August 2, 2004 ITEM # 3g

Item Title: Budget Amendment to the Workforce Development Project Ordinance for Receipt of Workforce Development Act Funding

Specific Action Requested:

That the Board accept the proposed Workforce Development funding in the amount of $915,107 to the Workforce Development Project Ordinance with the appropriate budget revision to increase appropriations in the Workforce Development Special Revenue Fund.

Item Summary:

The Wake and Johnston County Boards of Commissioners created the Capital Area Workforce Development Consortium in 1982. The Consortium’s Workforce Development Board is a private sector led board, in partnership with local government, which provides direction and oversight of workforce development activities for Wake and Johnston counties and administers federal and state workforce funds.

The Capital Area Workforce Development Consortium is requesting the incorporation of the following funding authorizations to the Workforce Development Ordinance:

(1) NFA#34-00059 authorizes (a) $5,748 in Program Year (PY) 2002 Workforce Investment Act (WIA) Administrative Cost Pool funding; (b) $51,729 in PY 2002 WIA Title I Adult funding; (c) $20,835 in PY 2003 WIA Administrative Cost Pool funding, and (d) $187,515 in PY 2003 WIA Title I Dislocated Worker funding. These funds represent a redistribution of unexpended funding from other States that the State of North Carolina has qualified to receive for reallocation to its Local Areas.

(2) NFA#34-00060 authorizes (a) $64,928 in Program Year (PY) 2004 Workforce Investment Act (WIA) Administrative Cost Pool funding; (b) $192,241 in PY 2004 WIA Title I Adult funding; (c) $392,111 in PY 2004 WIA Title I Dislocated Worker funding. Federal funds to the States are from two different federal fiscal years, so, this allocation represents the first quarter allotment of approximately 25% of the year’s total. Additional funds will be received throughout the year.

WIA Adult funds provide employment and training services to low-income adults (over 18 years of age). These services are delivered through the national one-stop delivery system (in North Carolina called JobLink Career Centers) and include: job search assistance, labor market information, employment counseling, and guidance in resume and application preparation. For persons still unable to find work, WIA provides for training services through Individual Training Accounts that may assist with tuition, books, fees, childcare and transportation.

WIA Dislocated Worker funds provide services to workers, regardless of income, who have lost their jobs in Wake and Johnston Counties. Services available to individuals are noted above. Dislocated Workers services also include Capital Area consultation to employers to advise those plants/businesses involved in closings/reductions in force and assistance in the transition of employees affected.

The total addition to Workforce Development Project Ordinance funding is $915,107.

Attachments:

(1) Budget Memo