DEPARTMENT: Economic Development
DEPARTMENT HEAD: Alejandra Lopez
COUNCIL DISTRICTS IMPACTED: City-wide
SUBJECT:
Workforce Solutions Alamo (WSA) Local Plan for 2021-2024
SUMMARY:
An Ordinance approving the required 2021-2024 Workforce Solutions Alamo (WSA) Local Plan as approved by the Committee of Six on January 27, 2021 for submission to the Texas Workforce Commission (TWC).
BACKGROUND INFORMATION:
Texas Workforce Commission (TWC) provides oversight and workforce development funding for services to employers and job seekers in Texas facilitated by 28 regional workforce boards. Workforce Solutions Alamo (WSA) serves a 13-county region including Atascosa, Bandera, Bexar, Comal, Frio, Gillespie, Guadalupe, Karnes, Kendall, Kerr, McMullen, Medina, and Wilson counties.
The City of San Antonio and the surrounding 13 counties are parties to an Interlocal Agreement through the Chief Elected Officials (CEOs) of the WSA Service Area. Per this agreement, CEOs provide additional oversight for planning, budgeting, administration, and execution of WSA programs through the Committee of Six whose members include Area Judges as well as members of San Antonio City Council and Bexar County Commissioners. A key function of the Committee of Six is recommending approval of the Local Plan for its subsequent submission to TWC by March 1, 2021. Currently, Council Members Adriana Rocha Garcia and Roberto Trevino represent the City at the Committee of Six.
The Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) requires each workforce development board to develop a comprehensive four-year local plan (and interim 2-year modification) that analyzes the local workforce development area and provides specific detail related to the WSA Board strategy to meet the economic and employment needs of the area’s job seekers and employers.
The WSA board of directors approved the Local Plan on January 22, 2021 and the Committee of six approved the Local Plan on January 27, 2021. Final approval must be obtained from the San Antonio City Council and the surrounding county’s respective political bodies prior to submission to TWC.
ISSUE:
Workforce Solutions Alamo Board of Directors, Chief Executive Officer, Directors and staff have produced this document to address key mandates of the Workforce Innovation & Opportunity Act and to ensure alignment with state workforce strategic priorities. The Local Plan addresses strategic and operational elements that WSA will undertake to support the local workforce development system and align with WSA’s mission, vision and core values. To develop the plan, extensive research was conducted including a comprehensive regional labor market analysis and an assessment of the delivery of services and partnerships. Substantial focus was placed on incorporating the new WIOA mandates into the local program design.
The Economic and Workforce Development Committee was briefed on this Local Plan during its meeting on February 2, 2021. The Committee was in support of the Local Plan and recommended full City Council consideration.
ALTERNATIVES:
City Council could reject the proposed Local Plan. However, failure to approve the Local Plan would not align with the terms of the partnership agreement between the Committee of Six. Furthermore, failure to approve this plan may result in not meeting the March 1, 2021 deadline for submission to TWC.
FISCAL IMPACT:
This item has no fiscal impact to the City’s Budget.
RECOMMENDATION:
Staff recommends approval of the 2021-2024 WSA Local Plan for submission to TWC.