DEPARTMENT: Economic Development
DEPARTMENT HEAD: Rene Dominguez
COUNCIL DISTRICTS IMPACTED: City-Wide
SUBJECT:
Reprogramming of previously allocated funds into a Chapter 380 Economic Development Program Grant Agreement with the San Antonio Economic Development Foundation (SAEDF) for hiring Director of SA Works.
SUMMARY:
Staff is recommending City Council re-program previously allocated funds for partial funding to hire an SA Works Director through the San Antonio Economic Development Foundation (SAEDF) which will act as fiscal agent. The total value of the agreement of up to $244,000 will provide for the partial funding for the Director of SA Works for up to two years.
BACKGROUND INFORMATION:
On January 27, 2015, Mayor Taylor and County Judge Wolff announced a community-wide effort to work to align the workforce delivery system in San Antonio. The result of this commitment was the establishment of San Antonio-Talent for Economic Competitiveness (SA-TEC). Over the last year, the City of San Antonio, Bexar County and the San Antonio Chamber of Commerce, in partnership with the Alamo Colleges and other partners have worked to develop the SA-TEC initiative, which led to a natural integration with SA Works on March 22, 2016.
To provide support to the SA Works Board and the implementation, the position of Director has been established and funded through Ordinance 2015-05-14-0414 which approved a Chapter 380 Economic Development Program Grant with Alamo Colleges and allocated $100,000 from the Economic Development Incentive Fund (EDIF). City Council also approved Ordinance 2015-10-15-0875 which allocated an additional $144,000 in an adjustment to the Economic Development Department budget.
This action effectively reprograms the previous adopted agreement and consolidates both funds into a single Chapter 380 Economic Development Program Grant with the San Antonio Economic Development Foundation which will act as the fiscal agent for SA Works.
An existing workforce development initiative, SA Works, had previously proven successful in engaging a number of key partners such as industry leaders, independent school districts, institutions of higher education and community based organizations that have each assisted SA Works in providing internships, job shadowing opportunities and other work-based learning opportunities for high school and college students and educators. In March the two efforts were combined and SA Works transitioned to SAEDF as their fiscal agent. This transition is expected to enhance SAEDF’s mission to ensure the City of San Antonio and Bexar County reach their full potential for economic prosperity through business growth and expansion. This transition fulfills the goals of Forefront SA, the community’s five-year strategic plan for economic development.
As an industry-led program, the SA Works board is composed of several prominent corporate leaders including Peter John Holt, Executive Vice President and General Manager for HOLT CAT. Other SA Works board members include: Kate Rogers, H-E-B; Eddie Aldrete, IBC Bank; David Crouch, Toyota; Tom Cuthbert, Vistage; John Dewey; Danny Gonzales, Boeing; Gary Joeris, Joeris Construction; Alvin Lowenberg, Morningside Ministries; Suzanne Peterson, Frost Bank; Mark Reid, USAA; Marc Raney, Methodist Health Care Ministries of South Texas, Inc.; A.J. Rodriguez, Zachry Group.
ISSUE:
In order for the City to assist in the funding of the Director position associated with SA Works, City Council will reprogram previously allocated funds and authorize a Chapter 380 Economic Development Program Grant Agreement with the San Antonio Economic Development Foundation (SAEDF).
ALTERNATIVES:
City Council could choose not to approve an amendment to the Ordinance authorizing the recommended funding, which could impair or delay the implementation of the SA Works board charge of alignment and integration of the San Antonio workforce delivery system.
FISCAL IMPACT:
This ordinance reprograms previously approved dollars and no change in the level of funding is proposed with this amendment. Funding in the amount of $100,000 is available in the Economic Development Incentive Fund from a 2015 appropriation through Ordinance 2015-05-14-0414. In addition, funding in the amount of $144,000 is available in the Economic Development Department General Fund Budget from a 2016 Budget Amendment through Ordinance 2015-10-15-0875.
RECOMMENDATION:
Staff recommends reprogramming previously approved dollars and the adoption of a Chapter 380 Economic Development Program Grant Agreement with the San Antonio Economic Development Foundation for the establishment of a Director of SA Works.