WORKFORCE IMPLEMENTATION GUIDANCE (WIG) LETTER

WORKFORCE IMPLEMENTATION GUIDANCE (WIG) LETTER DATE: August 17, 2016 NO: WIG PS-16-003 TO: LOCAL WORKFORCE SYSTEM STAKEHOLDERS FROM: BEN HAMES...
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WORKFORCE IMPLEMENTATION GUIDANCE (WIG) LETTER

DATE:

August 17, 2016

NO:

WIG PS-16-003

TO:

LOCAL WORKFORCE SYSTEM STAKEHOLDERS

FROM:

BEN HAMES, Deputy Commissioner

SUBJECT:

RELEASE OF HDCI SECTOR PARTNERSHIP GRANTS

1. Purpose. WFD announces the release of Governor’s Reserve funding HDCI Sector Partnership Grants. 2. References.

PS-16-003

3. Definitions. HDCI – High Demand Career Initiative WFD – Workforce Division RFA – Request for Application 4. Background. In order to increase capacity, WFD will award grants to Local Workforce Development Regions who submit successful applications in response to the attached RFA. 5. Grant Technical Assistance. WFD will work with regions throughout the state to assist with local and regional implementation of the HDCI model. The WFD team will also develop and share a HDCI Sector Partnership Guide to assist regions in building a framework for ongoing partnership and communication between public and private sectors. To orient and assist the regional partnerships with developing a sector partnership and applying for this grant, the WFD team will host 12 regional workshops with key regional stakeholders beginning in October and extending through November, 2016. The 12 regional workshops will serve as a continuation of the Sector Strategy Trainings hosted by the WIOA Services Team of GDEcD’s Workforce Division in March. The schedule for the regional workshops is listed in the below RFA and has been distributed to each LWDA Director. 6. Action Requested. WFD request that interested LWDAs submit all applications to Janice Davis at [email protected] by close of business (5:00PM) on February 24, 2017. 7. Inquiries. Inquiries regarding this guidance should be directed to the designated programmatic technical assistance representative.

8. Attachment. See below. 9. Expiration. Continuing.

Georgia Department of Economic Development Workforce Division High Demand Career Initiative (HDCI) Sector Partnership Grants REQUEST FOR APPLICATION

Request for Application Release Date: August 17, 2016 Application Submission Date: February 24, 2017

Table of Contents

Introduction .................................................................................................................................................. 5 Background ................................................................................................................................................... 5 Program and Application Requirements..................................................................................................... 11 Eligible Applicants ....................................................................................................................................... 16 Grant Application and Award Dates ........................................................................................................... 16 Evaluating the Grant Application ................................................................................................................ 16 Form A: Sector Partnership Worksheet ...................................................................................................... 19

Introduction In order to expand innovative workforce opportunities, the Georgia Department of Economic Development’s (GDEcD) Workforce Division (WFD) will award grants of up to $250,000 that can be used over two years by Local Workforce Development Regions that submit successful applications in response to this Request for Application (RFA). The following sections detail the components of a successful application. All applications should be submitted to Janice Davis at [email protected] by close of business (5:00 PM) on February 24, 2017.

Background The Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) is intended to align workforce development programs with economic development priorities, industry workforce needs and education and training programs in the state and its regions. The goal of the Governor’s High Demand Career Initiative (HDCI) is to develop an infrastructure of communication between the public and private sectors in order to identify the in-demand talent needs of business, and align education and training programs to meet those needs. During the first two years of HDCI, the primary focus of the initiative was to engage the private sector by collecting information about their present and future workforce needs. Through 17 public meetings across the state, which included more than 120 employers, and an online assessment, a range of in-demand and difficult-to-fill positions were identified, along with essential workforce skills that are in short supply. The data and information collected through those discussions has allowed the HDCI team to provide a clearer understanding of statewide workforce needs that has helped influence statewide policy and programming. Although this data is sufficient in describing the workforce needs of Georgia employers on a global basis, it lacks the ability to provide adequate details for implementing solutions at the local and regional levels. To help local boards implement sector partnerships, the Workforce Division (WFD) held regional Sector Strategy Trainings in March, 2016, based on the Aspen Institute model. These trainings promoted regional, employer-driven partnerships of industry, education and training, and other stakeholders that focus on the workforce needs of key industries in a regional labor market. Each Local Workforce Development Area (LWDA), with their core partners, was invited to one of the regional trainings. LWDAs were given “homework” which included a mandate to hold additional meetings and invite additional partners. WFD also supplemented the training curriculum with webinars on labor-market information and work-based learning.

