sufficiency.
Taking into account analyses described in subparagraphs (A) through (D), the Local Plan outlines a strategy to work with the entities that carry out the core programs to align resources available to the local area, to achieve the strategic vision and goals described in subparagraph (E).
Per the requirements outlined by the Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development, the Regional and Local Plan were subject to Public Hearing during the April 23rd meeting of the Hennepin County Board of Commissioners’ Administration, Operations & Budget Committee. Input received via this Public Hearing has been incorporated into the Plan.
The Regional and Local Plan were also posted for public comment on April 17, 2024 and sent directly to partners and providers with an invitation to provide comment. Public comment is being accepted until end of business on May 8, 2024.
Current Request:
The action now requested by the Hennepin-Carver Workforce Development Board is for the Hennepin County Board of Commissioners to approve the Hennepin-Carver Workforce Innovation Opportunity Act Local and Regional Plan and authorize staff to submit the Plan to the Governor of the State of Minnesota. This local plan will then be incorporated into the Unified or Combined State Plan for the State and submitted to the U.S. Department of Labor. The Plan outlines the Hennepin-Carver Workforce Development Board’s contribution to the statewide workforce development system.
recommendation
Recommendation from County Administrator: Recommend Approval