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HomeMy WebLinkAbout20212608.tiffRESOLUTION RE: APPROVE REGIONAL/LOCAL PLAN NARRATIVE UPDATE, ANNUAL COMPLIANCE PLAN, AND EXPENDITURE AUTHORIZATION AND WORK PLAN FOR VARIOUS WORKFORCE INNOVATION AND OPPORTUNITY ACT (WIOA) PROGRAMS, FOR 2020-2023 UPSTATE REGIONAL PLAN, AND AUTHORIZE CHAIR TO SIGN 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 Regional/Local Plan Narrative Update, Annual Compliance Plan, and Expenditure Authorization and Work Plan for Various Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) Programs, for 2020-2023 Upstate Regional Plan between 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, Employment Services of Weld County, and the Colorado Department of Labor and Employment, commencing July 1, 2021, and ending June 30, 2023, with further terms and conditions being as stated in said plan narrative update, compliance plan, and expenditure authorization and work plan, and WHEREAS, after review, the Board deems it advisable to approve said plan narrative update, compliance plan, and expenditure authorization and work plan, copies of which are attached hereto and incorporated herein by reference. NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the Board of County Commissioners of Weld County, Colorado, that the Regional/Local Plan Narrative Update, Annual Compliance Plan, and Expenditure Authorization and Work Plan for Various Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) Programs, for 2020-2023 Upstate Regional Plan between 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, Employment Services of Weld County, and the Colorado Department of Labor and Employment, be, and hereby are, approved. BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED by the Board that the Chair be, and hereby is, authorized to sign said plan narrative update, compliance plan, and expenditure authorization and work plan. cc: HSID, ACT(6C/cD) o9/2.t /2( 2021-2608 HR0093 REGIONAL/LOCAL PLAN NARRATIVE UPDATE, ANNUAL COMPLIANCE PLAN, AND EXPENDITURE AUTHORIZATION AND WORK PLAN FOR VARIOUS WORKFORCE INNOVATION AND OPPORTUNITY ACT (WIOA) PROGRAMS, FOR 2020-2023 UPSTATE REGIONAL PLAN PAGE 2 The above and foregoing Resolution was, on motion duly made and seconded, adopted by the following vote on the 1st day of September, A.D., 2021, nunc pro tunc July 1, 2021. BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS WELD COUNTY, COLORADO ATTEST: r/„J Weld County Clerk to the Board BY: q,, N Deputy Clerk to the Boar VED 4, County Attorney Date of signature: 09 Ail O.1 Stevoreno, Chair Lori S 2021-2608 H R0093 21-001 PY21 WIOA Adult eon -tram- IC) 4* I 1 PRIVILEGED AND CONFIDENTIAL MEMORANDUM DATE: September 1, 2021 TO: Board of County Commissioners — Pass -Around FR: Jamie Ulrich, Director, Human Services RE: Employment Services of Weld County Submission of Program Year 2021 Narrative Update to the PY20-23 Upstate Regional/Local Work Plan and Associated Expenditure Authorizations: 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 the Departments' Employment Services of Weld County (ESWC) Submission of an Expenditure Authorization. Employment Services of Weld County (ESWC) received WIOA and Employment Support Funds (ESF) from the Colorado Department of Labor and Employment (CDLE) for the programs listed below through activities allowable under the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) Grant Funding as follows: Period of Performance $93,726 07-01-21 to 06-30-23 21-001 PY21 WIOA Youth 07-01-21 to 06-30-23 $623,301 21-001 PY21 WIOA Dislocated Worker 07-01-21 to 06-30-23 $90,390 21-001 PY21 (SFY22) Employment Support Fund 07-01-21 to 06-30-22 $380,823 I do not recommend a Work Session. I recommend approval this Expenditure Authorization and authorize the Chair to sign. Perry Buck Mike Freeman Scott James, Pro -Tern Steve Moreno, Chair Lori Saine Approve Schedule endation Work Session Other/Comments: Pass -Around Memorandum, August 24, 2021 — CMS 5217 q�� Page 1 2021-2608 I-IB0093 Karla Ford From: Sent: To: Cc: Subject: Approve Sent from my iPhone Steve Moreno Thursday, August 26, 2021 10:37 AM Mike Freeman Karla Ford Re: Please Reply - PA FOR ROUTING: ES Regional and Compliance Plan-WIOA and ESF Expenditure Authorization (CMS 5217) On Aug 26, 2021, at 8:16 AM, Mike Freeman <mfreeman@weldgov.com> wrote: Approve From: Karla Ford <kford@weldgov.com> Sent: Thursday, August 26, 2021 7:07 AM To: Mike Freeman <mfreeman@weldgov.com>; Steve Moreno <smoreno@weldgov.com> Subject: Please Reply - PA FOR ROUTING: ES Regional and Compliance Plan-WIOA and ESF Expenditure Authorization (CMS 5217) Importance: High Please advise if you approve recommendation. Thank you. Karla Ford X Office Manager, Board of Weld County Commissioners 1150 O Street, P.O. Box 758, Greeley, Colorado 80632 .: 970.336-7204 :: kfordtitweldgov.com ::'www.weldaov.com :. **Please note my working hours are Monday -Thursday 7:00a.m.-5:00p.m.** <image001.jpg> Confidentiality Notice: This electronic transmission and any attached documents or other writings are intended only for the person or entity to which it is addressed and may contain information that is privileged, confidential or otherwise protected from disclosure. If you have received this communication in error, please immediately notify sender by return e-mail and destroy the communication. Any disclosure, copying, distribution or the taking of any action concerning the contents of this communication or any attachments by anyone other than the named recipient is strictly prohibited. From: Heather Looney <hloonev@ weldgov.com> Sent: Tuesday, August 24, 2021 4:46 PM To: Karla Ford <kford@weldgov.com> Cc: HS -Contract Management <HS-ContractManagement@co.weld.co.us>; Barb Connolly <bconnoilv(a3weldgov.com>; Bruce Barker <bbarkerftweldgov.com>; Chris D'Ovidio <cdovidio@weldgov.com>; Esther Gesick <eResick@weldgov.com>; Lennie Bottorff <bottorll@weldgov.com> 1 Attachmr nt 1— PY20 23 FOUR-YEAR REGIONAL/LC L PLAN NARRATIVE UPDATE Signature Page The undersigned below certify that all Plan modifications are accurately presented here to the best of their knowledge. This signature page shall become an Exhibit to the Master Agreement for Workforce Development Programs, indicating submission and approval. Planning Region: Elected Official _ �ja�� -Y= Signature: ,lq 6-sr-W( Date: LaFP0 1 21 e L7 Printed Name: Steve Moreno. Elected Official for: W County Board of County Commissioners Local Workforce Development Board Amanda Digitally signed by Amanda Ericson rI cso n Date: 2021.08.26 Chair Signature: 08:08:39 -06'00' Printed Name:rnanda Digitally signed by Karina Local Area Director Karl na Amaya Amaya 9 Date: 202t08.26 Signature: 08:17:11 -06'00' s Date:, ,t_nj Printed " ame: Karma A naya. Weld County Wor orce Development Board Program Years 2020-2023 Employment Services of Weld County 315 N 11th Avenue, Budding B Greeley, CO 80631 2950 9th Street Fort Lupton, CO 80621 Revised April 2021 Phone: (970) 353-3800 Fax: (970) 346-7981 www.eswc.org ^'1awar..:.rLP.r'ZT14P' PY20-23 Upstate Re • Tonal Plan Table of Contents Upstate Planning Region Summary 1 A. Upstate Regional Plan 6 1. An analysis of the Upstate economic conditions 6 a. Existing and emerging in -demand industry sectors and occupations 6 b. The employment needs of employers in those industry sectors and occupations 10 2. An analysis of the knowledge and skills needed to meet the employment needs of the employers in the Upstate region, including employment needs in in -demand industry sectors and occupationsl 1 3. An analysis of the Upstate region workforce, including current labor force employment and unemployment data, and information on labor market trends, and the educational and skill levels of the workforce in the region, including individuals with barriers to employment, New Americans (defined as Coloradans who arrived in the U.S. as immigrants or their children) and Veterans 14 Labor Force and Market Trends 14 4. The development and implementation of sector initiatives for in -demand industry sectors or occupations for the Upstate planning region and how sector partnerships will be utilized to facilitate the engagement of employers, including small employers and employers in in -demand industry sectors and occupations, in workforce development programs 24 5. How career pathways will be used to meet the needs of employers and support work -based learning opportunities 27 6. Other strategies and services that will be used in the Upstate planning region to support a local workforce development system that meets the needs of businesses in the planning region 30 7. Efforts that have taken place or anticipated efforts to assess the need for and establish regional service strategies, including the use of cooperative service delivery agreements 32 a. The strategies and services that will be used in the Upstate planning region to better coordinate workforce development programs and services with regional economic development services and providers 32 b. How the Upstate planning region will strategically coordinate workforce investment activities with the provision of adult education and literacy activities under title II 34 c. How the Upstate planning region will strategically coordinate workforce investment activities with the provision of vocational rehabilitation services under title IV 34 d. The strategies and services that will be used in the Upstate planning region to strengthen linkages between the one -stop delivery system and unemployment insurance programs 35 e. Strategies and services that will be used in the planning region to better coordinate workforce development programs and services with community -based organizations, including, where applicable, refugee resettlement agencies that serve priority populations, including individuals with barriers and New Americans. 35 f. How the WCWDB will coordinate workforce investment activities carried out in Weld County with statewide rapid response activities 36 8. The replicated cooperative agreements between the WCWDB or other local entities with respect to efforts that will enhance the provision of services to individuals with disabilities and to other ii individuals, such as cross training of staff, technical assistance, use and sharing of information, cooperative efforts with employers, and other efforts at cooperation, collaboration, and coordination 37 9 The coordination of transportation and other supportive services 37 10 How administrative cost arrangements have been coordinated, including the pooling of funds for administrative costs or discuss why these are not appropriate for the Upstate planning region at this time 38 11 The establishment of an agreement concerning how the Upstate planning region will collectively negotiate and reach agreement with the Governor on local levels of performance for, and report on, the performance accountability measures for Weld County and the Upstate Region 38 12 How one -stop centers are implementing and transitioning to an integrated, technology -enabled intake and case management information system for programs carried out under this Act and programs carried out by one -stop partners 39 13 The activities and steps taken to develop this regional plan 40 14 The process used by the WCWDB in the Upstate planning region to provide an opportunity for public comment, including comment by representatives of businesses and comment by representatives of labor organizations, and input into the development of the plan prior to its submission 40 B. Weld County Local Plan 40 1 An analysis of the workforce development activities (including education and training) in Weld County, including an analysis of the strengths and weaknesses of such services, and the capacity to provide such services, to address the identified education and skill needs of the workforce and the employment needs of employers in Weld County 41 2 WCWDB's strategic vision and goals for preparing an educated and skilled workforce (including youth and individuals with barriers to employment, and New Americans), including goals relating to the performance accountability measures based on primary indicators of performance in order to support economic growth and economic self-sufficiency 42 3 The strategies and services that will be utilized to facilitate engagement of employers, including small employers and employers in in -demand industry sectors and occupations, in workforce development programs 44 a Outreach activities are planned to increase business engagement in Weld County 44 b How the Business Services Team be utilized for this purpose 44 c How the members (particularly business members) of the WCWDB and Youth committee will support these efforts 44 d How sector partnerships will be utilized for this purpose 44 e ESWC objectives and goals for these activities 44 4 The implementation of initiatives designed to meet the needs of employers in Weld County that support the WCWDB's strategy 45 a Work -Based Learning Programs b Apprenticeships c Sector Partnerships Participation d Sector Partnerships - Status and Objectives 45 46 47 47 III e Career Pathways 48 5 How the WCWDB, working with the entities carrying out core programs, will expand access to employment, training, education, and supportive services for eligible individuals, particularly eligible individuals with barriers to employment, including how the WCWDB will facilitate the development of career pathways and co -enrollment, as appropriate, in core programs, and improve access to activities leading to a recognized postsecondary credential (including a credential that is an industry - recognized certificate or certification, portable, and stackable) 48 6 The strategy to work with adult education providers funded under Title II of WIOA and Vocational Rehabilitation to align resources available to Weld County, to achieve the strategic vision and goals described in question 5 are described below 49 7 The strategies and services that will be utilized to strengthen linkages between the one -stop delivery system and unemployment insurance programs 50 8 How the WCWDB will coordinate workforce investment activities carried out in Weld County with economic development activities carried out in the Upstate planning region, and promote entrepreneurial skills training and microenterprise services 50 9 The workforce development system in Weld County that identifies the programs that are included in that system and how ESWC will partner with the required WIOA partners to increase awareness of career pathways and the critical role that workforce development plays in ensuring that all Coloradans have access to educational and career pathways that result in meaningful employment 51 10 The one -stop delivery system in Weld County, in particular 51 a The locations of the comprehensive physical one -stop centers within Weld County, and a list of locations of our network of affiliate sites, both physical and electronically linked, such as libraries 51 b Key strategies for integrating the core programs (WIOA Title I, II, Ill, and IV programs), as well as all required partner programs, within the local one -stop system of comprehensive and affiliate offices 52 c The roles and resource contributions of each of the one -stop partners 54 d How the WCWDB will facilitate access to services provided through the one -stop delivery system, including in remote areas, through the use of technology and through other means, including our intended use of virtual job fairs, the upcoming virtual job shadowing capability, and other innovative strategies and initiatives to streamline and enhance services, as well as increase access 54 e The types of assessments and assessment tools that will be utilized within the one -stop delivery system and how these assessments will be coordinated across participating programs to avoid duplication of effort and multiple assessments of customers being served by more than one partner program 54 f How entities within the one -stop delivery system, including our centers, one -stop operators and the one -stop partners, will comply with WIOA section 188 and applicable provisions of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) of 1990 regarding the physical and programmatic accessibility of facilities, programs and services, technology, and materials for individuals with disabilities, including providing staff training and support for addressing the needs of individuals with disabilities 55 Iv g. How the WCWDB will ensure the continuous improvement of eligible providers of services through the system and ensure that such providers meet the employment needs of local employers, and workers and jobseekers 55 h. How training services under WIOA chapter 3 of subtitle B will be provided including, if contracts for the training services will be used, how the use of such contracts will be coordinated with the use of individual training accounts under that chapter and how the WCWDB will ensure informed customer choice in the selection of training programs regardless of how the training services are to be provided 55 i. Outreach to Individuals with Barriers to Employment' 56 j. Outreach strategies to eligible New Americans and ESWC's objectives for this effort. In addition, the strategies ESWC will deploy to ensure services and programs effectively serve eligible New Americans. 