Combining these efforts with the strategic goals of HDCI, the HDCI Sector Partnership Grants are designed to encourage and support the implementation of a holistic approach to sector partnerships which includes collaborators from many different disciplines. The purpose of this grant is threefold. First, the grant will further assist with the sector partnership efforts that have already begun in regions throughout the state. Second, the grant will encourage regions to adopt an all-inclusive strategy for sector partnerships, including additional partners beyond the core partners that are required under WIOA. Third, the grant will help encourage Local Workforce Development Boards to be a catalyst in their region in forming and sustaining sector partnerships. These partnerships will help align the talent acquisition and development needs of employers in a given sector with the training and education programs in the region. This grant is intended to provide sufficient funding to support a regional convener (either full-time employee(s) or consulting team) to assist with the regional collaboration. The HDCI Sector Partnership Grants aim to integrate the WIOA and HDCI objectives by engaging economic development regions across the state in forming effective sector partnerships, a required activity under WIOA, to strengthen and expand initiatives aimed at addressing workforce needs. With the transition to WIOA, the state of Georgia is well positioned to further expand the state’s innovative programmatic offerings and overall workforce system capacity. In order to increase capacity, WFD is making available Governor’s Reserve funds to produce stronger sector partnerships. Preference will be given to grant applications that connect to and leverage existing state initiatives and regional industry, education, and economic development partners. To compete for this grant, each partnership must provide at least a 10 percent local match. The match can be in-kind contributions from partners such as meeting space, food or refreshments for meetings, or printing expenses. As part of the grant application, regions should discuss how WIOA-defined special populations will be served as part of the grant effort. Sector Partnerships Sector partnership is defined in WIOA as a “workforce collaborative, convened by or acting in partnership with a . . . local board that organizes key stakeholders in an industry cluster into a working group that focuses on the shared goals and human resources needs of the industry cluster.”1 These are focused, active partnerships among businesses in a target-

1

Public Law 113–128—July 22, 2014 pg. 10 (1434).

sector and workforce development organizations, educators, training providers, labor representatives, community organizations, and other key stakeholders. Once these stakeholders come together, they create “Sector Strategies,” which are defined as “goals, plans of action, policies, and service delivery strategies developed and continuously re-examined by sector partnerships to meet the ongoing and changing needs of employers within that sector.2” Effective sector partnerships will:3 Analyze and Work:

Analyze and work to meet their industry’s current and future skills and training needs in the local area, and identify occupations with skills and training gaps.

Develop a plan:

Develop a plan to close the skills and training gaps in their industry.

Create and Track:

Create and track metrics related to project and sector goals and vision.

Assist:

Assist in the implementation of the plan by carrying out such activities as: a. Identifying common skill standards and promoting industry-recognized credentials; b. Building career pathways; c. Creating or informing training programs, K-12 curricula, and post-secondary courses; and, d. Identifying and creating internship and experiential learning opportunities.

Measures of success for sector partnerships: 

2 3

Output o Inventory and gap analysis of job skills and competencies for high-demand jobs in the sector.

http://www.mahernet.com/blog/welcome-to-wioa-easy-intro-to-sector-strategies-sector-partnerships Adapted from the National Skills Coalition, “Skills in the States: Sector Partnership Policy”



o A sector partnership plan to address skill and competency gaps and increase the number of people being prepared for careers; aligning education curriculum and training practices with industry needs. Outcomes o Close skills gap in the industry through training and education programs; o Ensure training is linked to employment; o Ensure there is an increase in work-based learning, OJT, internships, externships, apprenticeships, etc. in the sector; o Ensure that businesses are leading workforce development efforts in the region; o Ensure that career tracks in the industry are defined with multiple ways to enter and exit for skill enhancement; and, o Ensure industry employers are able to increasingly fill their talent needs locally with the right skills and competencies.

Planning Support The HDCI/WFD team will work with regions throughout the state to assist with local and regional implementation of the HDCI model. The HDCI/WFD team will also develop and share a HDCI Sector Partnership Guide to assist regions in building a framework for ongoing partnership and communication between public and private sectors. To orient and assist the regional partnerships with developing a sector partnership and applying for this grant, the HDCI/WFD team will host 12 regional workshops with key regional stakeholders beginning in October and extending through November, 2016. The 12 regional workshops will serve as a continuation of the Sector Strategy Trainings hosted by the WIOA Services Team of GDEcD’s Workforce Division in March. The schedule for the regional workshops is as follows: 

