Item Description:
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Amds to 7 Agmts, ext the terms and increasing the NTE amounts to allow for the acceptance of PY26 and PY27 funds
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Resolution:
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BE IT RESOLVED, that the following Amendments to Agreements for the provision of employment services be approved:
- HS00001649 with Goodwill Easter Seals, extend the term to 06/30/2029 and increase the NTE amount to $4,878,000.
- HS00001650 with Avivo, extend the term to 06/30/2029 and increase the NTE amount to $4,878,000.
- HS00001651 with Hired, extend the term to 06/30/2029 and increase the NTE amount to $4,878,000.
- HS00001652 with Minnesota Training Partnership, extend the term to 06/30/2029 and increase the NTE amount to $2,000,000.
- PR00006217 with Carver County, extend the term to 06/30/2029 and increase the NTE amount to $2,585,000.
- HS00001645 with Brooklyn Park Economic Development (BrookLynk), extend the term to 12/31/2028 and increase the NTE amount to $750,000.
- HS00001646 with Tree Trust, extend the term to 12/31/2028 with no increase to the NTE amount and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the Chair of the Board be authorized to sign the Agreements on behalf of the County; and the Controller be authorized to disburse funds as directed; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the acceptance of grant funding for this grant funding by Hennepin County Board of Commissioners does not imply a continued funding commitment by Hennepin County for this program when grant funds are no longer available.
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Background:
Under Title 1 of the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) the Adult, Youth, and Dislocated Worker programs are federally funded and designed to strengthen and improve our public workforce system by assisting individuals, including youth and those with significant barriers to employment, into high-quality jobs and careers and help employers hire and retain skilled workers. The State Dislocated Worker and Minnesota Youth programs operate in conjunction with the federal programs and have similar goals, measures and outcomes, but are funded at the state level.
Under Resolution 25-0119, Hennepin County is authorized to receive funding from the Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development (DEED) for the period of January 1, 2025, through December 31, 2029. These funds support services under the WIOA Adult, Youth, Dislocated Worker, State Dislocated Worker, and Minnesota Youth Programs.
On November 16, 2023, the Workforce Development Board (WDB) issued a Request for Proposal (RFP) pursuant to Hennepin County requirements for the WIOA Adult, Dislocated Worker, and MN State Dislocated Worker Programs as well as an RFP pursuant to the Hennepin County requirements for the WIOA Youth and Minnesota Youth programs. An independent panel of eight reviewed and selected providers. Contracts were executed with Hired, Avivo, Goodwill Easter Seals, Minnesota Training Partnership, BrookLynk, and Tree Trust for the period of July 1, 2024 through December 31, 2027. The contract with Carver County was executed for the period of July 1, 2024 through June 30, 2027.
To enable program providers to receive and fully utilize PY26 and PY27 WIOA Adult, WIOA Dislocated Worker, WIOA Young Adult, MN State Dislocated Worker Program, and SFY27/SFY28 Minnesota Youth Program grant funds, the contract terms must be extended two program years and the not-to-exceed (NTE) amounts must be increased to accommodate the allocation of PY26/SFY27 and SFY27/SFY28 funds.
The agreements include programmatic mandated services such as:
• Career services; Outreach, job search and placement assistance, comprehensive assessments, development of individual employment plans, counseling and career planning, and labor market information available to all job seekers.
• Training services; Links for customers to job opportunities in their communities, including both occupational training and training in basic skills. Participants use an individual training account to select an appropriate training program from a qualified training provider.
• Supportive services; Transportation, child care, dependent care; housing and needs-related payments are provided under certain circumstances to allow an individual to participate in the program.
• WIOA Youth services; Summer and year-round employment, work experience and academic enrichment to suburban Hennepin and Carver Counties with 75% out-of-school youth and 25% in-school youth.
• Minnesota Youth Program Services; provides summer employment services, work experience, and academic enrichment to suburban Hennepin County in-school and out-of-school youth.
The contracted providers included in this action request have demonstrated strong performance through PY24 and PY25 and are well positioned to continue delivering high-quality services through PY26 and PY27.
recommendation
Recommendation from County Administrator: Recommend Approval