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Receive a report from Heather Henry, Executive Director of the Workforce Development Board of Solano County and Tim Murrill, Director of the Solano Small Business Development Center on the COVID-19 related progress and new workforce initiatives
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Published Notice Required? Yes ___ No _X _
Public Hearing Required? Yes ___ No _X _
DEPARTMENTAL RECOMMENDATION:
It is recommended that the Board of Supervisors receive a report on COVID-19 related progress and new grant activities from Heather Henry, Executive Director of the Workforce Development Board of Solano County, and Tim Murrill from Solano Small Business Development Center on the COVID-19 related progress and new workforce initiatives.
SUMMARY:
The presentation will provide an update on new programmatic activities and COVID-19 strategies, as well as an overview of new funding streams.
FINANCIAL IMPACT:
The WDB does not receive general funds from the County. The WDB submits a plan for grant activities, service levels, and use of funds, to the State of California on behalf of the County. The State allocates Federal money to the WDB through the County based on predetermined funding formulas. The WDB may also receive discretionary funding awards through the North Bay Employment Connection regional collaborative, through federal/state/local funding awards for special workforce projects, and through other awarded service contracts. The County has allocated $2 million of CARES funding for small business assistance grants as outlined below.
DISCUSSION:
The WDB has redesigned its service delivery and added new initiatives for job seekers and businesses as a result of COVID-19 community needs. In addition, the WDB has received new funding streams for FY2020/21 since its original budget submitted to the County.
Per the August 11, 2020 Board of Supervisors meeting, an additional $2,000,000 has been allocated out of CARES Act funding to the WDB to implement a Small Business Assistance Grant. A proposed plan for the program is attached.
New funding streams received since February 2020, totaling $4.4 million, include funding to support individuals and businesses during COVID-19 and funding to support targeted populations with training and employment:
• $2,000,000 - CARES Act funding from Solano County for Small Business Assistance Grant - grant period: March 2020 - December 2020
• $693,000 - Rapid Response Additional Assistance from the California Employment Development Department for COVID-19 response - grant period: March 2020 - March 2021
• $500,000 - Veteran Employment-Related Assistance Program from the California Employment Development Department - grant period: April 2020 - September 2021
• $319,250 - AB1111 funds from the California Workforce Development Board - grant period: June 2020 - March 2022
• $205,000 - National Dislocated Worker Grant, Emergency Response from Department of Labor - grant period: April 2020 - March 2022
• $200,000 - Disability Employment Accelerator from the California Employment Development Department - grant period: April 2020 to December 2021
• $173,000 - CARES Act Funding for the Solano Small Business Development Center - grant period: March 2020 - September 2021
• $150,000 - North Bay Regional Planning Implementation 3.0 from the California Workforce Development Board - grant period: April 2020 to March 2022
• $50,000 - Family Assistance Funding from the Yocha Dehe Wintun Nation through First 5 Solano - grant period: April 2020 - December 2020
• $50,000 - Layoff Aversion Fund Donation from Genentech, Inc.
• $50,000 - Layoff Aversion Fund Contract from City of Benicia
• $15,000 - Small Business Assistance from the Wells Fargo Foundation
ALTERNATIVES:
The Board may choose not to receive the report from the WDB. This is not recommended because this presentation support efforts to improve workforce development services within Solano County.
OTHER AGENCY INVOLVEMENT:
The County Administrator’s Office has been consulted and concurs with the recommendation.
CAO RECOMMENDATION:
APPROVE DEPARTMENTAL RECOMMENDATION