56 11. How ESWC will coordinate education and workforce investment activities carried out in Weld County with relevant secondary and postsecondary education programs and activities to coordinate strategies, enhance services, and avoid duplication of services 56 12. The availability of adult and dislocated worker employment and training activities in Weld County; in particular how Weld County will expand services to dislocated workers utilizing all sources of formula and discretionary funds targeted to the dislocated worker population 57 13. The availability of youth workforce investment activities in Weld County, including activities for youth who are individuals with disabilities, shall include an identification of successful models of such youth workforce investment activities; in addition, how services to out -of -school youth will be expanded and enhanced to incorporate additional work -based learning opportunities 58 14. How the WCWDB will coordinate workforce investment activities carried out under this title in Weld County with the provision of adult education and literacy activities under title II in Weld County, including a description of how the WCWDB will carry out the review of local applications submitted under title II 59 15. How the WCWDB will coordinate workforce investment activities carried out under this title in Weld County with the provision of transportation, including public transportation, and other appropriate supportive services in Weld County 59 16. How maximizing coordination of services provided by the State employment service under the Wagner-Peyser Act (29 U.S.C. 49 et seq.) and services provided in Weld County through the one - stop delivery system, to improve service delivery and avoid duplication of services 60 17. The administrator/administrative entity responsible for the disbursal of Title I and III funds in Weld County, as determined by the chief elected official the fiscal agent 60 18. The competitive process to be used to award the sub -grants and contracts in Weld County for activities carried out under this title 60 19. The local levels of performance negotiated with the Governor and chief elected official to be used to measure the performance of Weld County and to be used by the WCWDB for measuring the performance of the local fiscal agent, eligible providers under subtitle B, and the one -stop delivery system, in Weld County. 61 20. The actions the WCWDB will take toward achieving the High Performing Board designation 61 20. Evidence use in decision making and program implementation 62 Levels of evidence applied to the overall approach of Weld County in implementing programs62 v 21 The process used by the WCWDB to provide an opportunity for public comment, including comment by representatives of businesses and comment by representatives of labor organizations, and input into the development of the local plan, prior to submission of the plan 63 Historical Program Timeline Continued 64 vi Upstate Planning Region Summary Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) Planning Region: Weld (referenced as `Upstate' throughout the Plan to align with greater economic initiatives) Local Areas Included in This Planning Region: Weld The Weld County Board of County Commissioners (BOCC), the Weld County Workforce Development Board (WCWDB), and Employment Services of Weld County (ESWC) provide the following information as an overview of the Upstate Planning Region. Located in the north central part of the state, Weld County is bordered on the north by Wyoming and Nebraska and on the south by the Denver metropolitan area. Covering 4,016 square miles, it is the third most extensive County in the state and its estimated 2019 population of 322,4311 makes it the ninth most populous of the 64 counties in Colorado. Not only is the County unique in its size, the diversity in its population makeup and the mix of its industry sectors (some of which are high in rankings on the state or national level) make it distinct from other Colorado counties and regions. Weld County continues to rank in the top 10 counties in the nation for agricultural sales (the only County outside of California in that top 10) and is the leading producer of oil and gas in the state accounting for approximately 87%2 of all crude oil and 43% of all natural gas production. Weld County is also, and historically has been, a leader and innovator in its governance structure and the development and operation of employment and training programs. Weld County was the first (September 9, 1975) and currently one of only two Colorado counties to adopt a Home Rule Charter. In 1979, employment and training programs were merged administratively, and this resulted in the Job Service and Work Incentive Programs being contracted by the Colorado Department of Labor and Employment (CDLE) to the Weld County Commissioners providing local control of the programs and allowing County personnel to operate the Job Service. Also, during this time, Weld County was one of only 15 sites nationally selected under the Employment Opportunities Pilot Project (EOPP) which was to test a specific model that had a goal to move welfare recipients into unsubsidized employment. Although not emphasized until the enactment of the Job Training Partnership Act (JTPA) in 1982, the Weld County Private Industry Council initiated relationships in 1979 with the chief local elected officials (BOCC) for the coordination of all federal, state, and local resources and joint policy making decisions regarding employment and training initiatives and programs. This involvement and coordination have continued up to the present day's WCWDB. The WCWDB has continued to provide oversight and guidance to many of the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) partner programs, including the Community Service Block Grant (CSBG) funds targeted to employment and training, Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF), and Employment First (EF) Programs, AmeriCorps, and the Training Innovation Growth Hope and Training (TIGHT) youth corps. In recent years ESWC has added the administration of the Colorado Child Care Assistance Program (CCCAP) and the Chafee Foster Care Independence Program. Both CCCAP recipients and child care providers benefit from direct ESWC programs and supports. Weld County, through ESWC, has been on the cutting edge for innovative employment and training programs designed to best meet local needs while serving a broad spectrum of customers. In 1982, Weld was the only County in Colorado that opted to implement the state's Welfare Diversion 1 EMSI 2 https://www.weldgov.com/departments/oil and gas_ energy Program. Through the course of this program, along with the Job Alternative Program, the Work Incentive Program (WIN), Community Work Experience Program, and the Colorado Jobs Demonstration Project, a variety of modifications and waivers were requested and implemented. There is a strong similarity of what was developed in those programs to the requirements that were established under the Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act of 1996 and the TANF program that is operated today. In the mid 1990's ESWC responded to the states initiative to determine how best to structure and create a One -Stop Workforce system. Representatives from the Governor Romer administration visited numerous areas across the state to view and assess how programs and services were structured and provided. After visiting Weld County and viewing the numerous programs operated by ESWC, as well as the organizational structure, the Governor determined that all workforce areas across the state should have the flexibility to structure employment programs in a way that best met local needs while providing local structure and control like the Weld County model. The Weld County Commissioners, in collaboration with the WCWDB, have been an innovative engine in the development and implementation of employment and training programs since the late 1970's. The programs developed and our respective collaborative partnerships led to the successful implementation of the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act of 2014. A timeline of ESWC Employment and Training programs is included in the table on the following pages. For a full list of programs developed by ESWC. please refer to Appendix A. 2 ESWC Development Timeline of Employment and Training Programs Year Name Purpose Partners Funding Improved Child Success Payments and Assist their to employment families, eligible to parents through overcome paying supportive and child minimize support, services barriers and and Weld County Department of Improved Payments Child (IMPACS) Program Success and 2021 (IMPACS) Program individualized case management. Human Services Assist individuals to prepare for the workforce for Technology Employment in Colorado Partnership (TEC-P 2.0) 2.0 Technology Employment middle -to high -skilled occupations within key Denver Economic in Colorado Partnership sectors including Information Technology, Development and 2021 2.0 (TEC-P 2.0) Manufacturing, and Transportation. Opportunity Similar to Weld Works 4 Youth, the Weld Coronavirus Aid, Economic Security Relief, and Weld Cares 4 Youth CARES created to place in 4 youth Youth response affected Workers to the by program the COVID-19 pandemic that was pandemic into Weld County Department of 2020 ' Workers Program (CARES) Act work experiences. Human Services Recovery National Emergency Grant Provide including career work -based services learning, to Dislocated training, Workers Weld County Department of 2020 RecoverCO supportive services and needs related payments. Human Services Disaster employment -relief for and individuals humanitarian whose assistance jobs have Weld County Department of Recovery National Emergency Grant 2020 COResponds been impacted by COVID-19. Human Services 2019 Weld 1 Project Salute items Expanding their transportation, families, and services mental to housing, address health to eligible specific food, needs. Veterans, personal needs and such care as Northern Veterans Colorado Resource Center Veteran's Service Career (VSCP) -to Program — - House 1343 Bill 18- 3 2019 Child Care Eligibility Child ESWC Care care to maintain complete under services aligning the self-sufficiency the supports administration oversight the alignment workforce's efforts of in the of the moved all to WCWDB CCCAP need achieve under for Weld County Services Department of Colorado Care Program (CCCAP) Assistance Child Eligibility programs responsibility, child and/or community. Human 2019 Northern Regional Development (NOCO Colorado Initiative ' Larimer recognized Industry strength Colorado Promoting region necessary story to for yield and outreach and and new Northern workforce, NOCO Weld shared better are and County efforts coordinated REDI expanding outcomes p as focus BOCC a g a clusters partnership. amongst as firms more for on formally a companies. the desirable and compelling collective of Northern partners. their I ; Weld Colorado Development (Upstate Larimer and Development economic entities counties Workforce County, located County Corporation (LCEWD), Upstate in N/A Economic Colorado), development industry Colorado telling Economic p both Economic REDI) 2019 Independence Chafee (CFCIP) Foster Care Program I independent independent Young or engaging one-on-one Chafee adults after adults will care Youth workshops, identify meetings are living living who Case provided are skills and goals. Manager. in socialization under pursue through foster with the learning In personal care direction fun addition, activities placement and and of a young and Weld Human County Services Department of Chafee, CSBG Core, 2019 Independence, Resources and for Success (RISE) , ! i In independent developed years one establish education, response with -old, p a goals to formally youth employment to provide living. programs 18-1319 in Focusing work young foster and towards this case adults care, financial around program p to manager successful g 18 work through housing, readiness. was one-on- to 21 Weld County Services Department of N/A HB and Employment Human 4 2018 improvement, increase Provide support The providers county. program training, for opportunities to Child address includes reimbursement technical Care the the for Providers Child assistance, recruitment employment and Care in ongoing Weld Desert of quality in new the County. and Weld North Health, Department County Range Weld of United Behavioral County Public Way, Colorado Care Program (CCCAP) Assistance Child Realizing Economic Advancement through Caring Homes (REACH) Health and Environment 2018 Subsidized Training and Provide opportunities work -based for TANF learning recipients (WBL) in Weld Colorado Works, Colorado County. Employers are targeted to provide WBL Department Services, Department Colorado of of Human Labor and opportunities employment participants to to skills gain build and permanent experience, create opportunities employment. expand for Employment Program (STEP) Employment TANF 2018 Pillars Independence Reintegration for Successful (PSI) Weld County Department of TANF Engage Foster/Kinship Youth between the ages of building 13.5 and areas: 15 -year Life -olds Skills, to Social enhance Skills, four skill Education, and Employment to prepare them for independence allows skills adulthood. to Chafee better or to prepare emancipation. build upon Foster/Kinship a solid This approach foundation Youth for of Human of Child Services, Welfare Division The information included in this Regional Plan is provided to demonstrate the Upstate Region's uniqueness in size, demographics, employment and training program leadership, and governance. The plan establishes the Upstate Region's experience in the delivery of a variety of programs utilizing a broad spectrum of funding sources, as well as the breadth of the collaborative and regionally focused efforts undertaken to meet the needs of employers, job seekers, and other workforce system partners. 5 . Upstate Regional Plan 1. An analysis of the Upstate economic conditions a. Existing and emerging in -demand industry sectors and occupations When analyzed and reported in the original PY20-23 Regional/Local Plan, the top 10 industries in the Upstate Region included Manufacturing; Construction; Retail Trade; Mining; Accommodation and Food Services; Administrative, Support and Waste Management and Remediation; Government Public Administration; Agriculture Forestry, Fishing, and Hunting, and Other Services. With Transportation and Warehousing identified as a significant industry to be included in addition of the top 10. An updated chart follows showing the top 11 industries projected for 2024 based on the number of jobs. As a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, certain industries have seen a drop in their 2024 job predictions, however, there have been increases in 2020 Payrolled business locations for most leading industries. Growth rates are continuously tracked and, it is projected that all the top eleven industries anticipate a positive growth rate as shown below. 024 Forecasted Industry Jobs 2020 Payrolled Locations 2024 Jobs 2020-2024 Expected % Change Industry Business Government State - and Public Federal Administration — 153 19,996 7% Local, Construction 1,106 16,610 12% Manufacturing 348 15,498 7% Retail 664 11,897 6% Trade Health Care and Social Assistance 733 11,094 7% Accommodation and Food Service 486 9,263 9% Mining, Extraction Quarrying, and Oil and Gas 272 9,254 19% Administrative Management and and Support Remediation and Waste Services 486 7,177 6% Other Administration)* Services (except Public 576 7,159 10% Agriculture, Hunting* Forestry, Fishing and 230 6,619 1% Transportation and Warehousing 409 5,198 9% Source: EMSI, economicmodeling.com *Emerging industry sector To provide a complete analysis, the projected fastest growing industries' jobs and their earnings per worker were also reviewed (below). The Construction industry has remained in the top five with the highest amount of jobs in 2021 and is projected to add an additional 1,759 jobs to the market by 2024, with an average of $59,519 in earnings per worker in 2020. Similar data was used in 2019 to determine the need for a Construction and Trades Sector Partnership in Northern Colorado. second 6 Industry Group Jobs and Earnings Comparison 2020 Jobs 25000 20000 15000 10000 5000 I 0 Government Construction Manufacturing Retail Trade Health Care and Social Assi.. Accommodation and Food Mining. Quarrying. and Oil Agriculture. Forestry. Fishi... Administrative and Suppor Other Services (except Pub. 2020 Earnings Per Worker SO $50000 I $100000 515000( Group 2020 Jobs 2024 Jobs Earnings Worker Per Payrolled Business Locations Government 18,757 19,996 $54,475 153 Construction 14,851 16,610 $73,275 1,106 Manufacturing 14,478 15,498 $69,944 348 Retail 11,229 11,897 $41,510 664 Trade Care and Social 10,413 11,094 $59,612 733 Health Services Accommodation and Food 8,494 9,263 $22.291 486 Services Mining, Quarrying, and Oil 7/50 9,254 $116,222 272 and Gas Extraction Agriculture, Forestry, 6,850 6,919 $56.961 230 Fishing and Hunting Administrative and and Waste Remediation Management and Support Services 6,762 7,177 $47,319 486 Other Services (except 6,488 7,159 $35,434 576 Public Administration and 4,787 5,198 $78,666 409 Transportation Warehousing Source: EMSI, economicmodeling.com By reviewing an Industry Growth comparison (below), we can see that the :Mining and Quarrying] and Gas industry continues to be a valuable source of revenue for the region. With an anticipated Oil 7 growth rate of 19% over the next four years. Contrary to the belief that COVID-19 and the new Presidental administration affected the industry, Weld County continues to have 19,204 active wells.3 Industry Group Growth Comparison • 2020 Jobs 24K - 22K - 20K - 18K - 16K - 14K - 12K- 1OK - $K - 6K - 4K- 2K- OK • 2024 Jobs ,# �$ krnk�C� 40 fb• cF ,Itc* Source: EMSI, economicmodeling.com 4*eh cr �441 e C#C4 rikif CCr ger Cs 4 4* de is kit, c'k CC `'~ 4* qe se sifr e cfr t - (IN> Group 2020 Jobs 2024 Jobs Change %Change Mining, Quarrying, and Oil and Gas 7,750 9,254 1,504 19% Extraction Construction 14,851 16,610 1,758 12% Other Services (except Public Administration 6,488 7,159 671 10% Accommodation and Food Services 8,494 9,263 768 9% Transportation and Warehousing 4,787 5,198 410 9% Manufacturing 14,478 15,498 1,020 7% Government 18,757 19,996 1,238 7% 10,413 11,094 681 7% Health Care and Social Services Administrative and Support and Waste 6,762 7,177 415 6% Management and Remediation Services Retail Trade 11.229 11,897 668 6% Agriculture, Forestry, Fishing and Hunting 6,850 6,919 70 1% 3 Weld County Oil and Gas Energy Production Report February 2021 8 As a top producer of Crude Oil in the state, the value related to Colorado Natural Resources and Mining continues to be of importance to Weld County. In 2019, the Board of Commissioners approved a resolution to create the Oil and Gas Energy Department (OGED) setting in motion steps toward preserving Weld's economy and providing stability for residents and the industry. The department permits. regulates, and