Request for Committee Action
A briefing memo explaining the purpose, background, and impact of the requested action.
Grant application to U.S. Department of Labor for employment and training services (RCA-2020-01087)
ORIGINATING DEPARTMENT
To Committee(s)
| # | Committee Name | Meeting Date |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Business, Inspections, Housing & Zoning Committee | November 2, 2020 |
Action Item(s)
| # | File Type | Subcategory | Item Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Action | Grant | Authorizing the submittal of a grant application to U.S. Department of Labor, in an amount up to $7,000,000 over 4 years, to train and place jobseekers in high-demand information technology careers. |
Ward / Neighborhood / Address
| # | Ward | Neighborhood | Address |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | Not Applicable |
Background Analysis
The City of Minneapolis is designated as Local Workforce Development Area (WDA) #10 by the Governor, under authority granted in the U.S. Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act of 2014 (WIOA). CPED Employment and Training administers workforce development programs for the City of Minneapolis and provides staff support to the Minneapolis Workforce Development Board (MWDB), which is appointed by the Mayor and approved by the City Council to provide programmatic and policy guidance for WIOA-funded programs.
Minneapolis will be the lead applicant and fiscal agent in a regional partnership with the other five local WDAs of the metropolitan region to apply for competitive U.S. Department of Labor H-1B Workforce Grant Progam funds. The other five metro WDAs include: Anoka WDA # 12, Hennepin-Carver WDA # 9, Dakota-Scott WDA # 14, Ramsey WDA # 15, and Washington WDA # 16.
The proposed services will:
- Build new or expand existing sector partnerships that develop a workforce strategy across an economic region.
- Establish new or expand career pathways in the sector that focus on the skills, competencies and credentials in demand by employers.
- Offer high-quality training options.
- Ensure participants receive the supportive services needed to participate fully and succeed.
Eligible participants must be:
- Age 17 or older and not enrolled in secondary school, and
- Un- or underemployed persons seeking full-time employment, or
- Incumbent workers needing to upskill or reskill to retain employment or advance
If awarded, the focus will be to advance our MSP TechHire initiative throughout the metropolitan region. Goals will include:
- Goal 1: Increase the amount job seekers entering the tech sector by offering more access to on-ramp trainings.
- Goal 2: Increase the number of people being trained in middle- and high-level tech skills while building additional supports during and after training
- Goal 3: Expand tech career pathways to provide opportunities for high school graduates to gain experience or find employment.
The Department of Labor requires grant awardees to leverage 25%, which can be from co-enrollments in other federally funded programs including WIOA, or resources provided by industry/employers or partners including donation of facilities, mentors, faculty, and equipment. The city and its partners will meet this leverage requirement through existing resources.