HomeMy WebLinkAbout20232035.tiffRESOLUTION
RE: APPROVE GRANT APPLICATION FOR KEY FUNDING INITIATIVES (KFI) FOR NOCO
WORKS AND AUTHORIZE DEPARTMENT OF HUMAN SERVICES TO SUBMIT
ELECTRONICALLY - THE WELD TRUST
WHEREAS, the Board of County Commissioners of Weld County, Colorado, pursuant to
Colorado statute and the Weld County Home Rule Charter, is vested with the authority of
administering the affairs of Weld County, Colorado, and
WHEREAS, the Board has been presented with a Grant Application for Key Funding
Initiatives (KFI) on behalf of NoCo Works from the County of Weld, State of Colorado, by and
through the Board of County Commissioners of Weld County, on behalf of the Department of
Human Services, to The Weld Trust, with further terms and conditions being as stated in said
application, and
WHEREAS, after review, the Board deems it advisable to approve said application, a copy
of which is attached hereto and incorporated herein by reference.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the Board of County Commissioners of
Weld County, Colorado, that the Grant Application for Key Funding Initiatives (KFI) on behalf of
NoCo Works from the County of Weld, State of Colorado, by and through the Board of County
Commissioners of Weld County, on behalf of the Department of Human Services, to The Weld
Trust, be, and hereby is, approved.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED by the Board that Karina Amaya-Ragland, Department of
Human Services, be, and hereby is, authorized to electronically submit said application on
July 14, 2023.
The above and foregoing Resolution was, on motion duly made and seconded, adopted
by the following vote on the 19th day of July, A.D., 2023, nunc pro tunc July 14, 2023.
BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS
WELD COUNTY, COLORADO
ATTEST: ditnA) xtO;(1
Weld County Clerk to the Board
BY Uct-7rn 01,1,0 ciz-
APP
Deputy Clerk to the Board
Count orneyl
Date of signature: n 27 12-
Cc:l-LSD, Acr(cP/cD)
08/08 /23
Mik an, Chair
Per. L. Buc /'ro-Tem
ri Saine
2023-2035
HR0095
PRIVILEGED AND CONFIDENTIAL
MEMORANDUM
DATE: July 11, 2023
TO: Board of County Commissioners — Pass -Around
FR: Jamie Ulrich, Director, Human Services
RE: Employment Services of Weld County (ESWC)
Key Funding Initiatives (KFI) Grant Application
Please review and indicate if you would like a work session prior to placing this item on the
Board's agenda.
Request Board Approval of Employment Services of Weld County (ESWC) Key Funding
Initiatives (KFI) Grant Application. Employment Services of Weld County (ESWC), on
behalf of NoCo Works, is requesting to submit a grant application for The Weld Trust's Key
Funding Initiatives (KFI) grant in the amount of $75,000 to advance regional workforce efforts.
If awarded, funding would support NoCo Works in launching subcommittees and developing a
regional resource -centered website. NoCo Works is designed to align multiple systems and
institutions to collectively address the most pressing challenges with talent and workforce
development. NoCo Works aims to support economic inclusion, address barriers to employment,
invest in training and education to increase the talent pipeline for in -demand occupations,
resources and systems building for services, and creating work -based learning opportunities.
Grant applications are due to The Weld Trust by Friday, July 14, 2023 with a funding start date
of December 31, 2023.
I do not recommend a Work Session. I recommend approval of this Grant Application and authorize the
Department to submit electronically by Friday, July 14, 2023.
Perry L. Buck, Pro-Tem
Mike Freeman, Chair
Scott K. James
Kevin D. Ross
Lori Saine
Approve Schedule
Recommendation Work Session Other/Comments:
Pass -Around Memorandum; July 11, 2023 - CMS ID (Not in CMS)
Page 1
2023-2035
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Provide a summary of the grant request. Clearly describe the need, the purpose and goals of the
program/project, and the demographics and quantity of individuals to be served as it relates to the funding
priority sub -categories chosen.
NoCo Works goal is to have this TWT funding serve as a catalyst to impact nearly ALL of Northern Colorado's
residents.
NoCo Works is designed to align multiple systems and institutions to collectively address the most pressing
challenges with talent and workforce development. NoCo Works aims to support economic inclusion and equity;
address barriers to employment; invest in training and education to increase the talent pipeline for in -demand
occupations; resource and system building for services; and create work -based learning opportunities.
ESWC and regional stakeholders are convening to find solutions to the most vital workforce challenges in Northern
Colorado, including the following KFI logic models:
1. Resource -Centered Website — providing a One -Stop shop with Northern Colorado resources, tangible
services, and information to help local schools, businesses, community development services grow and retain their
workforce.
