New Member Orientation

1. New Member Orientation

2. WELCOME Congratulations on your appointment as a member of the Ramsey County Workforce Investment Board!

3. This Presentation Will Answer: What is the Workforce Investment Board (WIB)? What are the WIB’s strategic objectives? Who is on the WIB? How does the WIB function? What is the role of a WIB member? What is the connection between the WIB and Ramsey County Workforce Solutions?

4. What is the WIB? • The Ramsey County Workforce Investment Board (WIB) is a legislatively mandated entity whose role is to set public policy and provide community input and direction on workforce development issues in Ramsey County. • The WIB exists to: • Help maintain the economic health of Ramsey County • Identify current and emerging workforce issues and needs • Create partnerships to serve the needs of businesses and job seekers • Oversee publicly-funded workforce programs in Ramsey County including the WorkForce Centers in Ramsey County

5. Vision and Mission Vision: The WIB will be the recognized leader in identifying future workforce issues and developing appropriate responses to those issues. Mission: The WIB will be the catalyst for comprehensive workforce development strategies that address both employer and job seeker needs.

6. WIA The WIB was created by the Federal Workforce Investment Act of 1998, referred to as WIA. This Act consolidated the system of U.S. workforce development programs to create a comprehensive workforce system, of which our MN WorkForce Centers are evidence.

7. MN WorkForce Centers • The WorkForce Centers are designed to be a “one-stop shop” for all of the workforce programs run by the federal, state and local governments. • Even though the centers are designed to be self-help, trained staff are available at all times to help. • The programs discussed most often by the WIB are: • WIA Adult • Dislocated Worker • MN Family Investment Program (MFIP) • WIA and MN Youth

8. Workforce Development in Ramsey County Joint Powers Agreement between Ramsey County & Saint Paul for workforce services

9. Responsibilities of the WIB - Oversee The local WIB has a variety of responsibilities, most essentially, to guide Ramsey County’s employment programs.

10. Responsibilities of the WIB - Oversee • The local WIB also: • Coordinates employer linkages • Coordinates workforce investment with education and economic development strategies • Promotes the participation of private sector employers in the workforce investment system • Reviews the performance measures and budgets of WIA Youth, Dislocated Worker, and WIA Adult programs • Assists in the development of RFPs for program service providers and evaluating and recommending providers from the resulting applicants Program staff are important advisors to the WIB as the program staff are the action arm of the WIB’s strategic and policy decisions.

11. Responsibilities of the WIB - Influence • The WIB is uniquely structured to guide workforce development in our County by: • Connecting local education, business, and community experts to align resources for the mutual benefit of employers and job seekers in our community • Reviewing Annual Labor Market Assessments which identify the industries and specific jobs that are in demand locally • Connecting with local business leaders to understand their needs

12. WIB 2013-2015 Strategic Objectives • Alignment: Create strategic regional alignment to address workforce needs • Integration: Develop and utilize integrated approaches to address our workforce supply and demand gaps • Marketing: Market the value of the WIB and market workforce services to multiple constituency groups, especially the business community

13. 2013-2013 WIB Strategic Plan Chart

14. Who is on the WIB? • There are many different sectors of our community represented on the WIB: • A total of 33 members • Business leaders (make up 51% of the WIB) • Community-based organizations (make up 15% of the WIB) • Local elected official (Ramsey County Commissioner) • Mayoral appointee (Saint Paul Councilmember) • Organized labor representatives • Educational leaders • State and County Workforce Development partners (DEED, Workforce Solutions) • Economic development partners • For a list of current members, visit www.rcwib.org

15. WIB Staff • Patricia Brady, Executive Director • 651-779-5651 • Patricia.Brady@co.ramsey.mn.us • Becky Milbrandt, Administrative Assistant • 651-779-5653 • Rebecca.Milbrandt@co.ramsey.mn.us

16. WIB Organizational Structure

17. How Does the WIB Function? • Most of the work done by the WIB happens at the committee level: • Issues and projects surface in committee and move to the Executive Committee • The Executive Committee reviews and discusses committee issues and makes a recommendation for action to the WIB • Each member is asked to serve on at least one committee of their choosing and is welcome to attend any of the meetings to find the best fit for their interest

18. Executive Committee The Executive Committee is made up of the WIB Chair, Chair-Elect, Past Chair, Committee Chairs, Local Elected Official, and a few at-large members The Executive Committee is responsible for reviewing financial statements, setting the budget, and reviewing all decisions and recommendations from committees The Executive Committee will recommend actions to the full WIB for discussion and vote

