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ADOPT A RESOLUTION TO ACCEPT CONGRESSIONALLY DIRECTED SPENDING IN THE AMOUNT OF $1,000,000 THROUGH THE WORKFORCE INNOVATION AND OPPORTUNITY ACT
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RECOMMENDATION
It is recommended that the City Council adopt a resolution to:
1. Authorize the City Manager to execute a grant agreement with the United States Department of Labor in the amount of $1,000,000;
2. Authorize the City Manager to appropriate grant revenues and expenditures in the amount of $1,000,000 and;
3. Authorize the City Manager to execute and manage contractor agreements and consultant agreements in amounts consistent with the Grant Agreement.
It is also recommended that the City Council authorize the City Manager to take appropriate and necessary actions to carry out the purpose and intent of the resolution.
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Summary
Staff seeks City Council approval to accept $1,000,000 in Congressionally Directed Spending (via a grant agreement) from the United States Department of Labor (Exhibit 1 to the Resolution). This funding was made available through the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) and will be used for the Stockton Skilled Through Alternative Routes (STAR) Program. The STAR Program seeks to serve 20 participants committed to a minimum of 20 weekly hours for engagement in employment readiness activities at a rate of $20 an hour for 12 months. The Office of Violence Prevention will lead the implementation of this program. This grant is ready to launch immediately upon City Council approval and will conclude April 30, 2026.
DISCUSSION
Background
The City of Stockton was awarded Congressionally Directed Funding through Congressmen McNerney’s Office in 2022. This funding was included in the Federal Budget approved in late 2022, which was the result of a direct request from the City to the Congressmen’s Office for a Stockton Youth Workforce Development Program. This request was based on the Council-approved legislative priorities for FY 2022. The City requested funding to increase the field of young, qualified professionals in Stockton who are prepared for the future economy. The City proposed to use project funds to sub-contract with successful local workforce development programs to expand access to disadvantaged youth. This funding would be coordinated with the City’s current youth workforce development grants to augment existing programs and create new opportunities.
Present Situation
City staff worked with staff from the Department of Labor to develop the City’s high-level Congressionally Directed Funding Request into the more specific Stockton STAR Program. This program, which has been approved by the Department of Labor, seeks to serve 20 participants committed to a minimum of 20 weekly hours for engagement in employment readiness activities at a rate of $20 an hour for 12 months. This program will be implemented by the Office of Violence Prevention (OVP), and the grant participants will be OVP clients. The STAR Program will consist of four phases. Phase 1 will be the onboarding and needs assessment for the 20 participants. This includes a welcome and orientation to the program, which is where the expectations of the program will be outlined. Additionally, individual needs assessments for all participants will be conducted, such as risk, self-sufficiency, and substance use assessments. Phase 2 will focus on employment readiness, offering participants comprehensive career assessments, employment navigator facilitated workshops, and work ethics training. This will prepare participants for Phase 3, which will be an ‘Earn-and-Learn’ apprenticeship. Participants will have paid on-the-job learning experiences and skills certification opportunities, as well as continuing wraparound support from OVP and sub-grantees. The final phase will involve on-going wraparound support as the participants transition to permanent employment opportunities, as well as program success evaluation.
FINANCIAL SUMMARY
The grant award is for $1,000,000. To establish the program and grant funding, an appropriation of revenue and expenditures of $1,000,000 is necessary in the City Manager’s Special Grants Fund - Reimbursement, General Administration Division. There will be no impact to the General Fund because of accepting this grant funding.