2. Talent Pipeline — creating a holistic strategy for attracting and retaining the future workforce, with the goal
to increase the labor pool and positively contribute to the local economy. Partners include industry sectors,
community college, and PK —12 systems, to develop localized career pathways.
3. Work -Based Learning —continuing to build upon our regional commitment to expanding internships, pre -
apprenticeships, apprenticeships, and more
4. External Barriers — streamlining advocacy and region -wide stakeholder alignment for long-term solutions to
address Childcare, Housing, and Transportation.
Describe how this program/project aligns with The Weld Trust Key Funding Initiative and Program Areas chosen.
Under the Workforce Development KFI, this application models the following project alignment:
1. The Resource -Centered Website IS meeting the call to action for Weld County to have a website resource for all
job -explorers and industry employers to access and utilize easily. This includes spotlighting best practices and
directing to existing organizations and resources to ensure there is no duplication of efforts.
2. External Barriers - NoCo Works also recognizes the complexity of needs to attract and retain our local workforce,
so the long-term vision of this site is to expand into providing resources to external barriers such as housing and
childcare.
3. Work -based learning - This also will provide the opportunity to enhance NoColnspire.org to suit the needs of all
our industry and school partners and their work -based learning opportunities.
4 - Talent Pipeline -
Measurable Outcomes
1. Creation of a website and workforce services systems building
1. What data will you collect to measure and report progress
1. Website analytics; business roundtable feedback; education roundtable feedback.
b. What is the ultimate impact that you would like to see through this outcome
1. Create a website resource for all job -explorers and industry employers to access and
utilize easily. Regional one stop shop for Northern Colorado resources, tangible services,
and information to help local schools, businesses, community development services
grow and retain their workforce.
2. Expansion of Work -based Learning Opportunities
What data will you collect to measure and report progress
1. Through the data collection of the Work Based Learning Alliance, Sector Partnership
WBL programs, local school districts and higher education institutions, and local
workforce centers
What is the ultimate impact that you would like to see through this outcome
1. Build upon our regional commitment to expanding internships, pre -apprenticeships,
apprenticeships, job shadows, on -site career exploration, and more.
3. Localized Talent Pipeline Pathways and increase in labor participation
What data will you collect to measure and report progress
1. EMSI Industry & Labor pool data; Partnership and collaboration between education and
private sector; Connecting Colorado; Subcommittee and sector partnership's
development of career models and pathways; skills -based hiring and transferable skills
consulting; Workforce center data on Reskilling and Nextskilling; Completion and
success rates in programs - such as technical and vocational programs
What is the ultimate impact that you would like to see through this outcome
1. Unite Employers and employees to reskill and upskill community members of all ages.
This will be actualized by creating a holistic strategy for attracting and retaining the
future workforce, with the goal to increase the labor pool and positively contribute to
the local economy, especially through our vocational and technical opportunities.
Partners include industry sectors, community college, and PK —12 systems, to develop
localized career pathways.
4. Develop External Barriers Resource Guide (Affordable Housing, Childcare, Transportation); Narrative
Development on External Barriers impact to workforce; Asset map the long-term goals and actions across
the region within the identified barriers
What data will you collect to measure and report progress
1. Develop External Barriers Resource Guide (Affordable Housing, Childcare,
Transportation); Narrative Development on External Barriers impact to workforce; Asset
map the long-term goals and actions across the region within the identified barriers
What is the ultimate impact that you would like to see through this outcome
1. Streamlining resources, advocacy, and region -wide stakeholder alignment for long-term
solutions to address Childcare, Housing, and Transportation.
Collaboration: Describe the organization's most significant interactions with other organizations with respect to
this project. Include commentary on other funding sources and any opportunities for The Weld Trust to magnify
impact with other funders.
NoCo Works Steering Committee has 26 (growing to 28) institutional representatives, each representative and
organization are to serve as champions of regionalism for Northern Colorado's talent and workforce development
efforts. The steering committee is tasked with helping develop a sustainable implementation of talent and
workforce development initiatives and to support the actions that fall within the six regional themes and
subcommittees. Launching in February of 2023 and forming in a true co -creation process, the steering committee
has committed to designing an Institutional Declaration letter, goal to be signed by August 2023, showing regional
alignment and ownership over executing the necessary collaborative work. Additionally, The NoCo Works Steering
Committee will have member representation on each of the sub -committees. The Steering Committee members
are committed to bringing forth opportunities for listening sessions to incorporate constituents who would not
regularly participate in meetings already being held throughout the region by education, workforce, sector
partnerships, etc. Additional duties include:
1) Developing outcomes annually and establishing a plan of action, budget, and staffing to accomplish co -created
plans, which will identify metrics for NoCo Works deliverables and support the success of subcommittees, as well
as report findings to the steering committee
2) Serving as a voice for their industry and organizations they represent
3) Advocating for alignment of workforce development systems across public and private sectors
4) Reviewing and updating the NoCo Works Annual Report findings, a living document ensuring NoCo Works
represents community needs and is in alignment with other regional initiatives
5) Identify funding for NoCo Works initiatives; and
6) Regional marketing; supporting the streamline of regional services available.
