Travis County Commissioners Court
January 29, 2008
Item 14
Now, number 14. Consider and take appropriate action regarding solicitation of proposals for additional workforce development projects for fiscal year 2008.
>> good morning, judge, Commissioners, sherry flemming, executive manager, health and human services and veterans service. As you know, health and human services was asked to report to the court at the end of last year on your investments in workforce development. You had the opportunity to hear report from the ray marshal center and they have been looking at not only new investment that you have made over the last few years in workforce development but also our more long-term investments. And so we were pleased that they could report to you that your investments are making an impact in those resident lies who have the opportunity to access those programs. Certainly we know there is more to be done. Staff have provided you backup material basically describing for you our recommendation should you want to invest additional workforce development dollars. Just in summary, our recommendation would be that you consider a rfp process, a request for proposals, for any funding that you might, any new funding that you might allocate in this area. We also identified in our memo $100,000 of funding that had been previously allocated to the greater Austin chamber of commerce. Those funds have not been disburse the. They have been in our budget for about three years now. So we identified those funds as a possible source of new workforce funding that could be reallocated.
>> reminder, the funding, jeffrey richardson now at the urban league was with the Austin chamber of commerce when we got the recommendation basicalliment they were supposed to put together a project so we set aside the money earmarked in your budget. We have not gotten that project. What I’m thinking is that since we set it aside for a workforce development project, we come up with another one, that would be an appropriate source of funding. What I see in my backup, I that we consider adding maybe another hundred thousand dollars based on the proposals. If we get a proposal we think we ought to fund, take it from allocated reserve. If we don't, don't do it. We're sort of midyear so that helps a little bit. But money being there two and a half years, I hate to see it stay there. The other thing is workforce development is one of those areas where the need is great and we have examples of where lives really have been changed. What we learned from the comprehensive evaluation was that some of our programs do work well and do a good job of improving lives, putting people back in a position where they basically can sustain themselves. So if we can do more of that, question I asked myself was really, why not. For pairs, we--taxpayers, we don't want to be wasteful but if we recognize a good investment.
>> judge, especially folks that need immediate employment, they need work right now. A lot of things we are doing now and the program was called opportunity Austin, I remember as far as the chamber coming in and we set that money aside to teal with that particular program that you mentioned earlier as far as the chamber is concerned. I just think we can take better use of that money because the employment opportunities an and the workforce, they are very necessary and very needed. I wish we could do a lot more because there are some folks that are desperate for work and employment opportunity and we need to look at the diversity of that to make sure that folks have that avenue as far as employment.
>> I think the distinction that you are making is that we put additional funds into workforce. But we purchase those services based on what we are looking for to make an impact in the community. So we kind of have to remember that, putting additional money in there for the workforce but then we purchase the services that we need.
>> that is correct. In our backup also we identified three areas where we currently have investments. And so, certainly as a part of a rfp process, we could have proposer indicate which area their program best fit, whether it's adult basic education, for example, whether it's short term an example of short-term projects would be the rapid ememployment model, and long term, something more college relate, that sort of thing. So we could identify and define those three areas where we have historically invested dollars and have the proposers identify which area in workforce development their proposal best meets our their services best meets which area.
>> we're talking about an additional hundred thousand if there is something--
>> yes, sir, based on proposals that we get. So in my view, definitely the $100 that's kind of been waiting to be invested. And if we think that we get proposals that ought to be funded to the tune of a second $100,000, that we do that. If we don't, nothing jumps out, then we don't spend that second hundred thousand. I think during the budget process we ought to take a good look at all of the services that we purchase. It may well be that some of the services are not as critical as some other. We never redirect funding but I’m, I think that would be a good way to increase investments in some areas assuming we can reduce them in others.
>> judge, health and human services, we would look at long term, how we go about it in the few, whether reprogramming dollars that we already have or at least pilot dollars the county has invested and doing some efforts and how we go about doing this after the budget process next year looking to a larger effort to look fresh at the services we're getting.
>> if our focus is really making a difference, unlike this is not quite like basic needs where you are dealing without food, shelter and clothing, that's a whole lot more bake than workforce development, although workforce development as united way says does give you an opportunity to have a great deal more impact on lives. I think unfortunately we have to balance the two. Frightance me to drive to salvation army when it's 28 or 29 degrees because the line is long. --carriage house is across the street. Don't want to get emotional about this but that's the idea. We have the hundred thousand, and let's put it to usement if we are doing that and something surfaces that we think out to be purchased with another 100,000, we consider doing that.
>> (inaudible)
>> if we take the second one.
>> allocated reserve.
>> may be only call for some members to support the first hundred thousand but motor the second--not the second hundred, although I know I started out with an unanimous vote.
>> if it's the court's direction to staff today to initiate a rfp process in the area of workforce development, we can get with purchasing and actually put out some time lines and be able to at least come back to you or communicate in writing about how long we think to get a proposal, get the request out on the street, get the proposals back, and get to a point where we are in a position to recommend something to you.
>> we're going to do a motion on that.
>> I am anticipating your direction.
>> we do have representatives here from capital idea . Any comments?
>> I would like to say my name is marian emerson. I’m a leader with Austin enterprise and a member of the board of capital idea. I’d like to applaud and salute the effort and vision that you have with workforce. Of course, capital idea is a long-term program mostly, all thee we do have some short term. I think that way need money to support both long and short material. I want to thank you for your vision, your support, and look forward to the rfp's and certainly hope that we will be one of the agencies that is funded. So again, thank you very much.
>> thank you.
>> thank you, ms. Emerson. Mr. Jacobs, any words? I move that authorize staff to prepare an appropriate rfp for workforce development services.
>> second.
>> about how long will that take? Need to work with cyd and purchasing as you put it together. When it's ready you will come back to us? I think we ought to plan on spending at least the hundred thousand and maybe questioning what program and services would be available if there were a second hundred thousand available. That way we can separate them out.
>> we can put a range of reasonable proposals.
>> right.
>> I have a quick question.
>> okay.
>> perhaps sherry and laurence can elaborate on this. I want to point out that the prong number two is increased investment in the evaluation of our workforce development investment. I’m very excited about that as well. Not only as an additional fund amount for workforce development but also the continued monitoring so that we can figure out the appropriate mix between long-term, short-term and continuing education. I think that is going to be very important to us in the long haul figuring out how to balance those three for the maximum impact in our community.
>> I think based on the backup that you have, staff had identified utilizing a portion of the hundred thousand for the evaluation. Certainly the court could elect to fund the evaluation outside the amount you make available for services and that would achieve that same result.
>> I would be if favor of the latter.
>> so would i.
>> okay. Anymore discussion? All in favor. That passes by unanimous vote. Thank you all very much.
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Last Modified:
Wednesday, January 30, 2008 8:09 PM