19. Nominating Committee • The Nominating Committee is made up of the WIB Chair, Chair-Elect, Local Elected Official, business member-at-large, and a representative from the City of Saint Paul Mayor’s Office • The Committee is primarily responsible for: • Recruiting and recommending a WIB Chair-Elect • Supporting the Chair-Elect through his/her term • Recruiting and encouraging others to recruit WIB members

20. Youth Council • The Youth Council focuses on workforce development for older youth and education for younger youth • The Youth Council focuses on educational and personal development of the youth in our community • Some areas the Council is responsible for include: • Youth programs - the Youth Council develops the basics for youth programs available to eligible youth in Ramsey County • Administrative staff develop a Request for Proposal to procure the best service providers • Oversight - in addition to selecting the service providers, the Council oversees the performance outcomes for the youth programs • Special projects for youth – adjudicated youth; Outreach to Schools

21. Initiative Committees • The Initiative Committees ensure that the work of the strategic objectives is being done. These committees have identified the following goals: • Alignment • Align workforce and education systems goals to engage job seekers and future job seekers in needed occupations that are driven by business needs • Develop a policy agenda to advise and influence decision makers • Integration • Focus resources and efforts on sector initiatives to address skills and employment gaps • Provide leadership and support to address racial employment disparities through the “Everybody In” project • Marketing • Understand the existing workforce infrastructure in the County • Develop WIB and workforce services marketing strategies and actions • Promote outreach to small and mid-sized businesses, including those not requiring 4-year degrees

22. Everybody In: Background • 2010: Economic Policy Institute reports the Twin Cities as having the largest racial employment gap in the nation (see next slide for details) • 2010: Foundation community invites Dr. Algernon Austin (report author) to Minnesota to deliver report; resulting press draws attention to issues • 2011: The Ramsey County Workforce Investment Board (RCWIB), with key partners theCity of Saint Paul and Ramsey County, appoints a 20 member Blue Ribbon Commission (BRC) to develop strategies to reduce racial employment disparities

23. Everybody In: Implementation Team (I-Team) • Established in August 2012 as directed by the BRC • Comprised of 40 members, staff, and facilitators who are community leaders representing both Saint Paul and Minneapolis • Led by the RCWIB, in partnership with the City of Minneapolis, City of Saint Paul, Minneapolis Workforce Council, and Ramsey County Board of Commissioners Charge: Develop a five year plan to implement selected Everybody In strategies

24. Everybody In: I-Team Progress to Date The following strategies were selected and are being addressed by Action Teams of the membership: • #1 Raisepublic awareness among employers and greater community about racial employment disparities • #2 Create a broad-based regional collaboration of employers • #5 Promote opportunities that increase postsecondary attainmentandtraining for job readiness • #6 Foster business and entrepreneurial opportunities that result in job creation For more information on Everybody In, please visit http://EverybodyInMN.org

25. What is the Role of a WIB Member? • Expectations: • Board members receive pre-reading and an agenda electronically one week before each meeting • Members are asked to review the materials prior to the meeting in order to fully engage in discussions and make informed decisions • Share your opinions regarding issues. The stakeholders you represent are heard through your active participation in the WIB • Attend and participate! Members bring valuable insight to the Board and are expected to attending regularly

26. What is the Role of a WIB Member? • Learning curve • A vast amount of new information is presented to new members. Don’t be overwhelmed. It is very important to know that there is a learning curve and that getting up to speed will not be difficult. • Please feel free to ask questions as they arise and call staff or leadership at anytime for discussion. • Different levels of participation • Each member is required to actively participate on one WIB committee. Opportunities may arise for ad hoc committees for new projects or ideas. Members are always welcome to volunteer to help. Beyond serving on one committee and serving on the WIB, your level of additional participation is up to you. • Bring your unique perspective from your industry and participate in discussion • You were selected to serve on the WIB because of the unique perspective you bring from your industry and organization. Your involvement in discussions and decisions makes the Board more effective.

27. Role 0f Workforce Solutions • WFS manages the system on behalf of three institutional organizations: • Ramsey County Board of Commissioners (including suburban areas) • City of Saint Paul • Ramsey County Workforce Investment Board • WFS is both the manager and administrator of the public workforce system in RC and a provider of selected services • WFS serves as staff to the Ramsey County Workforce Investment Board and its committees: • WFS provides subject matter experts as needed to assure the work of the WIB progresses

28. Next Steps WIB meeting announcements are sent to your email address with pre-reading prior to each meeting For previous minutes and upcoming meetings, please visit the website: www.rcwib.org Select a committee on which to serve, or attend different committee meetings to see which best fits your interests Please contact WIB staff with any questions!