enforces surface and air oil and gas operations in unincorporated areas of the County. Taking into consideration the value of natural resources (below), the implementation of this department was crucial. In 2020, there was 128,357,637 barrels of oil from Weld County as well as 150, 590, 865 Boe of natural gas4. $ Millions 20,000 VALUE OF COLORADO NATURAL RESOURCES AND MINING, 2011-2021 a Minerals • Coal • CO2 16,000 Natural Gas • Crude Oil 12,000 8,00O 4,000 0 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020* 2021* '2020 estimated and 2021 forecast. Sources: Colorado Geological Survey Mineral and Minerals Fuel Activity Reports, Colorado Oil and Gas Conservatsx Commission Department of Minerals and Geology, and Colorado Business Economic Outlook Committee Source: Source: Colorado Business Economic Outlook & Forum Book Agriculture continues to be a driver of the economy in Weld County with roughly 2.5 million acres or 75% of the expanse remaining devoted to farming and livestock production. Weld County accounts for 27% of sales statewide and is more similar economically to large agricultural producing counties of California's Central Valley. Weld County takes a leading role in agriculture production in the state for hay and alfalfa, and sugar beets. Weld County is also home to the highest inventory of all cattle & calves. and all beef and milk cows. In reviewing the below, Colorado Net Farm Income is forecasted to increase in 2021 while farm production expenses remain the same as 2020, this further ensures Weld County's farmers ability to thrive. It is also pertinent to note that with over 3,000 farms, several of which are recognized under the Centennial program, Weld County strives to protect farmers and ranchers by maintaining the right to farm ordinance. Weld County Oil and Gas Energy Production Report December 2020 9 Colorado Farm Income and Production Expenses 2011-2021 (In Millions of Dollars) Year Gross Revenue Value of Farm Total Expenses Farm Production Net Farm Income 2011 $8, 487.10 $6, 650.00 $1,837.10 2012 $8, 345.40 $7, 006.80 $1 338.60 2013 $8, 610.50 $7, 216.00 $1, 394.50 2014 $9,176.20 $7, 954.10 $1, 222.10 2015 $8,924.40 $7,310.50 $1,613.90 2016 $7, 622.50 $6, 358.20 $1 264.30 2017 $8,266.20 $7, 226.90 $1,039.30 2018 $8,283.10 . $7,035.8 $1,247.3 2019a $8,714.00 $6,782.00 $1,932.00 2020b $8, 536.00 $6, 800.00 $1, 736.00 2021c $8,619.00 $6,800.00 $1,819.00 aRevised. bEstimated. cForecast. Source: Colorado Business Economic Outlook Ag Committee. Estimated net farm income for 2020 was estimated to decrease by almost $200 million to $1.7 billion. This is despite an increase in government payments by $202 million, to an estimated record -high $480 million. These government payments range from disaster relief and crop insurance to COVID-19 programs and are estimated to account for 28% of 2020 net farm income. Net farm income for 2021 is forecast to rebound slightly to $1.8 billion, with government payments forecast to drop slightly to $400 million. b. The employment needs of employers in those industry sectors and occupations To determine the employment needs of businesses in the region, data was pulled regarding the most frequently posted positions. The occupations (listed in the table below) support the information gathered in the analysis of the top 11 industries. The section following the chart takes a deeper dive into employer's needs. Top Posted Occupations Occupation Total/Unique (Mar- Posting Intensity Median Posting 2019 - Feb2020) Duration Heavy and Tractor -Trailer Truck Drivers 36,357 / 7,926 5:1 34 days Registered Nurses 10,459 / 2,117 5:1 i 33 days 10 Light Truck Drivers 4,227 / 939 5 : 1 1 41 days I Retail Salespersons 4,680 / 895 5 1 42 days : Home Care Aides Health and Personal 2,942 / 871 r3 1 — i ---- --- 30 days : First Retail -Line Sales Supervisors Workers of 2,757 / 800 3 1 — 48 days : f Customer Representatives Service 4,446 / 763 6 1 36 days : i Maintenance Workers, General and Repair 3,136 I 760 ; 4 : 1 35 days Bus and Truck Mechanics 3,343 / 735 5 : 33 days and Specialists Diesel Engine 6 : 1 - ! 31 days Stockers and Order Fillers 3,251 / 531 Source: EMSI, economicmodeling.com The WCWDB has responded to the workforce needs within the manufacturing, energy, health, agriculture, construction, and transportation sectors by devoting staff resources to work on sector initiatives within each of these industries. Within the manufacturing and health industries, sector partnerships are clearly defined within the Region and Weld County has been involved since their There are monthly meetings of the Convener Team (combination of public and private partners), monthly meetings of work teams and Semi -Annual meetings of the entire partnerships. In construction, the sector partnership inception. launched shortly before the COVID-19 pandemic hit Colorado. The partnership continues to offer meetings to industry and hopes to have a stronger presence in 2021. There are other active sector partnerships with which ESWC is fully engaged. They are the Freight Industry and the Colorado Tree Care partnerships. Participation in these sector partnerships outside of the Upstate Region is beneficial for TEC-P 2.0 partnership and a future Pre -Apprenticeship opportunity for the Weld County AmeriCorps program. The WCWDB continues to improve the workforce for Weld County employers as it engages and responds to employer needs. 2. An analysis of the knowledge and skills needed to meet the employment needs of the employers in the Upstate region, including employment needs in in -demand industry sectors and occupations To determine knowledge and skills needed to meet the demand of employers in the region, data was pulled regarding the most in -demand skills comparing the frequency of skills present in job postings against skills present in today's workforce. In reviewing the top hard skills, accounting is most frequent, while the top common skill is customer service. Although the transportation sector has exited the top 10 industries, commercial drivers' licenses continue to be a top qualification in job postings leading the Upstate Region to expand the in -demand industry list to 11 11 6% 5% I I T r 1 2% 1% 0% ■ Frequency in Job Postings Top Hard Skills Merchandising Basic Life Support Nursing Restaurant Operation Warehousing Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) Accounting Selling Techniques Auditing Mechanics f i i r 1 T 1 0% 1% 2% 3% 4% 5% 6% ■ Frequency in Workforce Profiles Hard Skill Frequency in Postings Posting with Skill / Frequency Profiles with Skill Total Postings in Profiles Total Profiles (Mar. 2020) 2019 — Feb. (2019 - 2021) Merchandising 5% 2,015 / 39,390 2% 533 / 23,052 Basic Life Support 5% 1,940 / 39,390 2% 356 / 23,052 Nursing 5% 1,838 / 39,390 2% 1 408 / 23, 052 Restaurant Operation 4% 1,650 / 39,390 1% 222 / 23,052 Warehousing 4% 1,416 / 39,390 2% 417 / 23,052 Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) 3% 1,283 / 39,390 2% 568 / 23,052 Accountin 3% 1,256 / 39,390 4% 820 / 23052 3% 1,112 / 39,390 2% 396 / 23,052 Selling Techniques Auditing 3% 1,040 / 39,390 2% 531 / 23,052 Mechanics 1% 316 / 23,052 3% 1,038 / 39,390 Source: Emsi, e.economicmodeling.com Top Common Skills 12 I 30% 25% 20% 15% 10% 5% 0% • Frequency in Job Postings Communications Customer Service Management Sales Valid Driver's License Operations Leadership Basic Math Detail Oriented Good Driving Record I 1 i 1 1 1 I I 0% 5% 10% 15% 20% 25% 30% • Frequency in Workforce Profiles Skill Frequency Postings with Skill / Frequency Profiles with Skill in Postings Total Postings in Profiles / Total Profiles (Mar 2020) 2019 - Feb (2019 - 2021) Communications 21% 8,369 / 391390 6% 1, 283 / 23, 052 Customer Service 17% 6,878 / 39,390 23% 5,238 / 23:052 -� Management 14% , 5,386 / 39,390 19% 4,351 / 23.052 Sales 13% 5,066 / 39,390 16% 3,764 / 23,052 Valid Driver's License 11% 4,315 / 39.390 0% ' 11 / 23,052 Operations 10% 4,117 / 39,390 9% 2,162 / 23,052 Leadership 10% 3,744 / 39,390 14% 3,291 / 23,052 Basic Math 7% 2,695 / 39,390 0% 112 /23,052 Detail Oriented 7% 2,636 / 39,390 1% 139 / 23,052 Good Driving Record 7% 2,610 / 39,390 0% 4 / 23,052 Source: Emsi. e.economicmodeling.com 13 TOP QUALIFICATIONS z O U- Q D C Certified Nursing Assistant, 656 Doubles Endorsement, 490 Licensed Practical Nurse, 404 Tanker Endorsement, 348 Hazmat Endorsement, 320 Transportation Worker Identification Credential (TWIC) Card, 270 CDL Class B License, 261 Critical Care Registered Nurse (CCRN), 241 Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN), 204 POSTINGS WITH QUALIFICAITON Source: Emsi, e.economicmodeling.com Commercial Driver's License (CDL), 6,410 3. An analysis of the Upstate region workforce, including current labor force employment and unemployment data, and information on labor market trends, and the educational and skill levels of the workforce in the region, including individuals with barriers to employment, New Americans (defined as Coloradans who arrived in the U.S. as immigrants or their children) and Veterans Labor Force and Market Trends Population: According to EMSI, as of 2020, the region's population increased by 16.6% since 2015, growing by . The population is expected to increase by 10.1% between 2020 and 2025, adding 33,687 people to Weld County. As seen in the second chart below, Weld County ranks in the top 10 Colorado Counties with the highest populations. Weld County is continuing to experience a period of growth and is expected to be in the top five counties by 2031 with a population growth of over 48,000, which is over 1,500 decrease in growth from previous reports. 47,306 Population Growth Short Term Forecast 14 450k 400k 350k 300K c O DOI 2001< 150K -1,4.1.r -1 100k 50K OK __o- -- - - _p - -o-- _-- 0 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022 2023 2024 2025 Population Growth Long Term Forecast Grand • Moab car j.:'ln Change i h Bianco • Grand junction Mesa Delta Montrose Ease don GurtY5on Grand Summit Lake Chaffee Part CZLORA (X? • Gut lira -lea • Montrose Fremont • Mondcdlo S9.613 to 64.918 42.161 to 59.612 322'06 to 42,160 23.998 to 32.207 7,516 to 23 99 % 0 to 7.515 0to-7.515 San Migud Dolores Ouray San Sian M,nsdate ta Plats Mineral Saguache Aso Grande Conejo% Alamos& Cuse Costllia Huerfano Crowley • Pueblo Pueblo Ca ego Las Animas • Tnnidad "'den Sediovid Ptdpias WaSMrgtx Yuma Ka Carson Cheyenne Cosa Bent Pt Gwen Baca County 2020 Population 2031 Population Change 15 Denver 739,493 804,411 64,918 El Paso 732,468 792,081 59,613 Arapahoe 665,398 708,498 43,100 Jefferson 588,320 612,318 23,998 Adams 525,577 569,433 43,866 Larimer 363,388 395,546 32,208 Douglas 358.549 400,710 42,161 Weld 333,125 381,574 48,449 Boulder 329,263 341,715 12,452 Pueblo 170,045 177,561 7,516 Source: Emsi. e.economicmodeling.com Diversity: Racial diversity is below the national average in Weld County and the diversity remains consistent with previous indicators. The below chart forecasts the marginal increase in population for individuals who identify as Hispanic, Black, Asian, and other minorities from 2020 to 2024. Overall an increase in the diversity of the 2024 population is expected to be 1%. Employment Services and the Immigrant and Refugee Center of Northern Colorado will take the below and Statewide data into consideration when developing the New American's toolkit for Workforce Centers across the State. FORECAST OF PERCENT OF DIVERSE POPULATION FOR 2024 - RACIAL GROUPS 35 z 0 30 25 2 20 � 15 LP 10 z 5 Lu u 0 cc w n_ 31 32 2 2 Hispanic Black Source: State Demography Office 2 2 RACIAL GROUPS ■ 2020 ■ 2024 2 2 Asian Other Breaking the total population into age groups, the youth group, ages 19 and under, is expected to increase 2%, while the main labor force, ages 20-64, expects 4% growth and the retiring soon age group. ages 65+. are expecting 2% growth. 16 70% z O 60% Q 50% 2 40% a_ 30% `- 20% z 10% w u 0% cc 0 - FORECAST OF PERCENT OF DIVERSE POPULATION FOR 2024 - AGE COHORT 58% 62% 29% 31% <19 20-64 AGE CHORT ■ 2020 ■ 2024 13% 15% 65+ The Upstate Region's workforce remains well balanced with a higher than average percentage of the workforce who are millennials, as compared to a lower than average percentage of those nearing retirement. Pr\ 9 74,427 77,053 Millennials Retiring Soon Weld County, CO has 74,427 millennials (ages 25-39). The national average for an area this size is 66,905. Source: Emsi, e.economicmodeling.com Retirement risk is low in Weld County, CO. The national average for an area this size is 95,405 people 55 or older, while there are 77,053 here. Income. The per capita income experienced a $12,000 loss from the previous four-year plan, going from $42,787 to $30,62 6 . It is still too early to determine if the COVID-19 pandemic played a significant 17 role in this loss as the median household income experienced gains from $69,434 to $70,908 this plan is the percentage of remote workers who account for 5.7% of the population. New to Per Capita Income $30,626 Median Median Age % Remote % of Poverty % Seniors Household Workers Level 65+ Poverty Income Level 70,908 34.3 5.7% 7.1% 8.3% Source: Emsi, e.economicmodeling.com, March 2021. Industry Change: Another way to look at the economic health of Weld County is through the Industry Change Summary. The chart below shows historical and forecasted information from 2001-2031. Between 2020 and 2024, the industry change is forecasted to increase by 8% in Weld County from 110,859 jobs to 120,064. This change outpaced the national growth rate of 3% as well as the growth rate of neighboring Larimer County. % Change Since 2001 100% 90% 80% 70% 60% 50% 40% 30c/c 20cc 10% 04, -20‘yf -30% 2001 • • ■ • V Industry Change Summary • • U • ■ • • ■ ■ • ■- ■ ♦ - ♦ • • • • ■ - ♦ ... -` - ♦- -• 2003 2005 2007 2009 2011 2013 2015 2017 2019 2021 2023 2025 2027 2029 2031 Region 2020 Jobs 2024 Jobs Change • Weld 110,859 120,064 9,205 % Change 8% 2020 2020 Average Payrolled Earnings Business Locations $59,551 5,461 18 I Larimer 152,286 161,097 8,811 6% $56,209 7,489 Colorado 2,244,137 2,348,620 104,483 5% $60.121 118.111 I United States 124, 036, 680 p 128,135, 576 4,098,896 3% $60,446 6,791,594 Source: Emsi, e.economicmodeling.com Place of Work vs. Place of Residence: The 2019 commuting patterns of workers in the Upstate Region as compared to where the workers live is reflected in the map and chart below. The top five zip codes for employment concentration in Weld County aligns with four of the five zip codes where workers live. 82332 82084 81653 81639 R1 80428 80487 Net Commuters 80434 80480 c ,J' -t !7 1955 tq: 02 3 to 5954 773:10 2,159 o t%,? 0 to -772 - to -2,159~80423 -2.160 to -3.709 7-3.710 to -5.95h `; 80498 -5.955to-17.802 81655 • ��i33 81658 � ., -1•;it ED i8.33�t' �_ 80430 80545 82063 80512 80536 80549 80473 80515 80517 the.t A A 'ti 80446 80451 • 80447 80510 80481 80455 80442 80466 80482 80474 80438 80497 80444 80435 80403 80427 80524 OOLIAJ / 80612 4SLut4 80732 80729 80648 80610 80025 80038 806 01 .80022 `!!0001 80217 80019 80225 80243 80047 -ift 80437 i-.r-raj' 8915°--- 80046 80127 101O r 1, 80645 80611 80649 80653 80652 80654 80102 80103 80742 80754 I . • 80701 80105 8074 80723 80757 Where Talent Works Where Talent Lives Zip 80631 Name Greeley, CO (in Weld County) 2019 Employment 33,369 Zip 80634 Name Greeley, CO (in Weld County) 2019 Workers 39,267 19 80634 Greeley, Weld County) CO (in 21,464 80504 Longmont, (in Weld CO County) 32,313 80504 Longmont, Weld County) CO (in 13,979 80631 Greeley, Weld County) CO (in 26,866 80550 Windsor, Weld County) CO (in 13.539 80550 Windsor, Weld County) CO (in 19,495 80621 Fort (in Weld Lupton, County) CO 5,645 80620 CO County) (in 11,096 Evans, Weld Source: Emsi, e.economicmodeling.com Unemployment and Underemployment: The below table details the labor force, employment and unemployment information for 2019 in Weld County, CO in comparison with other counties in the area. Unemployment in the Upstate Region continued to be low, ending 2019 at 2.3%, coming in 0.2% lower than Adams County. Area Labor Force, Employment and Unemployment Data (2019) Area Civilian Labor Force Number Number Unemployed , Unemployment Rate Employed Adams County 277,770 270,813 6,957 2.5% Larimer County 209,156 205,003 4,153 2.0% Boulder County 197,746 193,839 3,907 2.0% Weld County 172,545 168,655 3,890 2.3% Source: LAUS Unit, LAUS system output file, www.colmigateway.com 2020 saw unemployment rates rapidly increase as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. The below, not seasonally adjusted numbers demonstrate the impact COVID-19 restrictions continued to have on the labor force in December 2020. Area Labor Force, Employment and Unemployment Data (2020) Area Civilian Labor Number Number Unemployed Unemployment Rate Employed Force Adams County 284,360 258,180 26,180 9.2% ' Larimer County 205,612 4 190,294 15,318 7.4% Boulder County 194,238 180,878 13,360 6.9% Weld County 174,099 1 1 159, 598 14, 501 8.3% 20 UNEMPLOYED POPULATION BY COUNTY (2019-2020) 30,000 ej 25,000 O n_ 20,000 2 w z 15,000 m 10,000 2 5,000 0 26,180 Adams 15,318 Larimer In 2019 ■ 2020 13,360 Boulder 14,501 Weld The below chart details the supply and demand of the population's education level compared to jobs requiring that education level. There is an abundance of jobs requiring no formal education or only a High School Diploma or equivalent with a position demand difference of 10% and 16% respectively. There are limited job opportunities for individuals with some college, non -degree awards (-15%) and Associate's (-7%), Graduate or higher (-5%) degrees. There are more opportunities for those who have Bachelor's Degrees with a 2% difference in supply and demand. Underemployment Workforce Characteristics • Jobs Requiring Ed. Level Population at Ed. Level No Formal Education Required High School Diploma or Equivalent Some College. Non -Degree Award Associate's Degree Bachelor's Degree Graduate Degree and Higher i i 0% Source: Emsi, e.economicmodeling.com Education and Skill Level: 10% 20% 30% 40% 21 Concerning educational attainment, 18.2% of the Upstate Region residents possess a Bachelor's Degree (0.6% below the national average), and 9.0% hold an Associate's Degree (0.9% above the national average). Educational Attainment Levels • Less Than 9th Grade • 