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RESOLUTION TO AUTHORIZE SUBAGREEMENTS FOR THE CALIFORNIANSFORALL YOUTH WORKFORCE PROGRAM IN THE AMOUNT OF $2,606,804
recommended action
RECOMMENDATION
It is recommended that the City Council approve a resolution to:
1. Authorize the City Manager to execute agreements with four (4) subgrantees totaling $2,606,804 to implement youth workforce programs with the CaliforniansForAll Youth Workforce Program grant funds.
2. It is recommended that the resolution 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
City Council accepted a $4.3M CaliforniansForAll Youth Workforce Grant in December 2021 (2021-12-14-1508). The intent of this grant is to fund programs administered by subgrantees resulting in increased youth employment in key areas of public service, climate, food insecurity, and COVID-19 relief. Following execution of the grant agreement, staff issued a request for proposals to identify qualified subgrantees. Currently, staff are recommending sub agreements for four (4) subgrantees totaling $2,606,804 (Exhibits 1-4 to the Resolution). The remaining funds ($1,693,196) will be used to develop a City Summer Jobs Youth Pilot Program and potentially fund another external partner and/or supplement these four (4) programs at a later date. Additionally, Council already approved using a portion of these funds for 1FTE within the City Manager’s Office to oversee implementation of the external and internal programs.
DISCUSSION
Background
The California Volunteers’ CaliforniansForAll Youth Workforce Development Program is a Governor’s initiative that is partnering with California cities to bolster youth workforce engagement and interest in critical career pathways. California Volunteers’ mission is to promote service and volunteerism to tackle state and local issues. The main objectives of the program are to “increase youth employment, develop career pathways, and strengthen city/community capacity to address key areas of food insecurity, climate, and COVID-19 recovery”. To achieve these goals, the CaliforniansForAll Youth Workforce Development Program appropriated its $150 million budget to the 13 largest cities in California proportionately based on population. The City of Stockton, previously the 13th largest in California, was issued $4,355,097 to be used to recruit, train, and place high-need youth participants, ages 16 - 30, into programs in the provided focus areas.
The City released a Request For Proposals (RFP) in September 2022 asking respondents to offer programs that are within the focus area(s) of the grant and are aligned with the City’s priorities. The City received seven (7) responses to the solicitation, totaling approximately $4.6M.
On December 6th, 2022, staff requested Council’s approval for a resolution to execute agreements with the four (4) subgrantees. Council conditionally approved the resolution but directed staff to verify that the majority of each subgrantees program budgets represented expenses that directly benefit youth participants, such as wages, benefits, and wrap services.
Staff has since met with the four (4) subgrantees and negotiated revisions to their proposed budgets and confirmed that the greater proportion of budgets were directly related youth benefits, per Council’s direction. The four (4) subgrantees have accommodated Council’s request.
Present Situation
The City has identified four (4) subgrantees who are well positioned to receive this significant, one-time investment:
Rising Sun established the Climate Careers Program in 2000, to help the community use less energy. Since then, the program has grown exponentially and has evolved into a leading green workforce development organization. The Climate Careers program is a earn-and-learn youth development program for young adults ages 16-24. Through the Climate Careers program, Rising Sun has employed and trained, 1,854 youth and served 55,110 households throughout the Bay Area. The program expanded to Stockton in 2014, employing nearly 200 youths and providing services to more than 5,000 homes. Since 2014, Rising Sun has saved Stockton residents over 400,000 kWh of energy and more than 18 million gallons of water.
Through The Climate Careers program, Rising Sun will recruit, and hire twenty (20) youth participants and provide youth with much-needed income while they develop professional skills through on-the-job experience. Youth participants will receive training in customer service, professional development, Eco literacy, and the installation of LED light bulbs, faucet aerators, and other energy and water saving devices. Upon completion of the three-month Climate Careers program, youth will have the opportunity to continue a career exploration through a 140-hour paid externship with a green employer in Stockton.
In addition to supporting youth workforce, the Climate Careers program is also a valuable resource for the community. By increasing capacity to serve an additional 250 households in Stockton, more residents will save money on their energy and water bills. Offsetting energy/water usage helps combat climate change and provides an opportunity for residents to gain knowledge and valuable information about energy/water conservation.
Rising Sun proposes a total budget of $249,400 This amount is $14,400 higher than the amount of $235,000 that was proposed in December. The budget was adjusted to increase the proportion of funding going toward youth wages and benefits per Council’s direction. Additionally, note that Rising Sun will leverage their own funds for the expenses for the energy and waters saving devices required to support this program.