October 5: Augusta (Region 7) – Augusta Technical College



October 6: LaGrange (Region 4) – West Georgia Technical College



October 13: Valdosta (Region 11) – Valdosta State University



October 14: Thomasville (Region 10) – Southern Regional Technical College



October 26: Columbus (Region 8) – Columbus Technical College



October 28: Dalton (Region 1) – Dalton State College



November 1: Athens (Region 5) – Athens Technical College



November 3: Gainesville (Region 2) – Lanier Technical College



November 10: Savannah (Region 12) – Armstrong State University



November 15: Macon (Region 6) – Middle Georgia State University



November 16: Dublin (Region 9) – Oconee Fall Line Technical College



November 18: Metro Atlanta (Region 3) – Atlanta Technical College

A primary purpose of the regional meetings is discussion of this grant and assisting sector partnerships with the grant application process. This is to ensure that every region is fully equipped to submit a competitive application.

*The numbers on the map represent the corresponding Local Workforce Development Areas (LWDAs); please note, some regions include multiple LWDAs.

Program and Application Requirements Each application should include the 5-10 page “Form A: Sector Partnership Worksheet” (page count does not include the budget, budget attachments or program addendums) as well as a budget. The applications should guarantee an adherence to all WIOA regulations and data collection methods (federal, state, and local). The fiscal agent for the WIOA formula allocations shall serve as the fiscal agent for this application; however, the fiscal agent may sub-contract or sub-award these funds for completion of the proposed activities. The LWDB Chairman’s signature is a required component for this grant. For regions with multiple workforce boards, each LWDB board chair in the region must sign the grant application. Also required for this grant, the specified partners must be identified and provide a signed Letter of Participation. Grant Application 

Use “Form A: Sector Partnership Worksheet” (single space, 12-point, Times New Roman font, 5-10 pages) to detail the partnership’s plan to establish a sector partnership. The narrative should also explain how this work will be sustained once the grant funding is spent. More information is provided below.



List of Sector Partnership Participants: Complete Form B to list the organizations and their representatives who will be part of the sector partnership.



Budget: Complete the budget form provided.



Budget Narrative: The budget narrative must identify and explain the expected match and other contributions of each of the required partners and any additional partners. This information should be included in the introduction of the Budget Narrative. The Budget Narrative can be up to eight pages (single space, 12-point, Times New Roman font).



Letters of Participation: Letters are required from each of the partners.



Letters of Support: Preferred, but not required.



Appendix documents: No page limit.

Form A: Sector Partnership Worksheet 5-10 pages, single space, 12-point, Times New Roman font Complete “Form A: Sector Partnership Worksheet” and explain the partnership’s plan to establish a sector partnership. Explain how the sector(s) of focus was selected and why this sector is important to the regional economy. The narrative must include an explanation of how services to some or all WIOA-defined special populations will benefit from this project. Explain the major project activities, and expected project outputs and outcomes. The narrative should also explain how this work can be sustained once the grant funding is spent. For the purpose of this application, in-demand industries are defined as sectors that have a significant economic impact, current or projected, on the state, regional, or local economy, and contribute to the growth or stability of other supporting businesses or sectors. High demand occupations are defined as occupations that currently have, or are projected to have, a large number of positions in a sector that has a significant impact on the state, regional, or local economy. A successful application must contain a plan to address the following components: 

Engaging Employers: The sector partnership must work with employers in the selected sector to determine local or regional hiring needs. It must facilitate meetings to align programs provided by education partners and design training programs that are responsive to those needs. Additionally, semi-annual reports must be provided to the state with details about the regional workforce needs and challenges that are uncovered.



Reliance on Labor Market Information (LMI) and Other Workforce Data: In order to drive accountability, inform program offerings, and provide user-friendly information for job seekers choosing programs and pathways, the sector partnership should use data to select in-demand industries and occupations. Applicants must justify the sector(s) selected for a sector partnership using labor market data.



Career Pathways: The sector partnership must show how students, youth and adults enter and exit education and training programs for the high-demand occupation career tracks in the selected sector. The sector partnership should develop a career path that has a seamless progression from one educational experience to another, as well as across work-based training and education programs, to ensure individuals’

efforts result in progress. Applicants must discuss how they will develop career tracks for the in-demand occupations. 

Partnership Leadership: Explain who will lead the sector partnership and identify the key collaborative partners and their role including educational institutions, businesses, and local and regional government entities. Use Form B to list the partners who will be involved.



Special Populations: Explain how the regional partnership will serve WIOA-defined special populations, which include ex-offenders, veterans, homeless adults, longterm unemployed, individuals with disabilities, and at-risk youth.