9th Grade to 12th Grade • High School Diploma Some College • Associate's Degree Bachelor's Degree • Graduate Degree or Higher Source: EMSI. economicmodeling.com Individuals with Barriers to Employment, New Americans and Veterans: In 2020, it has been identified that 10.3% of people in the Upstate Region consider their disability to be a barrier to employment. Veterans, who tend to have issues with Veterans Affairs benefits and services after discharge from the military, make up 13.1% of the disabled population. Typical Veteran barriers lie in service to career transitions. ESWC has also received direct feedback from Veterans saying that they are experiencing negative bias assuming all Veterans experience service -connected challenges. Additional issues affecting Veterans include lacking basic high school education and unemployment. New American's make up 8.7% of the population in the Upstate Region, with 35.7% being naturalizes U.S. Citizens. The majority of New Americans immigrated from Latin America and are often English Language Learners. Barrier to Employment Percent of Population (2020) In Poverty 6.7% Ages 18-64 9.5% Veterans 9.3% Disabled 10.3% Ages 18-64 8.9% 22 Veterans 13.1% New Americans (Foreign Born) 8.7% Naturalized U.S. Citizens 35.7% From Latin America 78% Veteran Status 7.1% Ages 18-64 83% Less than high school diploma 11.9% Unemployed 3.8% Source: Emsi, e.economicmodeling.com, US Census Bureau 23 4. The development and implementation of sector initiatives for in -demand industry sectors or occupations for the Upstate planning region and how sector partnerships will be utilized to facilitate the engagement of employers, including small employers and employers in in -demand industry sectors and occupations, in workforce development programs As described in the regional economic analysis in section A.1.a., the Upstate Region's major industry sectors are Oil and Gas, Manufacturing, Construction, Government, Retail Trade, Health Care, Agriculture, Administrative, Accommodation and Food Service, Other Services and Transportation. (Source: Emsi, e.economicmodeling.com) Industry 2020 Jobs Avg. Earnings Per Job Total Diversity of Industry 2020 % GRP 2020 Demand In -Region % met 2020 Region Sales % In - Government 18,757 $54,475 25% $1,101,474,969 24% 50% Construction 14,851 $73,275 38% $1,484,028,039 94% 42% Manufacturing 14,478 $68,944 46% $1,836,563,754 23% 20% Retail Trade 11,229 $41,510 32% $808,881,098 33% 52% Health Care and Social Assistance 10,413 $59,612 31% $741,021,682 38% 86% Accommodation and Food Services 8,494 $22,291 41% $292,3131851 57% 97% Mining, Extraction Quarrying, and Oil and Gas 7,750 $116,222 35% $2,199,757,649 84% 10% Agriculture, Hunting Forestry, Fishing and 6,850 $56,961 37% $451,489,941 48% 45% Administrative Management and and Support Remediation and Waste Services 6,762 $47,319 41% $432,382,429 64% 62% Other Administration) Services (except Public 6,488 I $35,434 26% $336,775,283 68% 81% Transportation and Warehousing 4,787 $78,666 31% $688,056,159 47% 48% 24 In April 2019, regional leaders from Larimer and Weld Workforce, as well as partners from Aims Community College and Front Range College, convened at ESWC to discuss with representatives from the Colorado Workforce Development Council (CWDC), the viability of creating a new sector partnership. Initial discussions included the Retail Sector and reanalyzing the interest in support of a Construction Sector Partnership. partnerships. Below outline the in -demand industries and their presence in sector Government — Public Administration: Gauging the interest of a partnership for this industry has not been explored. Construction & Trades (Sector Partnership): On December 4, 2019, in partnership with Larimer County, and with support from the cities and chambers, the Northern Colorado Construction & Trades Sector partnership launched. Action teams that resulted from the launch included Funds for Education, New Way of Management, New Way of Business, Education & Pathways, and Perception of the Industry. Objectives include mentoring in an intergenerational workforce, retaining local talent, collaborative working relationships, and selling the career then the trade. Launching at the onset of COVID-19 resulted in a slow start for this partnership, their leadership is looking at innovative ways to have a stronger partnership going forward. Manufacturing (Sector Partnership): Manufacturing is a large sector in Weld and includes a wealth of companies producing a wide variety of products focused primarily in food manufacturing, wood products, chemical manufacturing, plastics/rubber products, fabricated metal products, machinery manufacturing, electrical equipment/components, transportation equipment and miscellaneous manufacturing. Key manufacturers include: JBS, Vestas Blades and Nacelles (note: of the four (4) production facilities located in North America, two are in the Upstate Region), Carestream Health, Leprino Foods, Sparton Medical Systems, PTI Group, Advanced Forming Technologies, etc. Within the Upstate Region and Larimer County, NOCOM, the Northern Colorado Manufacturing Sector Partnership, remains vibrant and serves employers well. There are four committees including the Networking Committee, to better connect the manufacturing community; the Rocks! Workforce Committee, to engage a future workforce towards manufacturing careers which includes tours of manufacturing companies for youth; a Funding Committee, to identify and pursue opportunities; and the NOCOM Trade Show Committee, to focus on programming and promotion of the annual trade show. As a support to the NOCOM, ESWC suggested that a Regional Advisory Discussion (RAD) be instituted. The RAD is hosted in part by ESWC and brings together employers, workforce, educators, and public partners in one moderated discussion about the skills gaps which employers face. The RAD is a `highest and best use' approach to the time of employers and all participants by addressing common issues in one collaborative meeting. The RAD began in 2016 and at the request of the NOCO Manufacturing SP continues to be held annually. The national moderator for 2019 identified this local event as the most progressive in the United States to date. The partnership was fortunate to hold the event a few weeks before the COVID-19 pandemic shut down all in -person gatherings. Retail As stated above, initial conversations regarding a retail sector partnership took place in April 2019. At this time, interest in creating this partnership has been minimal from employers. ESWC staff regularly attend local area retail business meetings and should interest emerge, they are prepared to move forward with creating a sector partnership. 25 Health and Wellness (Sector Partnership): The cornerstone of Weld's growing health sector is the regional 378 bed North Colorado Medical Center (NCMC) located in Greeley. Part of the Banner System: NCMC was named in 2017 as one of America's 50 Best Hospitals. Healthgrades America's Best Hospitals TM determined that NCMC was in the top 1% for providing overall clinic excellence consistently for at least six consecutive years. Most recently, NCMC received excellence awards for Critical Care, Pulmonary Care, and Stroke Care. Key NCMC services include: Heart and Cancer Care, Trauma and Emergency Care, Surgical Care and Women's Health plus a full range of specialty services including a regional burn unit and hyperbaric medicine facility. Air Life of Greeley provides immediate emergency transport with a 300 - mile radius. The University of Colorado Heath offers additional health options. UC Health Greeley Hospital opened their doors on July 3, 2019. The 50 -bed acute care hospital is located in West Greeley with the following services available: Advanced cardiac services, birth center with special care nursery, 24/7 retail pharmacy, imaging and laboratory services, emergency department with Level III trauma, a catheterization lab, and inpatient medical surgical care. The Northern Colorado Health Sector Partnership remains vibrant and serves employers well. Serving the same regional area, the partnership has been strategizing ways to connect youth with hands on experiences as related to healthcare and with overwhelmingly positive support. The intention is to continue facilitating Healthcare Boot Camps and expanding the number of youths provided with this opportunity. Success for the Workforce Committee to date include cultural competency training, job fairs, Get into the Guts (a High School Career Event), Behavioral Health defined pathways and Medical Assistant education scholarships. The partnerships goals include implementing workforce initiatives, apprenticeships, internships and to work with the CWDC to survey critical occupations and the largest workforce gaps. Oil and Gas: According to the Leeds School of Business Economic Report for 2020, horizontal drilling and hydraulic stimulation continues to be an integral part of the Upstate Region's oil and gas activity. With 87% of the permits requested for this type of drilling being located within the Upstate Region. The Weld County Oil and Gas Energy Department releases monthly production reports on their website and social media. There have been numerous discussions within various regional groups about creating a sector partnership in Energy (Fossil & Renewable). Thus far it has been determined that the interest level is low. Accommodation and Food Service: Gauging the interest of a partnership for this industry has not been explored. COVID-19 has helped identify the need for a future conversation. Business Services (Company Management, Administrative/Back Office Support): Offering a central US location with easy access to Denver International Airport, a skilled labor force and exceptional quality of life, Weld is home to several large corporate/regional headquarters, business service centers and customer/administrative support operations. While the JBS North American Corporate HQ is the largest single employer in this sector, other important players include State Farm Insurance Regional Operations Center, Banner Health Corporate Center, and Hensel Phelps Corporate HQ. Many of these businesses participate in community forums such as Sector Partnerships and Aims Advisory committees, in which ESWC is present. To maximize everyone's time and efforts, a sector partnership specific to this industry area has not been explored. Agriculture: 26 The Upstate Region's agriculture base includes 2.5 million acres devoted to farming and raising livestock. With total market value of agricultural products sold at over $2 billion; Weld ranked 1st in Colorado and 8th in the nation in the 2017 Census of Agriculture. Weld continues to be the only County outside of California to consistently rank in the top 10. The bulk, roughly $1.7 billion of market value came from livestock sales. Weld is home to two of the largest cattle feeding operations in the nation and ranks 1st in sheep/lamb production. Over half of the dairy cows in the state are also located in Weld. Cattle ranching, goat, hog, poultry and equine operations abound, and key crops include hay, wheat, corn, nursery stock, sunflowers dry beans, onions and carrots. The impact of agriculture extends from the traditional farm production of commodities to large agribusiness/food manufacturing operations processing value-added consumer goods exported all over the world. Aims Community College has an Agricultural Advisory Committee in which a BSU team member participates. Other Services (except Public Administration): A viable sector partnership cannot form due to a wide variety of jobs coded as "Other." Transportation: Although it has exited from the top 10, Transportation is a key industry within the Upstate Region. It reaches across virtually every other industry and growth within this sector has a direct impact on the health of other sectors. The importance of this industry can be seen when looking at the transportation jobs in agriculture energy, and manufacturing. The heavy and tractor trailer truck drivers, as well as light truck and delivery drivers represent nearly 65% of the employment within the industry. In response to TEC-P 2.0, the Business Services Manager attends the Freight Industry Sector Partnership supported by the Colorado Department of Transportation. ESWC offered industry pathway examples for the partnership to review and hopes to develop industry relationships for South County participants. Regardless of being a top sector, the Upstate Region, it is an expectation that employers are best served through providing, quality, timely outreach. ESWC provides industry and chambers with an email blast titled "Did You Know... ". For instance, employers are made aware of the behavioral health career pathway conference, the regional advisory discussion, and the annual young adult job fair to name a few. ESWC continues to host an employer seminar covering Work -Based Learning (WBL) methods. The ESWC leadership is invested in the creation of Registered Apprenticeships and is serving on a State workgroup regularly communicates with the Statewide RA consultants. In alignment with Colorado WIOA State Plan, goals B and D, intentional partnering with Chambers throughout the Upstate Region strengthens connections with key business individuals in the local communities. Related events include the Southeast Chamber, the Carbon Valley Chamber, the Fort Lupton Chamber, the Greeley Chamber, the Johnstown -Milliken Chamber, Erie Chamber and the Evans Chamber. Serving on the Windsor Economic Development Committee and several Aims Community College Advisory Boards supports this function as well. A strong relationship has been established with the Fort Collins Chamber to support further regionalism. 5. How career pathways will be used to meet the needs of employers and support work -based learning opportunities 27 Career pathways may be used to help employers better understand the path an employee is able to take in their career. A pathway may also help a potential employee understand what is required to begin on a path within a certain industry. A career pathway is an option to identify what additional training needs to be accomplished for a candidate to be successfully employed. A clearly defined career path will support employers by creating a more employable workforce. Often, the path may include WBL opportunities such as internships, job shadowing, On -the -Job Training or Registered Apprenticeships. Career pathways are an active workforce development strategy in the Upstate Region, in alignment with Colorado WIOA State Plan, goal C. Through the WCWDB, the standing Youth Committee has been committed to Career Pathway initiatives and strives to align existing programs and services while expanding services with careful oversight to prevent duplication of services. The Greeley Mayor has identified youth employment as a priority and is also committed to expanding employment related opportunities to youth to include WBL. As an example, a continued collaborative effort between the Colorado Department of Human Services (CDHS) and the CDLE provides WBL opportunities for TANF recipients. This program was previously funded by Colorado Works Subsidized Training and Employment Program (STEP), which has been discontinued by Colorado Works. The 2Gen employment program, Weld Works 4 Youth (WW4Y), provides young adults the opportunity to build work ethic and work maturity through a worksite placement with local employers. ESWC will continue to support VVVV4Y and TANF WBL through the TANF Block Grant. ESWC was unsure if the VVW4Y program would be able to continue in 2020 due to COVID. The youth team felt this program would provide temporary employment to the youth that were affected by COVID in addition to their families. The youth team continued with a plan of recruiting eligible youth as well as worksites throughout Weld County. Discussions and learning opportunities were held to ensure youth and worksites understood the importance of social distancing, having appropriate personal protective equipment, as well as having plans in place in case of exposure. Throughout late spring of 2020, applications of eligible youth poured in and community agencies reached out to be a worksite. During the summer of 2020, 83 youth were placed on their worksites and successfully completed their temporary employment. Serving this many youth was a significant increase from years past. In the fall of 2020, Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act money was received by Weld County. Some of this funding was allocated to assist young adults affected by COVID with temporary employment. The youth team used a similar approach as VVW4Y and started the initiative Weld CARES 4 Youth. This initiative served 48 young adults ages 14-24 September through December providing them with temporary employment. Two of the young adults were hired on permanently by their worksite and will be attending post -secondary education in the fall of 2021 studying in the same career path. ESWC was contacted by the Denver Economic Development and Opportunity (DEDO) Workforce Services about collaborating with a grant opportunity from the United States Department of Labor (USDOL) which would focus on training and upskilling the local workforce in key industries such as cybersecurity, advanced manufacturing, and software development. The grant was awarded by the U.S. Department of Labor's H-1 B One Workforce Grant Program, which in 2021 is providing $145 million to 19 institutions nationwide in higher education, workforce development, and economic development. This award will be invested in the Technology Employment in Colorado Partnership (TEC-P) program; this is the second phase of TEC-P which leads to the program name of TEC-P 2.0. The award will serve 750 job seekers from February 1, 2021 to January 31, 2025 and will be a collaborative effort of local area workforce partners including: Adams, Arapahoe/Douglas, Boulder, Larimer, Tri-County and Weld. ESWC received a sub -award of $555,000 and is projected to serve a total of 75 individuals during the performance period. 