American Recovery and Reinvestment Act A Workforce Board Perspective

1. American Recovery and Reinvestment ActA Workforce Board Perspective Douglas Sáenz Workforce Development Manager Workforce Alliance

2. Partnerships are Key Ingredient It is critical therefore that workforce boards partner with each other regionally and across political jurisdictions, and develop solutions in collaboration with community colleges and other education providers, registered apprenticeship, employers, business and labor organizations, civic groups and community philanthropy to align workforce development services with strategies for regional development.

3. Strategy • Enable low-income, displaced and under-skilled adults and disconnected youth to acquire the knowledge and skills for success at work in key industries. • Considered an important ‘service delivery innovation’.

4. Target Industries • Renewable energy • Broadband and telecommunication • Health care • Advanced Manufacturing • Other high-demand industry sectors identified by local areas.

5. Some Policy Guidelines • Consider the value of workforce and economic information. • Should be the foundation of workforce development strategies. • Workforce boards must serve more people than usual

6. Some Key Provisions • Allowed to pay CC’s up front for full training • Curriculum can be in the can or newly developed

7. More Key Provisions • Newly developed curricula considered training activity for WIA purposes • Priority service to those receiving public assistance and low income individual • Funds can be used for adult education and basic or English language education

8. Green Jobs • Green Jobs - "green" is still undefined. • These include investments in • renewable energy infrastructure • energy-efficiency home retrofitting • biofuel development • advanced drive train/vehicle development and manufacturing.

9. Green Jobs, Part II • Not all “green jobs” are new but are “green” skills added to existing jobs. • power plant operators • electrical engineers • heating, ventilating and air conditioning (HVAC) mechanics and installers • roofers and construction managers • wind turbine engineers • solar power plant operators • wind turbine service technicians

10. More Green Jobs Stuff • $750 million additional to be awarded competitively • For training and placement: • Energy efficiency and renewable energy • Healthcare • Other high growth/emerging industries

11. What Training Services? • Money must be used by June 30, 2010 • Training services include: • occupational skills training • on-the-job training • programs that combine workplace training and related instruction including

12. OJT and Related Instruction • registered apprenticeship • training programs operated by the private sector • skill upgrade and retraining • entrepreneurship training • job readiness training • adult education and literacy training • customized training.

13. Youth Program Gets a Big Push • Summer youth program - May 1 through Sept 30. • Encourages work experiences and other activities that expose youth to opportunities in “green” educational and career pathways. • Age 16 - 24. WA is working only with 18 - 24. • Participating worksites should introduce and reinforce the rigors, demands, rewards, and sanctions associated with holding a job.

14. Tasty Food for Thought • Partner to attract talent that matches your company’s niche • Have RWB’s talk to each other for recruitment purposes • Call me, or my counterparts, to act as convener for School District/career awareness

15. Yummy Food for Thought • Money is here, now • Bill targets non-traditional: low income, usually lower educational background • Look at other industries – what similar fields can play into energy industry • Remember, ARRA is separate from regular, i.e. yearly WIA dollars.