State Initiatives and Programs: The applicant must explain how the sector partnership anticipates connecting with and leveraging state workforce training and education-related initiatives and programs.



Sustainability: The applicant must demonstrate that the key elements of the grant, as well as the partnerships established during the grant, will be sustained after grant funds cease.

Required Partners The purpose of this grant is to assist local workforce boards and staff in building partnerships with companies and industry representatives, education and training partners, and economic development professionals in the region. Working together, the partners will identify and focus on an industry and form a sector partnership. The required partners who must complete a letter of participation are: 

Industry and company representatives in the selected sector (at least 5 within the selected industry)



Local Technical College System of Georgia (TCSG) Institution(s). The letter should explain how the planning process will include participation from the adult learning, economic development, and academic programs.



Local University System of Georgia Institution(s). Provide a letter from a university representative appropriate to the sector selected or a government affairs, economic development, or professional education representative.



Georgia Department of Labor (GDOL)



Georgia Vocational Rehabilitation Agency (GVRA)



Local Chamber(s) of Commerce/Local Economic Development Professional(s)



Department of Economic Development Existing Industries Representative



K-12 School System(s) representative



(If a military base is located in the region) Military transition assistant(s), or other applicable staff, from local military base(s)

Additional partners are not required but are strongly encouraged to be part of the sector partnership process. These additional partners include: 

Community-based organizations and non-profits



Local social services partners, such as your local office managing SNAP and TANF program participants, transportation, housing, etc.



Regional Commissions



Private primary, secondary, and post-secondary education providers



Other regional or local education organizations, such as RESAs



Department of Community Affairs (DCA)



Foundations and philanthropic partners



Case managers or student navigators (TCSG and Department of Human Services)



Temporary employment firms



Potential training participants (those looking to increase their skills)



Associations and organizations representing specific industries and businesses

Use Form B to list the organizations and their representatives who will be part of the sector partnership. Additional points may be awarded based on the number and level of participation of the additional partners included in the proposal. Letters of support are encouraged from all other partners who will be involved in the project.

Letters of Participation (Required Partners) Letters of Participation are required from all the required partners. Letters must specify the following: 

Name of the representative from the organization who will attend the regional partnership meetings and his or her commitment of time to the project.



The resources the partner will contribute to the project including any in-kind match or funding that will be dedicated to the project.



Expected contributions to the regional partnership and any benefits the organization hopes to gain from its participation.



A commitment that those with the authority to make policy and funding decisions within the organization will be available as needed to participate in project meetings.

Budget Up to eight pages, single-space, 12-point, Times New Roman font All applicants must submit a budget and a budget narrative for all funds requested. The budget narrative should serve as an independent document that clearly outlines all proposed expenditures for the grant. Neither budgets nor budget narratives will count toward the page limitations for the program narrative. However, the budget narrative must be no more than eight pages long. Budgets must propose costs using the categories on the WFD WIOA cash-request drawdown template. Use the Excel template provided to submit the budget. The budget narrative must detail how funds will be expended toward the program goals, as outlined in the project narrative. The budget section should also contain assurances that no funds received as a result of this grant will be used to supplant any formula funds dedicated toward participants, administrative efforts, or other regularly occurring activities. Matching Requirements To qualify for funding, the application must demonstrate a match of at least 10% of the grant amount. The match can be funding designated and spent by the partner as part of this project. The match may also be in-kind and can be the value of the food provided by the partner for project meetings, value of donated meeting space, printing and supply

expenses, or other goods and services provided by a partner. Program support staff time contributed to the planning, meeting logistics, and research aspects of this project is also an allowable match. The fiscal agent must collect and maintain documentation of the match contributions. All contributions and documentation must meet the requirements found in 2 CFR 200.306. The documentation should contain the same level of detail as would be required for direct grant expenditures. If a contribution is considered in-kind, then documentation must demonstrate the current fair market value of this contribution at the time of the donation. Match documentation that supports the amounts reported on the financial status report must be provided to the WFD with the quarter-ending FSRs.

Eligible Applicants Each of the 12 local workforce development regions are eligible for this grant. Regions with multiple LWDAs must work together to develop a common application.

Grant Application and Award Dates     

October and November, 2016 – Regional Workshops February 24, 2017 – Grant Application Due April 2017 – Award Announcement May 1, 2017 – Grant funding available for expenditure* June, 2019 – All grant funds expended

*The start date for grant-funded activities may be dependent on the timeline proposed in the application.