28 To complement existing Career Pathway initiatives Aims provides opportunities for concurrent enrollment, also referred as duel credit opportunities, for in -school youth. In partnership with various school districts, youth can receive college credit while in secondary education. This provides the opportunity to explore careers and complete one or two years of college credit while also working on the high school diploma. With this availability, more of the youth can be involved in a variety of career pathway options. Concurrent enrollment opportunities are extensive and include, but are not limited to, healthcare, criminal justice, oil & gas, welding, automotive services, graphic design and communication media. Youth electing to participate in concurrent enrollment courses can obtain an associate degree in harmony with their high school diploma. Additionally, ESWC strives to extend similar opportunities to youth outside of a traditional secondary educational environment. As such, stackable certificates are an emphasis for ESWC to ensure access and availability for individuals who have significant barriers to employment. ESWC has been actively engaged with Aims advisory committees to stress this importance. ESWC representatives have been a member of the Surgical Technology Advisory Committee since its inception, initiated the Multi Industry Systems Technology (MIST) certificate (has since been renamed to Industrial Technology), and engaged Aims with local business leaders to create Oil & Gas stackable certificates leading to a two-year degree amongst numerous additional initiatives. In recent years, WCWDB and the BOCC have recognized National Apprenticeship Week with a Proclamation in Weld County (held in November to coincide with National Apprenticeship Week) that highlights and celebrates the advantages to employers when implementing the RA model in their business. The board plans to continue this recognition annually. In alignment with the Colorado WIOA State Plan, goal C, the advancement of Registered Apprenticeships (RA), as with other forms of WBL, remains a priority for the Upstate Region. In fact, ESWC was instrumental in creating a partnership with an employer and Aims Community College so that the training component for a medical RA could be developed. Additionally, ESWC introduced Vestas and the Greeley -Evans School District 6 with the result of the school sponsoring an Advanced Manufacturing Apprenticeship Program. This is the first of its kind in Colorado and ESWC was able to support 24 of the students enrolled in the apprentice program. The students were enrolled in the State Apprenticeship Expansion (SAE) grant and received supportive services to assist with the mentoring portion of the apprenticeship. More than half of the students continued with the registered apprenticeship or were hired on as permanent employees of Vestas. Two students remain enrolled and will successfully complete their apprenticeship when they graduate from high school in May 2021. ESWC is committed to this partnership with School District 6 and is supporting further programs in the works such as Healthcare and Early Childhood Education. ESWC has collaborated with the Statewide Apprenticeship Consultants on new apprenticeship opportunities for Weld County. Throughout 2020, one apprenticeship consultant started conversations with ESWC staff along with two other local areas about growing Pro -Start programs. This collaborative effort would allow students to learn about culinary careers through an apprenticeship with a restaurant in the community as the sponsor. In addition to this opportunity, the second apprenticeship consultant joined conversations with Weld County Youth Conservation Corps (WCYCC) staff about creating an arborist pre -apprenticeship or becoming connected with registered apprenticeships for exiting AmeriCorps members. These conversations have grown and now include arborist employers and the Colorado Tree Care Sector Partnership and movement towards informing young adults about opportunities to continue in this career pathway. Numerous discussions with employers have been held and there has been some interest in RA opportunities. USDOL has jointly presented information with employers, as well; however, the paperwork seems to hinder the progress of the final step in becoming a RA site. Weld has expressed 29 interest to the State to learn more about becoming an "Apprenticeship State". This model, discussed at the 2019 National Association of Workforce Boards (NAWB) conference, shows great promise in its streamlined approach to RA approvals. With the recent hiring of State Apprenticeship Consultants, Weld is confident their assistance to employers will result in increased RA's in all of Colorado. Recently, the Executive Director of the High Plains Library District spoke with one of the Consultants to gain further knowledge on the paperwork process for a registered apprenticeship and has since taken this information back to the GEARS2 committee to discuss innovative ways to address this hinderance. 6. Other strategies and services that will be used in the Upstate planning region to support a local workforce development system that meets the needs of businesses in the planning region One of the more current and innovative workforce development initiatives in the Upstate Region is the Bright Futures program. The Weld County BOCC made a financial commitment to invest in the Education of its residents setting an example nationwide with their Bright Futures program which will single-handedly have an impact on educating the workforce of tomorrow. This innovative program allows Weld residents the opportunity to attend post -secondary schools by providing tuition assistance. Since its inception, $14.6 million has been invested in Student Success with a total of 3,992 students served. This became available to any high school graduate or HSE recipient beginning in 2016 and forward. The program is also opened to returning Veterans. More details on the Bright Futures Program can be viewed at: https://www.brightfuturesco.com/. An additional outreach method to highlight is the Open Jobs List that ESWC sends out weekly. This tool provides up-to-date information about new and current job postings within the Upstate Region as well as any upcoming events for business and job seekers. There are two main distribution lists which are utilized. First, the report is sent to all agency case managers, registration staff and leadership, which allows case managers to in -turn provide relevant job information to ESWC clients. Secondly, the report is distributed to over sixty public partners, some of which include: Weld County School Districts; Aims Community College; Division of Vocational Rehabilitation; SER-National; Department of Corrections, Adult Parole; and CDLE Veteran Representatives. It is so widely utilized among the community that some of the individuals receiving the report repost or resend the information to their respective networks. The report is also used at the Department of Human Service entry points. Clients seeking services at the Department of Human Services in areas such as TANF, Food Assistance, Child Support, etc., can access the reports and are encouraged to sign up for Connecting Colorado to discover more about the jobs which are available. Committees of the WCWDB also utilize strategic planning to support the local workforce development system. The standing Youth Committee is committed to analyzing business needs within the Upstate Planning Region as well as surrounding area. For example, the Youth Committee connected with the Aims Surgical Technology program advisors and as a result were informed of the current nationwide labor shortage in Sterile Processing Departments with limited talent pipelines of individuals to meet future needs in this high demand occupation. In collaboration with Aims Community College, the Youth Committee and ESWC staff members coordinated and supported the creation of a Sterile Processing Technician certification program which was not currently available in Colorado; Aims received State approval to launch this program and the first cohort began in January 2017. Sterile Processing Technicians clean, process and sterilize surgical instrumentation. Each operating room has a Sterile Processing Department that is closely aligned with Surgery Departments and oftentimes falls under the direction and supervision of Surgical Services. Sterile Processing Technicians must obtain a working knowledge of surgical instrumentation, infectious processes, and sterilization techniques. Sterile Processing Departments are experts on surgical supplies and equipment as they gather and process these items for surgical procedures for both inpatient and outpatient facilities. 30 Many of the students who earned their certification obtained employment offers before completing clinicals. Creating the first Sterile Processing Certification program in Colorado is one example of the WCWDB and standing committees supporting local workforce development and being on the cutting edge of program development to meet identified industry sector needs. Initiated in 2015, the use of on -site job fairs has been met with strong employer support. The venue allows for 6-8 employers at a time and, when necessary, can be industry specific. For example, events have included a transportation and education focused job fair. Employers appreciate having the one on one interaction with job seekers and it is with their support that this model continues. With the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, in -person job fairs have been replaced with virtual job fairs (VJF). ESWC has seen great benefit in hosting VJF's on a regional level with other areas. Once the need for social distancing decreases, ESWC plans to again host in person job fairs in addition to ✓ irtual job fairs. Triggered by the COVID-19 pandemic, the Colorado Department of Labor and Employment (CDLE) was awarded two National Emergency Grants (COResponds and RecoverCO) to support employees laid off and employers seeking temporary employees in humanitarian positions. ESWC received $337,070.39 for RecoverCO and $289,240.30 for COResponds respectively. COResponds focuses o n providing temporary employment to assist job seekers who are temporarily or permanently laid off due to the pandemic, including dislocated workers and long-term unemployed workers. ESWC has partnered with employers seeking employees in various humanitarian positions that range from a temperature checker to a sanitation worker, to provide temporary employees for those positions. ESWC will continue the effort of connecting employers with valuable temporary employees to help offset the expenses of hiring new, permanent employees for these positions that were only brought about due to COVID. Additionally, job seekers will benefit from having temporary employment as the e conomy recovers from the high unemployment rates. RecoverCO focuses on providing comprehensive career and training services to dislocated workers to expedite their re-entry into the workforce system, while providing supportive services to ease the financial burdens present during job search and training. As some positions have been eliminated as a result of the pandemic, some job seekers are needing new training in different industries that have a greater labor market. With RecoverCO, numerous participants have and will continue to benefit from this grant. The two grants will end January 31, 2022 and ESWC is committed to further assisting our job seekers, participants and employers with their recovery during and after the pandemic. Additionally, other events which ESWC either hosts or participates in are shared with the membership of the WCWDB, Chambers, Community Based Organizations, etc. Notifications of events are sent through email and members of each respective group are encouraged to attend. As an example, ESWC is a part of a Regional Workforce Development Group known as WYCO (Wyoming Colorado). This group is made up of workforce staff from Boulder, Larimer, and Weld Counties as well as Wyoming. In recognition of the labor shed drawing from all of these areas, the partnership has hosted Regional Job Fairs annually and employers from the WCWDB, and throughout Weld are asked to participate. Held in the spring and fall, the Job Fairs support the workforce on a regional level and these events have garnered huge support from employers in the Upstate Region. More than 30% of the employer representation at these events has been from the Upstate Region. In May, the event will also include participation from Adams County, ADWorks!, Broomfield, and Jeffco. Another strategy the Upstate Region utilizes in developing effective workforce practices is being seen as an instrument of change. The Upstate Region continues to be a leader throughout the state by participating in pilot projects and being involved on various task forces. These include the Colorado Operators Group, the Business Leadership Team, and the Colorado Urban Workforce Alliance (CUWA). The Upstate Region's participation in Unemployment Initiatives and the diligence in serving the UI population serve as another example of how strategies and services are currently being used 31 to support the local workforce development system that also meets the needs of businesses in the Upstate planning region. Weld has administered a variety of programs such as Extended Unemployment Compensation (EUC), LINKS and most recently, Reemployment Services and Eligibility Assessment (RESEA). Since 2017, ESWC has assisted over 1,500 clients through RESEA. Finally, the WCWDB monitors events such as COVID-19 to help employers create continuity of operation plans in the event similar situations arise. The Business Services team monitors media outlets and legislation and are prepared to answer varying questions while the Director and Deputy Director of Human Services maintain constant contact with the BOCC and the Weld County Department of Public Health. 7. Efforts that have taken place or anticipated efforts to assess the need for and establish regional service strategies, including the use of cooperative service delivery agreements The WCWDB has a long-established history of focusing workforce development activities and services, including training and education activities, towards the existing in -demand and emerging industry sectors in the Upstate Region. The Upstate Region will continue to focus workforce development activities and efforts on meeting the needs of the identified in -demand industry sectors as identified in section A.1. of this plan. The Workforce Board has and will continue to focus efforts on convening sector targeted work groups that result in coordinated initiatives between partners that are designed to meet the identified needs of the in -demand sector employers and in alignment with Colorado WIOA State Plan, goal C. Community partners include: Aims Community College (Carl Perkins), Division of Vocational Rehabilitation (DVR), Immigrant and Refugee Center of Northern Colorado (IRCNOCO), Community Education Outreach (CEO) in conjunction with Intervention Community Corrections Services (ICCS), Service Employment Redevelopment (SER) — Jobs for Progress National, Inc., Rocky Mountain SER, and the Community Resources and Housing Development Corporation (CRHDC). These partners have signed Memorandums of Understanding (MOU) regarding the coordination of services under WIOA. Each partner is committed to the development and collaboration of services not only with the workforce center but with one another. The Community of Practice for Front -Line Staff meetings continue to be held bi-monthly and hosted at rotating partner locations. Select staff members from each partner attend to discuss programs and services, community needs and to take part in general networking. These meetings have increased awareness of partner services, which has increased collaboration and co -enrollment of clients across partner programs. a. The strategies and services that will be used in the Upstate planning region to better coordinate workforce development programs and services with regional economic development services and providers The strategies and services outlined below are in alignment with Colorado WIOA State Plan, goal D. Upstate Colorado, the lead regional economic development agent in the Upstate Region, has a long standing and collaborative partnership with ESWC. This partnership was strengthened when Weld County received the Sectors and H-1 B Technical Skills Training Grant. Working with Upstate Colorado as the convener through the Sustainable Manufacturing Sector Initiative, ESWC was able to provide training and related activities to workers to assist them in gaining the skills and competencies needed to obtain, or upgrade. employment in high -growth industries or economic sectors. Additionally, there has been, and continues to be, representation on the WCWDB by the Upstate 32 Colorado President and CEO. This longstanding relationship facilitates regional discussions with Upstate Colorado, employers, and other workforce partners regarding current workforce programs and conversely provides the ability to inform ESWC, the WCWDB, and partners regarding economic development activities within the region. ESWC provides Upstate Colorado customized analysis and labor profile statistics specific to potential companies exploring Weld County for business location or expansion. This analysis researches labor markets, talent pool availability, hiring trends, local and regional job seekers registered in Connecting Colorado, education attainment statistics in the labor market, etc. If the potential employers want more detailed information (e.g. wage rates in similar companies, shift differentials, commute times, etc.) concerning comparable companies, additional research is completed for the employer. This collaborative effort and the willingness to respond to potential companies' requests have resulted in numerous positive results in attracting large industries to Weld County such as Owens Illinois, Vestas, Leprino Foods, Smuckers and Intersand America Corp. Conversely, where companies are in a position where they need to downsize or close, ESWC and Upstate Colorado representatives visit with the companies to determine if there is a way to respond