This committee is made up of the following institutions:
Employment Services of Weld County
Larimer County Economic and Workforce Development
Greeley Area Chamber of Commerce
Weld RE -3J School District
Weld RE -4 School District
City of Greeley
Poudre School District
United Way of Weld County
Community Foundation of Northern Colorado
Aims Community College
University of Northern Colorado
United Way of Larimer County
The Weld Trust
Fort Collins Area Chamber of Commerce
Loveland Chamber of Commerce
City of Fort Collins
City of Loveland
Front Range Community College
Colorado State University
This organization also has representatives from each of the regional sector partnerships: 1) Manufacturing Sector
Partnership, 2) Construction Sector Partnership, 3) Healthcare Sector Partnership, 4) Hospitality Sector Partnership
and 5) Nonprofit Sector Partnership.
Other regional collaborators are the Work -based Learning Alliance (NoCo Inspire) and a commitment to convening
ad hoc feedback loops with our local businesses and education partners.
A handful of steering committee members have supported in contributing to NoCo Works startup costs, including
Larimer County Economic & Workforce Development (LCEWD) office and the City of Fort Collins, in addition to
LCEWD providing full-time in -kind staff time to the development and management of NoCo Works, whose funding
has roughly 18 months left.
Program/Project Key Staff: Please include a description of the qualifications and track record of the individuals
who will be managing and performing the activities proposed.
Karina's team
CeCe
Lisa
Kelsey
NoCo Works Steering Committee
Sustainability: What plans do you have to make this project/program sustainable beyond funding from The
Weld Trust? What other sources can be accessed to provide more stability? Is there a time frame anticipated to
complete the objectives of the program/project.
Actively seeking funds - ie Opportunity Now
EDA Grant
Steering Committee funding and finance group, strategy development
If we receive the money, commitment to having a website matching request
Additional Information: If there is additional information that is vital to convey in this proposal, do so here.
Executive Summary
Across Weld and Larimer County, Northern Colorado recognizes the importance of regionalism
and the power of collaboration, specifically pertaining to talent and workforce. This is not just an
idea or a grand goal, it's the truth.
Growing from the success of the Talent 2.0 initiative, NoCo Works is composed of collaborators
from across Weld and Larimer counties. A Purple Wall facilitated process was held in spring
2022, where a guided discussion broke down complex workforce and talent issues into
manageable chunks so the group could work strategically to implement motivating goals.
In fall 2022, the next step was a thorough review of strategic plans and annual reports of 50 -
plus organizations and initiatives who are key contributors to economic and workforce
development in the region. These reiterated an overwhelming acknowledgment of regionalism
which extends from business to government to nonprofits to education.
Based upon the review of existing efforts and initiatives, as well as demonstrated needs and
commitment to action from key stakeholders, NoCo Works was formed. A curated steering
committee will have program oversight and six subcommittees will move the work forward
pertaining to regional talent and workforce development encompassing the Northern Colorado
ecosystem.
Six Key Themes
Economic
Inclusion
All community members have equal access and opportunity to utilize workforce
and talent services, Digital literacy, bilingual and monolingual Spanish
upskilling and reskilling. These include but are not limited to: under-
represented and minority populations.
External
Barriers
Advocacy and policy reform to address Transportation, Childcare, and
Housing which affect access to job opportunities and limit how people can thrive
in the community.
Business
Resources
Provide a one -stop shop with resources, tangible services, and information to
help local businesses accomplish necessary business goals.
Training and
Development
Create regional access for businesses to provide training and development
opportunities for incumbent employees. This may include access to
certifications and credentials, soft skills training, upskilling, etc.
Talent
Pipeline
Holistic strategy for attracting and retaining the future workforce, with the goal
to increase labor pool and positively contribute to the local economy. The aim is
to generate career pathways and sector career pathway models.
Work -based
Learning
Regional commitment to expanding internships, pm -apprenticeships,
apprenticeships, on -site career learning opportunities, and more.
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