Evaluating the Grant Application This grant will be evaluated for the following: Mandatory Elements: Failure to provide the mandatory items will result in the application being rejected:   



Grant Application Coversheet signed by all local workforce board chairmen in the region. Form A: Sector Partnership Worksheet completed in full. Budget form completed in full and the requested amount of funds does not exceed the amount specified in the grant announcement. Budget narrative is included and the 10% cumulative match is explained in the budget narrative. Letters of Participation from required partners:



o At least five industry and company representatives within the selected industry o Local Technical College System of Georgia (TCSG) Institution(s) o Local University System of Georgia Institution(s) o Georgia Department of Labor (Local Office) o Georgia Vocational Rehabilitation Agency (GVRA) o Local Chamber(s) of Commerce/Local Economic Development Professional(s) o Department of Economic Development Existing Industries Representative o K-12 School System(s) representative Assurances that all WIOA regulations and data collection methods will be adhered to.

Programmatic Elements Grant applications will be evaluated based on the following programmatic elements:  

        

Grant narrative identifies the project lead and champion of the project in the community. Required partner letters provide the name of the organizations’ representative, the resources the organizations will contribute to the project, and what the organizations will gain from participating in the project. Letters from additional partners provide information on the support the organization will offer the partnership. Grant narrative explains how the partners will engage employers to identify and begin addressing the in-demand jobs. Application provides evidence of in-demand jobs in the industry using labor market data. Application provides evidence from interviews, HDCI report, and other local discussions of the lack of skills, competencies or labor supply in the industry. The application provides information on any existing sector partnerships already developed, or partially developed, in the region. Grant narrative explains how the partners will develop career pathways for indemand jobs. Grant narrative explains how special populations will be served through the work of the partnership. Grant narrative explains how state programs and initiatives could be leveraged to help address industry talent development needs. Grant narrative explains how the partnership will sustain the work of the partnership when grant funding ends.

  

The risks and barriers to project success are identified and steps to mitigate the risks are explained (See Form A). Grant narrative explains what the partnership plans to accomplish over the next 24 months by quarter. Grant narrative details that the region will submit semi-annual reports to WFD providing details about the workforce needs and challenges of the region’s employers that are uncovered during the work of the sector partnership.

Budget Elements         

Budget narrative explains how the grant funds will be used. The participant roster (Form B) identifies the match and any other resources the partners will contribute to the project. Match greater than 10% will be provided by project partners and explained in the budget narrative. (Bonus) Budget amounts and budget narrative align with the program narrative. The funding level and activities are sustainable for the proposed activities after completion of the grant award period. The budget narrative contains an assurance that no funds received under this award will be used to supplant any current funding. The budget categorizes the requested funding using the categories designated on the WIOA Drawdown request form. The budget is reasonable for the proposed activities and timeline. (If a region contains multiple LWDAs) The region must designate which LWDA will serve as the recipient of the funds.

Form A: Sector Partnership Worksheet 1.

Economic Development Region:

2.

Workforce Board Point of Contact Name: Title: Phone: Email:

3.

Will this grant be used to support an existing sector partnership? 3a.

If yes, identify the sector being targeted:

3b.

If no, identify the sector selected for creation as part of this grant program:

4.

Identify your sector partnership chair or champion?

5.

Use Form B and list the names of participating employers on partnership roster (Form B)

6.

Explain how the partners will engage employers to identify and begin addressing indemand jobs.

7.

Explain the selection process for the target sector(s). How does the selection of the sector(s) align with your local or regional WIOA plan?

8.

Summarize the labor market data related to the in-demand jobs in the industry.

9.

Summarize the workforce needs in the region for the selected sector(s) (use data from the HDCI report, interviews with local employers, economic development professionals and others in the region).

10.

List all existing sector associations or groups currently meeting or existing in the region.

11.

Explain how the partnership will develop career pathways for in-demand jobs.

12.

Explain how special populations will be served through the work of the partnership.

13.

Explain how state programs and initiatives could be leveraged to help address industry talent development needs.

14.

Summarize the plan for utilizing the grant funding.

15.

Explain how the partnership will sustain the work of the partnership when grant funds cease.

16.

What, if any, barriers or risks exist to be able to launch a sector partnership?

17.

What are some potential actions to mitigate the barriers or risks identified?

18.

Identify the potential regional partnership facilitator.

Project Milestones

19.

Quarterly Timeline (Provide the major project task or milestones by quarter for the first year of the grant). Note: Grant recipients must provide semi-annual reports to the state on partnership progress and any details about the regional workforce needs and challenges. May to June, 2017

July to September, 2017

October to December, 2017

January to March, 2018

March to June, 2018

Additional documentation 20. If applicable, provide any additional explanation or information about the plan to development and implement sector partnerships.

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