to the companies needs and when necessary, provide rapid response activities to the affected employees. Coordinated service delivery between Aims Community College, Upstate Colorado, and ESWC has formed through a team known as Weld WORKS to better serve employers. This collaborative effort helps employers quickly recruit, train and further develop their workforce. The Weld WORKS Labor Team is designed to provide technical assistance to both new companies looking to locate to the region as well as existing employers expanding or facing employment challenges. The Team identifies labor development opportunities by comprehensively reviewing and managing various local, county and state Workforce Assistance Programs, including: • Colorado First/Existing Industry Training Grant • Assessment and Learning Labs • Work -Based Learning (WBL) Options • Bright Futures Education Stipend • Certification and Degree Programs • Customized Training for Employers • Labor Market Information and Statistics • Other Business Assistance Programs • Other organizations (municipal, university, college, etc.) are invited to employer meetings, as warranted The collaboration with Upstate Colorado as a key partner facilitates regional discussion through its involvement with partner economic development entities including the Colorado Office of Economic Development and International Trade and the Southwest Weld Economic Development group that borders Adams and Boulder counties. On May 15, 2019, the Boards of County Commissioners of Weld County, Colorado and Larimer County, Colorado executed an MOU creating an official coalition titled Northern Colorado Regional Economic Development Initiative (NoCo REDI). Weld and Larimer County acknowledge that significant benefit can result from collaboration on economic development activities that promote the positive business attribute and amenities of Northern Colorado. We recognize that shared regional assets exist within the two counties, and when marketed jointly, a stronger case can be made to businesses and talent within targeted industries and occupational sectors to stay and grow in Northern Colorado. A competitive advantage and economic strength lie in the collaboration of Upstate Colorado Economic Development Corporation, Larimer County Economic and Workforce Development (LCEWD), along with 33 cities and towns, as well as the unincorporated communities within our combined geography. Regional collaboration provides a clarity of roles, 33 relationships and expectations of a common economic development goal in our region. NoCo REDI examines specific opportunities to effectively market the Northern Colorado Region to prospective employers and site location consultants. The goals of these joint efforts include: • Expand awareness of Northern Colorado to companies and prospective workers of the business on opportunities that exist • Competitively position Northern Colorado in relation to other areas of the State and similar markets around the U.S. • Create broader partnerships within the area's public, private and non-profit sectors • Share costs of regional economic development marketing on a case by case basis by separate written agreements • Generate qualified leads ESWC's participation in the Economic Development Council of Colorado's fall conference led to opportunities to attend regional economic training and professional development courses. b. How the Upstate planning region will strategically coordinate workforce investment activities with the provision of adult education and literacy activities under title II As mentioned above, an MOU is in place with IRCNOCO, a local entity delivering the adult education and literacy activities. The Executive Director is a member of the WCWDB, CWDC and currently serves as chair of the Youth Committee. The WCWDB serves as a conduit for information sharing and regional discussions regarding current workforce programs and the development of initiatives to meet adult learner needs. Collaboration has taken place to provide a bridge for adult learners to work seamlessly between adult basic education/ESL, at Aims Community College, and ESWC. A model to reinforce a "no wrong door" approach for each agency was developed under the Weld Alliance Career Education Pathways partnership in 2011. This effort has allowed for further coordination with additional agencies such as Lutheran Family Services, and the Weld County Volunteer Agency (VOLAG) serving the refugee population, to provide additional services for Weld's refugees and individuals in need of ESL. Another partnership with Community Educational Outreach (CEO), which provides AEFLA services to adults with barriers to reach their employment potential, was recently strengthened with the appointment of CEO's Executive Director to the WCWDB. ESWC has an MOU in place to coordinate services and work together to ensure that the needs of individuals with barriers to employment are addressed and areas are identified to enhance services. CEO is housed and partnered with community corrections so, referrals cannot be made to them. Rather, ESWC provides Resource Room access, workshops, career information and counseling, program eligibility and WBL to CEO residents. c. How the Upstate planning region will strategically coordinate workforce investment activities with the provision of vocational rehabilitation services under title IV The Upstate Region has had, and continues to have, an excellent working relationship with the local DVR and has had a strong partnership that has been in place for many years. DVR serves on the WCWDB, participates in regional sector work, and is in leadership roles on ESWC committees. The MOU with the WCWDB outlines collaborative efforts for business hiring events as well as assisting clients in accessing workforce system services. 34 DVR is a willing contributor to the employer seminars which are hosted at ESWC. The DVR Business Outreach Specialist continuously provides an engaging presentation on how DVR can partner with employers, and the myths and misconceptions that can create barriers to employment. Referrals between DVR and ESWC continue to grow and strengthen. A collaborative effort, which braided funding from both agencies, was the subject of Workforce Investment Works Success Story. The involvement and persistence of both DVR and ESWC case managers ultimately resulted in the placement of a DVR client. d. The strategies and services that will be used in the Upstate planning region to strengthen linkages between the one -stop delivery system and unemployment insurance programs ESWC has extensive experience in serving UI claimants. In 2015, ESWC began the Reemployment Services and Eligibility Assessment (RESEA) program. The major component of that initiative was to reduce the duration of UIB through improved employment outcome and to promote alignment with WIOA strategies. UI claimants were required to participate in a reemployment plan, designed to uncover strategies for re-employment to in -demand occupations. For those requiring re-training or work -based learning opportunities, they are directed toward WIOA. For those who cannot be served by WIOA programs they are directed to WP funded services, DVR, or community colleges and universities. Services for UI claimants have included: • One-on-one staff assistance regarding labor market and occupational information • Interview and resume workshops • Individualized job search assistance • Resources utilized aided with applications for Federal Pell Grants, including linkages with community colleges and universities, including on site material and appropriate web -based sites • Access and assistance with the online Unemployment Insurance Chat • Other allowable services as identified under WP Recently when the COVID-19 Pandemic created high unemployment rates, ESWC stepped in to assist the UI recipients and CDLE with answering more than 19,000 phone calls and assisting over 4,000 people with in-depth benefit issues. Additionally, ESWC re -opened the resource room in May 2020, for in -person services to assist with technology needs surrounding UIB. ESWC will continue to assist with virtual or in -person services to best fit the needs of claimants and UI. e. Strategies and services that will be used in the planning region to better coordinate workforce development programs and services with comm unity - based organizations, including, where applicable, refugee resettlement agencies that serve priority populations, including individuals with barriers and New Americans. In May 2020, ESWC began the grant writing process for the Improved Payments and Child Success (IMPACS) program through the Colorado Department of Human Services. In February 2021, ESWC was awarded the grant which is geared toward assisting parents paying child support, and their families, to overcome and minimize challenges to employment through the utilization of supportive services and individualized case management to increase the number of child support payments received, improve employment outcomes and parent -child relationships. ESWC is proud to collaborate with the Child Support Services (CSS) division, which is housed within the Weld County Department of Human Services, to receive referrals and provide services to their clients. In addition to 35 partnering with CSS, ESWC received a letter of support from Family Connects within North Range Behavioral Health (NRBH) which provides parenting classes for a variety of ages and will specifically assist with the goal of improving parent -child relationships. Although ESWC has had a long-standing relationship with NRBH, this is the first-time partnering with Family Connects. It is ESWC's goal to further foster this relationship for future opportunities to assist the Weld County community. In Spring 2021, the Immigrant and Refugee Center of Northern Colorado (IRCNoCo) recruited ESWC to assist with the development of a Workforce Toolkit to support the New Americans Initiative. The toolkit will include operational support based on information gathered from workforce audiences and best practices. A few key topics include equitable access, digital literacy, education, and sustainability. Additionally, at least three (3) training opportunities on the toolkit will be held in the summer of 2021 for Workforce partners in Colorado. f. How the WCWDB will coordinate workforce investment activities carried out in Weld County with statewide rapid response activities5 ESWC, in alignment with Colorado WIOA State Plan, goal D, provides Rapid Response workshops for affected employers and workers, immediately after the State (or Workforce Center) is notified either by WARN Notice or by other means, of a current or projected permanent closure or mass layoff; or a dislocation because of a disaster. The Rapid Response team for ESWC includes the Area Rapid Response Coordinator (LARRC), a member of the Business Services unit and case managers from the Adult Employment and Training Programs that serve Dislocated Workers and Trade Adjustment Assistance (TAA) customers. The case managers speak to services available to Dislocated Workers as well as to those services available to any potential trade affected workers. If BSU representative determined by the sector industry of which the affected employer is a part. ESWC has the technology and capability to deploy the Rapid Response team to any part of the County at any time that is convenient for the employer and the affected workers, and the Rapid Response workshop is available in both English and Spanish to best accommodate the needs of the employer and the affected workers. The State Rapid Response Unit is informed of any layoffs in Weld County and, for the most part, take the lead if it impacts 50 or more workers. The State also provides packets of information to give to affected workers during workshops. Local necessary, the LARCC will enlist the assistance of a Immediate and on -site contact with the employer, representatives of the affected workers, and the local community, may include an assessment of the: Layoff plans and schedule of the employer; Potential for averting the layoff(s) in consultation with Upstate Colorado Economic Development or the State economic development agencies, including private sector economic development entities; Background and probable assistance needs of the affected workers; Reemployment prospects for workers in the local community to include working with other businesses to participate in a job fair to specifically hire these workers; Available resources to meet the short and long-term assistance needs of the affected workers. 5 As described in section 134(a)(2)(A) 36 8. The replicated cooperative agreements6 between the WCWDB or other local entities7 with respect to efforts that will enhance the provision of services to individuals with disabilities and to other individuals, such as cross training of staff, technical assistance, use and sharing of information, cooperative efforts with employers, and other efforts at cooperation, collaboration, and coordination As aligned with Colorado WIOA State Plan, goal A, Weld has had a longstanding commitment to serving those with barriers including those with disabilities and ESWC has developed and maintained both facility and program accessibility to career services. School district's School to Work Alliance Programs (SWAP) and DVR participate on WCWDB standing committees and staff members from DVR, SWAP and ESWC cross train with one another. The WCWDB entered into an MOU with DVR which explains access to services and incudes a crosswalk of services that can be provided by ESWC, DVR, or by both entities. Additionally, Business Services sends the list of open jobs weekly to DVR, school districts and community agencies such as SER Jobs for Progress so they can review and make referrals to employment or use the list as a discussion for careers. A survey from the Department of Labor regarding the accessibility of our workforce center, its programs and services for people with disabilities, was completed in Spring 2020. The survey was a great opportunity for self -assessment and analysis to determine, as a center, if we are both accessible with programs and services. Through CDLE's contract with the Rocky Mountain Americans with Disabilities Act Center (RMADAC) staff completed an online course on Programmatic Disability. The course included the Americans with Disabilities Act, the Rehabilitation Act, WIOA Section 188, Disability Awareness and Etiquette, Programmatic Accessibility, and a Self -Evaluation to confirm completion of the training. To further demonstrate the Upstate Region's support to serve individuals with disabilities, ESWC performed a programmatic accessibility self -evaluation in June 2020 to determine areas for improvement. Conducting the evaluation during the pandemic's increased need for accessible electronic documents proved valuable, as many documents were updated and assessed for accessibility to meet the needs of the community and social distancing. This increased the awareness of the need for accessible documents for program participants, as well as ESWC staff. ESWC plans to increase staff's knowledge on how to create accessible documents to ensure any document created is accessible to all. It is important to note that remodeling of the Greeley office began at the end of June 2020. To that end, ESWC staff will complete a self -evaluation by May 2021. 9. The coordination of transportation and other supportive services 6 As defined in section 107(d)(11) Described in section 101(a)(11)(B) of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 (29 U.S.C. 721(a)(11)(B)) and the local office of a designated State agency or designated State unit administering programs carried out under title I of such Act (29 U.S.C. 720 et seq.) (other than section 112 or part C of that title (29 U.S.C. 732, 741) and subject to section 121(f)) in accordance with section 101(a)(11) of such Act (29 U.S.C. 721(a)(11)) 37 As a region, the most obvious need for future investment in the Upstate Region is the long-term investment in the road and bridge infrastructure. The Upstate Region encompasses 4,016 square miles. Due to physical constraints alone, transportation and supportive services are an essential part of assistance. According to the 2018 American Community Survey 5 -Year Estimates, there is a total of 143,045 workers 16 years and over utilizing a car, truck or van as their means of transportation to work. Public transportation (excluding taxicab and totaled 757. rideshares) A transportation plan has been created and looks at the condition of the current transportation system and uses County land use forecasts and regional travel demand models to outline a plan that will develop and maintain a safe and efficient long-term roadway network in the Upstate Region. The plan strives to improve the movement of people and goods to all the Upstate Region communities by enhancing regional arterial roadways. Current highway access for the region includes 1-25 and State Highway 85 for North/South demand with 1-76, State Highway 34, State Highway 392, and State Highway 14 catering to the East/West demand. 2*' r Fr Col 1 tuft Cats - a'.y., 'snit* are an _ Berth Ir _ _eyenne j ci ipie iir gtcr. WYOMING NEB COLORADO Great Western Railway 1 snort line) L.nicn t ac;tio Railway 7A Burlington Norte lerr: Dania irdir-DnIzral General Aviation access can be found in the region at the Greeley/Weld County Airport as well as the Erie Municipal Airport. Freight Rail Access is demonstrated in the map8 pictured above. 