Parents by Choice (PbC) is a nonprofit organization founded in Stockton in 2006 with the mission to bring hope and healing to children, youth, and their families. Since inception, PbC has been dedicated to supporting at-risk children and have developed extensive community programming to support this population.
In 2020, PbC purchased the Courthouse Plaza building in Downtown Stockton with the dream to create agency-owned businesses that provide jobs for at-risk-youth. Business within the Plaza include Courthouse building management, Plaza Perks Coffee Shop, The Underground Arcade, Main Street Gifts, and The Cruise Café. To date, PbC has employed eighteen (18) staff members.
Through the Youth Workforce Development program, PbC will expand employment opportunities for seventy (70) youth participants ages 16-30. Youth participants will work over a three-month period at the Courthouse Plaza agency owned businesses. Youth participants will become immediate contributors to the workforce and have opportunities to work in entry level positions as; receptionist, file clerk, maintenance, safety staff, barista, party host, retail associates, kitchen staff, wait staff, manager, and assistant manager positions. These entry level positions assist youth participants to gain valuable life skills and competencies, take fiscal responsibility in their personal lives, and equip them to make important decisions about their professional future.
During the three months of program participation, youth will also be supported with wrap services such as, case management, on the job mentoring, job readiness training, leadership development, and transition planning to ensure successful transition into the workforce.
Parents by Choice proposes a total budget of $654,888.
Greater Valley Conservation Corps (GVCC) is a certified local conservation corps established in 2010. The purpose of GVCC is to inspire, educate, and serve our local youth and communities by proving opportunities to practice a strong work ethic and environmental stewardship. Last fiscal year, GVCC recruited over one hundred (100) high need young adults who were trained and placed in employment opportunities in natural resources and recycling occupations. GVCC has maintained an 85% positive placement rate from transitioning corps-members out of GVCC program into full-time positions, vocational internships and/or postsecondary education opportunities. Examples of positive placements include City of Stockton, GRID Alternatives, Caltrans, Tesla, Brightview Landscaping, SJCOE Special Education, CodeStack Academy, Amazon, River Partners, CALFIRE, California State Parks, U.S. Forest Service, California State University Stanislaus, and California State University Sacramento
GVCC Conservation Corps will provide outreach and recruitment to serve sixty (60) individuals ages 18-26. Corps-members in this program will be given employment opportunities that contribute to environmental and waste management, natural resource management, graffiti-litter abatement, and supporting food drive and community awareness events.
Wraparound services, which include free academic and vocational education, mental health support, safety and equipment training, case management, free meals, career exploration, and job placement, are incorporated into the program to provide resources and support for youth retention and successful completion of the program.
Greater Valley Conservation Corps proposes a total budget of $777,517.
San Joaquin A+ is a group of educators, business leaders, active citizens, and philanthropist who collectively support education. San Joaquin A+ is committed to Stockton and San Joaquin County, and since 1996 have set a vision to prepare students to be successful and responsible citizens.
The Early College High School is a study and work career connected learning approach that combines classroom instruction with relevant, real work experience. The evidence base for Early College High School programs nationally suggest that students enrolled in these programs graduate high school at higher rates, complete associate’s and bachelor’s degrees at significantly higher rates, save substantially more on college tuition, and are more likely to be employed full-time 10 years after entering high school.
San Joaquin A+ will use this “earn and learn” model to promote Youth Workforce Development and will serve seventy (70) high school aged youth. Youth participants in the Early College High School program will receive paid internships/ apprenticeships, complete their requirements for admission to UC and CSU systems, may earn 1-2 years of college credit or obtain a work credential. Youth participants will be matched with career-connected learning opportunities offered by local employers such as Stockton Unified and San Joaquin County Office of Education.
The Early College High School participants will also have online access to career exploration, financial planning tools, work-readiness training, and resume and cover letter tools. Youth in this program will also receive books and program supplies, and additionally receive the support of a mentor to ensure active engagement and participation.
San Joaquin A+ proposes a total budget of $925,000.
FINANCIAL SUMMARY
The City and its subgrantees will pay for project related expenses in full and then submit documentation for reimbursement through the CaliforiansForAll Youth Workforce Grant. There will be no impact to General Fund or any unrestricted funds, all related costs will be supported by the grant funding. No matching funds are required for this grant. Revenue and expenditures have sufficient appropriation authority in the, CA4ALL Youth Workforce Grant, City Manager’s Special Grants Fund - Reimbursement, General Administrative Division.