DEPARTMENT: Economic Development
DEPARTMENT HEAD: Alejandra Lopez
COUNCIL DISTRICTS IMPACTED: City-wide
SUBJECT:
SA: Ready to Work Policy Overview and Pre-Solicitation Briefing
SUMMARY:
The presentation includes an overview of the recommended SA: Ready to Work program policies and also serves as the pre-solicitation briefing for the select high-profile solicitations relating to the SA: Ready to Work program.
BACKGROUND INFORMATION:
In November 2020, San Antonio residents approved the SA: Ready to Work initiative, which is designed to promote economic recovery by increasing access to education, training, and wraparound services for San Antonio residents and aligning with talent requirements of local businesses.
The Economic Development Department (EDD) provided City Council an overview of SA: Ready to Work program implementation planning in December 2020. Later that month, City Council created the SA: Ready to Work Advisory Board (“Advisory Board”) with the following charge to: (1) validate in-demand occupations, (2) recommend levels of wraparound support, (3) recommend allotment of certification training versus college education, (4) foster alignment between in-demand skillsets and training programs, and (5) serve as community ambassadors.
In March 2021, City Council appointed the Advisory Board, which is comprised of nine members, representing local employers, workforce training participants, trade/labor, training/education and community organizations.
The vast majority of the work associated with implementation of the SA: Ready to Work program will be accomplished through contracts with partner organizations. Given the contract values and high community interest, the SA: Ready to Work solicitations were identified as select, high-profile solicitations, requiring City Council briefing in B Session prior to issuance.
ISSUE:
EDD has solicited feedback to develop its policy recommendations. In March 2021, staff presented the preliminary SA: Ready to Work guiding principles, goals and objectives to the Economic Workforce and Development Committee. EDD staff then held three meetings with targeted stakeholders, including local employers and leaders in workforce, education, trade, labor, and community organizations. Staff also developed and promoted a city-wide survey to gather feedback, receiving more than 450 responses.
EDD will brief City Council on recommended SA: Ready to Work policies, including guiding principles, strategic goals and objectives, eligibility requirements, target populations, and core services. This presentation will also serve as the pre-solicitation briefing for four upcoming solicitations related to the program. These solicitations will focus on specific functions to support program implementation. The solicitations include:
RFP #1 Intake and Assessment Services;
RFP #2 Case Management Services;
RFP #3 Community Outreach and Marketing Services; and
RFP #4 Program Evaluation Services;
The Advisory Board has met three times to discuss and provide feedback on the level of wraparound services and identifying in-demand occupations. During its meeting on March 31, 2021, the Advisory Board took action and officially recommended the wraparound services and case management model to be included in this briefing and the associated request for proposals. The Advisory Board will continue discussions during the month of April to finalize its recommendations related to in-demand occupations and training/degree distribution.
ALTERNATIVES:
This item is for briefing purposes only.
FISCAL IMPACT:
This item is for briefing purposes only.
RECOMMENDATION:
This item is for briefing purposes only.