10. How administrative cost arrangements have been coordinated, including the pooling of funds for administrative costs or discuss why these are not appropriate for the Upstate planning region at this time Weld County is the only County in the Upstate Region and as a result, the pooling of funds for administrative costs is not necessary. However, the Department of Human Services has a cost allocation plan which allocates costs based on time charged by staff. As one of eight divisions in the Department, ESWC staff primarily charge to programs related to employment grants. Approximately 50% of the staff charge to TANF, Employment First, AmeriCorps, Community Service Block Grant, and Child Welfare programs. Indirect costs such as rent, phone lines and administrative cost pool costs are then reimbursed by the percent of staff time spent in the respective grants. Therefore, all grant programs effectively support the one -stop center. Child Care 11. The establishment of an agreement concerning how the Upstate planning region will collectivel ne • otiate and reach a • reement with the Governor on local levels of 8 Upstate Colorado, 2017 38 performance for, and report on, the performance accountability measures9 for Weld County and the Upstate Region Since Weld County is also the Upstate Planning Region, there isn't a level of consensus needed as there is in other Planning Regions. The process for agreement with the Governor regarding performance accountability measures was the same in Program Year 16 as they were for WIA. As additional guidance has been received from the US Department of Labor, the Colorado Workforce Development Council (CWDC), and the Colorado Department of Labor and Employment (CDLE) regarding the use of the performance adjustment model and how it will apply to the Upstate Region, ESWC and the WCWDB negotiated standards as specified by the Council and CDLE. 12. How one -stop centers are implementing and transitioning to an integrated, technology -enabled intake and case management information system for programs carried out under this Act and programs carried out by one -stop partners ESWC currently operates a number of the programs identified as partner programs in WIOA, including the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act Title I Adult, Dislocated Worker, and Youth Programs, the Title III Wagner-Peyser Act (WP), Trade Adjustment Assistance (TAA), the Migrant and Seasonal Farm Worker program (MSFW), and provides functional supervision to the Disabled Veteran Outreach Program (DVOP) staff under the Jobs for Veterans State Grant (JVSG). All program individuals are registered in Connecting Colorado and as such, basic information is not duplicated. As additional coordination between major program systems such as the Colorado Benefits Management System (CBMS) and Connecting Colorado take place, the ability to have a more technology enabled intake and case management system should become more available. As additional agreements between the WIOA Core Partners take place, particularly at the state level, additional means to cross share information will take place. Currently, job openings are shared with partner agencies via email and as interagency agreements and Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) are developed at the state level, partners may be able to access Connecting Colorado directly. For TANF and EF, there have been some minor strides towards CBMS and Connecting Colorado to work together. This continues to be a work in progress at the State level. The TANF program is using spreadsheets to oversee caseloads and help increase required numbers such as the Workforce Participation Rate (WPR) for TANF. ESWC is working with the Colorado Department of Human Services (CDHS) to design, implement and use new case management features within CBMS that will allow greater efficiencies for the case managers and clients. The new features should allow for greater communication to and from our clients, reporting more outcomes and increasing engagement with our clients. With the new features, the hope is that CDHS and CDLE work together to improve statewide efficiencies for the end users of the system and our clients. In March 2020, with the onset of the COVID-19 Pandemic, social distancing caused a need to rapidly change service delivery methods to a virtual platform as workforce centers across the state closed. ESWC quickly transitioned to providing services over the phone and via virtual meeting platforms, to limit any interruptions in providing services to the community during a two -month period where in person services could not be provided. As conditions allowed, ESWC slowly increased the number of individuals allowed within the workforce center to provide services to those without access to technology. An example of virtual technology utilized during the pandemic includes partnering with other regions to provide virtual job fairs such as the Statewide event held in February 2021. Additionally, ESWC participated in a workshop committee which was committed to ensuring 9 Described in WIOA sec. 116(c) 39 workshops across the State were accessible to all. Now. when visiting https://www.weldgov.com/departments/human services/employment services/workshops, clients will see workshops being offered at ADWorks!, Boulder, Denver, Jefferson, Larimer and Mesa counties. With the success of the use of these technologies in the workforce center, ESWC plans to continue utilizing them as a hybrid of in -person and virtual services to increase the community's access to services as the pandemic continues and beyond. 13. The activities and steps taken to develop this regional plan Using the PY16-19 plan as a framework, ESWC support staff posed the following questions to the WCWDB: industry workforce needs, vision for preparing an educated and skilled workforce, Veteran support, and strategies to assist individuals with barriers. Further discussion was held at the annual Regional Workforce Development Board meeting with Larimer County and ESWC Leadership collaborated to clarify where needed. Notice of the Plan availability for review is provided to WCWDB members, Chambers, economic development community partners, school districts, youth serving agencies and employers in the identified sector initiatives (both locally and regionally) for the PY20-24 Regional plan. Following that input, the plan will be made available to the public for comment, by posting it on http://www.co.weld.co.us/apps/legalNotices/. After the 30 -day deadline for commentary and comments are taken into consideration, with Commissioner approval, the plan will be submitted. 14. The process used by the WCWDB in the Upstate planning region to provide an opportunity for public comment, including comment by representatives of businesses and comment by representatives of labor organizations, and input into the development of the plan prior to its submission An opportunity for public comment is provided to representatives of businesses, representatives of labor organizations though a 30 -day public comment period. The plan is published on the WCWDB web page with instructions on how to submit comments. A notice of public comment is published in the local newspaper, The Greeley Tribune. During the 30 -day period, as posting scheduling allows, the Weld County Communications Team will post the plan for comment on the county's social media sites, Facebook and Twitter. Opportunities for input into the development of the plan prior to its submission is provided through various methods prior to the public comment period: • Planning meetings prior to plan creation; • A draft of the plan is sent out to appointed board members; • The plan is discussed during several WCWDB board meetings and Awareness Committee meetings prior to the public comment period; and • Significant changes to the plan are then reviewed by the WCWDB, if needed, prior to its submission to the state. B. Weld County Local Plan 40 1. An analysis of the workforce development activities (including education and training) in Weld County, including an analysis of the strengths and weaknesses of such services, and the capacity to provide such services, to address the identified education and skill needs of the workforce and the employment needs of employers in Weld County The WCWDB has a long-established history of focusing workforce development activities and services, including training and education activities, towards the existing in -demand and emerging industry sectors in Weld County. As a designated local area, Weld County will continue to focus workforce development activities and efforts on meeting the needs of the identified in -demand industry sectors as identified in the Regional portion of this plan. The Workforce Board has and will continue to focus efforts on convening sector targeted work groups that result in coordinated initiatives between partners that are designed to meet the identified needs of the in -demand sector employers. As an example, through the WIRED Initiative, the WCWDB and ESWC worked with Aims Community College to develop two Multi Industry Systems Technician (MIST) certificates based on the needs identified by manufacturing/advanced manufacturing industry employers. Due to the success of the MIST program and through continued input by manufacturing sector employers, the program was eventually expanded to four certificates and an available AAS degree. The program has continued to be modified based on input from manufacturing sector employers, as well as input from the WCWDB, and has since been renamed to Industrial Technology program. These certificates and degree options are a viable training option for the manufacturing/advanced manufacturing sector. Links with efforts taking place under the Colorado Blueprint and the Colorado Advanced Manufacturing Alliance (CAMA) continue. As a member of the Colorado Online Energy Training Consortium (COETC) TAA grant that provided resources to support the education/training, Aims Community College utilized the foundations of the Industrial Technology program developed under the WIRED initiative, along with input provided by the WCWDB's Oil and Gas Task Force (which included employer representatives from many of the County's oil and gas industry sector employers), to develop certificate and degree programs for careers in the oil and gas sector. Both sector focused programs provide additional options for unemployed and incumbent workers to gain skills, as well as certificates, for these targeted industry sectors. Aims Community College, in partnership with ESWC, has intentionally designed certificates to be stackable thereby increasing the value and opportunity to apply gained skills and knowledge within various sectors. Through the H 1-B training grant, the WCWDB identified the funds would be utilized to enhance the higher -level training options and needs primarily for employers in the Sustainable Manufacturing Sector. Funds were used to increase the higher -level skills needs of the incumbent workers in high - demand occupations for the targeted industry sector employers. Upstate Colorado Economic Development was identified as the convener for this Sector initiative to facilitate the connection of employers needs with training providers. The training and subsequent certifications provided information on the needs of this industry sector and an identification of the various skill needs and training options for both incumbent workers as well as the long-term unemployed to assist them in acquiring the requisite skills for high skill, high demand occupations. The WCWDB and ESWC have continued to work on meeting the health sector needs in Weld County since the development of the collaborative efforts with partners for the Gee Whiz Health Camps, the development of a Nuclear Radiological Technician Certificate, and the collaboration to expand entry level health worker training available in the early 2000's. Since that time the Board has continued to 41 be active in working with a variety of partners to develop activities and services meet the health and wellness sector needs. The Youth Committee and ESWC staff connected with the Aims Surgical Technology program advisors and were informed of the current nationwide labor shortage in Sterile Processing Departments with limited talent pipelines of individuals to meet future needs in this high demand occupation. In collaboration with Aims Community College, the Youth Committee and ESWC staff members coordinated and supported the creation of a Sterile Processing Technician certification, which is not currently available in Colorado, under STEM Career Pathway funding. By creating the first Sterile Processing Certification program in Colorado the WCWDB, our partners, and the Board's Standing Committees have taken a lead in the development of activities and services to meet the needs of the health and wellness industry sector employers not only in the local region but in the state as well. Aims Community College, the University of Northern Colorado, and IBMC represent the primary post- secondary educational institutions in Weld County. Fort Morgan and Front Range community colleges as well as CSU and CU provide required support for additional educational opportunities. Various workforce development activities and sector initiatives have identified additional proprietary schools and other training options available, including on-line training that can meet the needs for employers, incumbent workers, and job seekers. ESWC utilizes these institutions to train clientele whose interest include, but are not limited to, truck driving, healthcare, manufacturing/industrial technology, information technology, welding, animal care, administrative assistance and High School Equivalency (HSE) preparation. Training dollars are spent only in areas identified as an in -demand or growing industry sectors. A strategy which has garnered increased emphasis is the continued expansion of outreach to South County. The Resource Room is staffed by an Assessment and Learning Center Instructor twice a week and case managers availability has also increased. Support to employers has increased through additional South County Job Fairs and Hiring Events. This strategy of increased South County engagement has been so successful that the focus on South County has indeed proved to be an effective strategy. Not only are current discussions regarding securing case managers in South County on a consistent basis, the growth in South County clientele warrants exploration of building expansion. 2. WCWDB's strategic vision and goals for preparing an educated and skilled workforce (including youth and individuals with barriers to employment, and New Americans), including goals relating to the performance accountability measures based on primary indicators of performance10 in order to support economic growth and economic self-sufficiency The WCWDB Strategic Plan vision is to direct the efforts of Employment Services of Weld County to operate an innovative, adaptive, and customer -driven workforce system which ensures the below: • Customer services are based upon individual needs and choices; • Services provided are competitive and valuable; • Outcomes are measurable, and results orientated; • Responsiveness to changing labor market conditions, customer profiles, and program regulations; • and Services are fiscally responsible. Commitment: 'o Described in section 116(b)(2)(A) 42 The WCWDB is committed to continuing to meet or exceed expectations for CWDC's designation as a High Performing Local Workforce Development Board including: 1) 100% of members oriented within first 6 months of appointment. 2) Majority of Weld County's key industries represented on the board. 3) 80% of members attended or supported a talent development system event besides board meetings. 4) Meet or exceed attendance policies for board meetings. 5) Local WDB uses data to drive its strategic plan, sharing data to inform the community and measuring impacts of its strategic plan. 6) Board membership is diverse and knowledgeable. 7) Board members actively participate in board meetings and support the local workforce system. 8) Board members serve as liaisons between the community and local workforce center. 9) Local WDB accomplishes goals and strategic priorities through data -driven, business -led meetings. 10)80% of members attended a community event as a Local WDB representative OR Local WDB provides leadership in impacting a community goal or issue. Strategic goals, in alignment with state goals, include: Goal 1 Continue seeking clarity and improving connections for programs and services between Employment Services and the businesses and individuals in the Weld County Community. 1.1 Support the development of career pathways through ESWC, Community Partners, and Business. 1.2 Design, distribute, and implement employer, employee, and job seeker workflow map(s) to support services provided through ESWC. Goal 2 Increase awareness and clarify impact of Weld County's workforce network by attracting organizations and businesses to utilize the available funding provided to Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) targeted populations. Goal 3 Increase Weld County Workforce Development Board (WCWDB) member engagement by involving board members in planning, leadership pipeline development, and committee involvement. 3.1 Increase meeting cadence to support greater participation, member engagement, and provide improved support in achievement of board goals and deliverables. 3.2 Increase member attendance in planning and engagement meetings to provide expanded ownership in board responsibilities. 3.3 Develop strategies and tasks in committees that contribute and drive partnership goals. Goal 4 Working with intention by participating and supporting ESWC, sector partnerships and their workgroups to ensure our regional workforce has equitable access to opportunities for quality, life- long education and individual advancement to secure the future of work in Northern Colorado. 43 Additionally, In February 2021, the Weld and Larimer Workforce Development Boards held their third joint meeting to continue previous discussions around Regional Economic Development. From this meeting, several strategies emerged to facilitate regional economic impact: • Women in the Workforce • Communication: Telling our Story, Data Resources and NoCo Inspire • Sector Partnerships 3. The strategies and services that will be utilized to facilitate engagement of employers, including small employers and employers in in -demand industry sectors and occupations, in workforce development programs a. Outreach activities are planned to increase business engagement in Weld County The Business Services Unit (BSU) partners with Chambers throughout Weld County to strengthen our connections with key business individuals in the local communities, in alignment with Colorado WIOA State Plan, goals B and D. These events include the Southeast Chamber, the Carbon Valley Chamber, the Fort Lupton Chamber, the Greeley Chamber, the Johnstown -Milliken Chamber, Erie Chamber, and the Evans Chamber. Serving on the Windsor Economic Development Committee and several Aims Community College Advisory Boards supports this function as well. A strong relationship has been established with the Fort Collins Chamber to support further regionalism. Participation in sector partnerships and the Did You Know newsletter continue to be substantial in increasing business engagement. Additionally, ESWC continues to host Employer Seminars to include topics such as Workplace Respect, Occupational Safety, and Nursing Mothers Law. Under exploration is how to make the seminars virtual and available on demand. b. How the Business Services Team be utilized for this purpose The team has divided Weld County into sections to ensure chamber attendance. Leadership participates in economic development committees and other high-level discussions. The BSU team has operated under a sector model for years. This allows each representative to focus on a specific industry, develop meaningful relationships, and to attend advisory boards and sector partnerships related to their work. Through their connections, the team connects with subject matter experts to develop and execute Employer Seminars. c. How the members (particularly business members) of the WCWDB and Youth committee will support these efforts The WDB and its committees are strong advocates for all thing's workforce. Board members determine who in their network would benefit from participating in local and regional discussions, forward on the Did You Know and Seminar invites, and attend multiple talent development system activities on behalf of the business and the WCWDB. d. How sector partnerships will be utilized for this purpose ESWC employees, employers, and board members are active participants in the NOCO Manufacturing, Northern Colorado Health Care, and Northern Colorado Construction and Trades Sector Partnerships. Participating in various action teams and task committees have proven to be fruitful, developing stronger connections and having essential conversations. Several successful initiatives in Northern Colorado are a direct result of Larimer and Weld County collaborating with one another, businesses, education providers, and community -based organizations. e. ESWC objectives and goals for these activities 44 It is the goal of ESWC to be responsive to the needs (both stated and unstated) of Weld County employers; to be inclusive of both small and large employer needs; and to actively promote development of a stronger workforce in in -demand industries. ESWC's objective with the Sector Partnership activities is to support the needs of the employers representing identified sectors. Next, the objectives with the other activities is to establish an awareness about the options in WBL available to employers. Additionally, another goal is to increase the number of opportunities available in WBL through local employers for Weld County residents. 4. The implementation of initiatives designed to meet the needs of employers in Weld County that support the WCWDB's strategy a. Work -Based Learning Programs How ESWC will utilize and promote, incumbent worker training programs, on-the-job training programs, customized training programs, internships, or other activities for PY20, and identify targets for work -based learning activities for your youth, adults/dislocated workers, transitional jobs, and incumbent workers. Youth: ESWC will continue to provide WIOA Youth with opportunities, in alignment with Colorado WIOA State Plan, goal A, to participate on a paid work experience/limited internship or On the Job Training placement. At least 20% of WIOA Youth funds will be spent on these areas. WIOA Youth will continue to be provided with career pathway opportunities, to include apprenticeship exploration. At the inception of WIOA, ESWC facilitated apprenticeship tours in the Denver Metro area in partnership with the Colorado Sheet Metal Workers Joint Apprenticeship and Training Institute, participated in the annual Colorado Construction Career Days and coordinated a Healthcare Boot Camp. Each of these initiatives were aligned with WBL opportunities. Activities such as these will continue and avenues for expansion will be explored. In 2019, discussions between ESWC and Larimer County Economic and Workforce Development Center (LCEWDC) took place regarding a work -based learning alliance. Larimer County had already been through the process of creating a WBL alliance and wanted to talk about the possibility of taking this to a regional level. ESWC staff from the Youth team and Business Services team began conversations with all Weld County school districts and community partners about creating a Weld County work -based learning alliance. Feedback from the school districts and partners was well received and the group moved forward with creating a menu of services. The regionalized approach of work -based learning has grown and now information about work -based learning opportunities is being stored and shared online at nocoinspire.org. This is a centralized location where businesses can see what is available in their community and make connections with schools and partners to increase youth entering the workforce. Weld County will continue to improve this alliance and find a way to increase the presence in the regional approach. The Business Services Team, in alignment with Colorado WIOA State Plan, goal B, will support the WIOA Youth team in the development of work experiences and internships. In the manufacturing partnership, ESWC is a vital part of the `Manufacturing Rocks' committee's work which resulted in tours of manufacturing plants within Larimer and Weld counties. The goal of these tours is to generate interest in the industry, as a whole, and to educate the student population, and school district staff, on the career paths necessary to work in the industry. In addition, ESWC supports WBL through a variety of avenues, leveraging funds and increasing the total number of youths served by ESWC. Additional initiatives include facilitating Corps based 45 models, including AmeriCorps grant funding. The Weld County Youth Corps is a proven strategy for engaging young people in service to their communities and stewardship of their environment while cultivating valuable skills to meet the challenges of the 21st century. Youth Corps participants earn a living stipend and also gain technical training and work experience. Youth Corps participants improve Colorado's public lands, conserve natural resources and help underserved populations while building bright futures for themselves. In collaboration with the Colorado Youth Corps Association (CYCA), the Weld County Youth Conservation Corps creates collaborative and innovative partnerships across the County and eastern plains. Built upon the foundation of a Youth Corps model, the TIGHT (Teamwork, Innovation, Growth, Hope and Training) program provides critical services for hard to serve, out of school youth with significant barriers to employment. TIGHT is fully funded by the Weld County Department of Human Services through CORE service and TANF funding. TIGHT was developed to delay or eliminate out of home placement for youth involved with DHS. The TIGHT Youth Corps addresses this community need providing youth with opportunities to increase basic skills, while simultaneously gaining invaluable entry level employment skills to include the soft skills employers' desire. The Weld County Commissioners are supportive of activities to enhance Youth Entrepreneurship however, with the federal focus on registered apprenticeships, entrepreneurship is less of a priority. Adult/Dislocated Worker: Business Services, in alignment with Colorado WIOA State Plan, goal C, is collaboratively engaged with the development of On -the -Job Training (OJT) opportunities for all WIOA related programs. Business Services along with the entire team of ESWC is committed to generating OJT placements throughout Weld County. The TANF and EF programs have WBL experience opportunities for their customers. CWEP is a community work experience program and AWEP is an alternative work experience program. Work supplementation provides wage supplementation in addition to benefits. EF has a work -fare program which assists customers in WBL while meeting program requirements of being involved in an activity in exchange for their food benefits. The Weld County BOCC has formally proclaimed National Apprenticeship Week in Weld County since 2016. Registered Apprenticeship efforts and events will be continued in years to come. The monthly WBL meetings will be renamed, repurposed and expanded to include all programs administered by ESWC. These meetings provide an opportunity for staff to share about the challenges and successes each are facing. This venue also provides an opportunity to discuss the needs of specific program participants increasing the opportunity to develop strategies to meet individual needs. Transitional Jobs: At this time, Weld County does not plan to utilize transitional jobs. If this changes in the future, a modification will be completed. Incumbent Worker Training: At this time Weld County does not set aside funds for incumbent worker training. If a need Is determined, a modification will be completed. Unless otherwise noted as measurable outcomes, additional outcomes for WBL will include best practices submissions or results/progress in the CWDC report. b. Apprenticeships 46 USDOL and CDLE are emphasizing the importance of apprenticeships. ESWC will take the following steps to increase apprenticeship opportunities for customers during the next program year: ESWC is committed to increasing apprenticeship opportunities for our clients, in alignment with Colorado WIOA State Plan, goal B. It is anticipated that ESWC will work with Vestas, a local manufacturing company, in the cohort that starts in June 2020 that will carry over into PY20. A portion of the training is the Crucial Conversations Program which is a one-on-one mentorship program between tenured Vestas employee and young adults in the Greeley -Evans School District RA program. Additionally, discussions continue to be held with a local healthcare provider with the potential of Registered Apprenticeships with youth and adult clients. ESWC anticipates a minimum of six different training opportunities that range from a cook to a Patient Financial Services (PFS) Representative with this provider. If funding allows, ES1A/C will continue to support other regions n eeding assistance with funding Registered Apprenticeship opportunities. The strategy of the State Apprenticeship Consultants will continue to assist ESWC in the creation of new Registered Apprenticeships. c. Sector Partnerships Participation How ESWC will utilize the relationships built by our Business Services Team to enhance or e xpand participation in Sector Partnerships and also expand business services efforts. Including PY20 specific planned objectives and measurable outcomes. The ESWC Business Services Unit uses the connections made at the NOCO Manufacturing Sector Partnerships to promote Career Pathways within Manufacturing. It is an objective of the partnership to interest students in manufacturing careers. Business Services is engaged in the Manufacturing Rocks committee of the NOCO Manufacturing Partnership. The Business Services Team helps to facilitate local Weld County Manufacturing tours for public partners and for students. BA representative from Business Services has participated in two annual Parents Night events through the partnership. These events have taken place in Larimer County. Plans to duplicate this event in Weld Count are o ngoing. Within the NOCO Health Sector Partnership an objective is to hold an annual Healthcare Job Fair. The Business Services Team continues to support the healthcare industry in Weld County and regionally. ESWC hosts an industry specific (healthcare) On -Site Job Fair as well as assist the Partnership with the planning of a regional job fair. The job fairs reach those within the Sector Partnership and are a way of encouraging participation to those companies not currently engaged in the Partnership. These types of activities in support of the Healthcare Industry are expected to be supported into future years. A Business Services Representative has been selected a speaker for the 2020 Health Care in Your Future Summit. Additionally, ESWC continues to promote the Healthcare industry through its involvement in the Sector Partnership. Healthcare specific job fairs and hiring events have occurred; as well as a "Get into the Guts" tour for those exploring the healthcare field. d. Sector Partnerships - Status and Objectives In Weld County or with local area partners, the below sector partnerships are engaged in or plan to be engaged in during PY20. The current status of these partnerships, plus PY20 planned objectives and measurable outcomes are included. Note: For Sector Partnership Information, please visit: https://www.colorado.gov/cwdc/sector-partnerships This section was addressed in section A. 4. of the regional plan. 47 e. Career Pathways How ESWC you will utilize information gathered through the Business Services Team to provide a baseline for consideration of new or enhanced Sector Partnerships, and how this information will be used to inform changes to or development of Career Pathways in Weld County. PY20 planned objectives and measurable outcomes are specified. This section was addressed in section A. 5. of this plan. 5. How the WCWDB, working with the entities carrying out core programs, will expand access to employment, training, education, and supportive services for eligible individuals, particularly eligible individuals with barriers to employment, including how the WCWDB will facilitate the development of career pathways and co -enrollment, as appropriate, in core programs, and improve access to activities leading to a recognized postsecondary credential (including a credential that is an industry -recognized certificate or certification, portable, and stackable) In alignment with the Colorado WIOA State Plan, goal A, the WCWDB and ESWC have established definitions for individuals with barriers to employment in the Priority of Service for Title I Adult Program local policy (WCWDB-2) and "needs additional assistance" through WIOA Eligibility Determination and Documentation local policy (WCWDB-5). With the above definitions in mind, the WCWDB is working with the entities carrying out core programs to expand access to employment, training, education, and supportive services for eligible individuals, particularly eligible individuals with barriers to employment, in alignment with Colorado WIOA State Plan, goal A. Priority consideration will be given to programs that lead to recognized postsecondary credentials, within the WCWDB identified in -demand industry sectors, as identified in section A.4. Examples of initiatives supporting this goal include: The Weld County Bright Futures program management has transitioned the leadership Upstate Colorado Economic Development to NCMC Foundation and The Weld Trust in a step for sustainability of the program for generations to come. The program continues to provide an excellent path and financial assistance for Weld County High School Graduates, HSE recipients, and Honorably Discharged US Veterans furthering their education or training. Financial changes create further sustainability for the program, benefiting future Weld County participants. Creating a diverse, well-educated workforce that will lead to good paying jobs and a stable economy in all workforce Sectors. Because of the focus on providing services to individuals with barriers to employment, this program will allow ESWC to integrate this program in the options available to assist individuals to either start or continue in career pathways. Through the programs offered at ESWC, the agency uses Leadership Teams as a method of engaging employers into discussions about the development of career pathways. A recent example of this is a Health Care employer asked ESWC if we were open to assisting with the development of a PeriOp program. This sort of collaborative dialogue is what fosters the creation of new and innovative career pathways which address gaps in the skills market. As funding allows, Weld County offers Summer Youth Vouchers to targeted low-income families with children ages infant through seventeen years of age. The vouchers are a time limited supportive service and have a fixed dollar amount to use. The vouchers can be used to participate in authorized programs over the summer to include recreational or educational activities sponsored by governmental, recreational or educational entities. The purpose of these activities are to: • Prevent youth from entering the child welfare system. 48 • Support County Certified Foster Care Parents and Adoptive Parents with summer activities for foster and adoptive children. • Promote a continuum of educational, physical activity and community experiences through established recreation or education programs in the summer. • Provide a multi -generational support. Through ESWC, the Department of Human Services has a Summer Employment Program, Weld Works 4 Youth (WW4Y). The program intentionally and primarily serves 14 to 15 -year -olds who are currently receiving TANF, Food Assistance, Medicaid, placed in Foster Care, or have an open case with Youth Services or participating with the Prevention team in accordance with section 6.008.4 of the County plan. Analysis of the program design has shown it to be successful. The purposes of the Summer Youth Employment Program are to: • Prevent youth and families from entering the child welfare system through a 2Gen approach. • Promote a continuum of educational and community experiences through established work experience and educational programs in the summer. • Promote work ethics through a work experience program for youth age fourteen through fifteen that can benefit from those services to be delivered through the Weld County Department of Human Services. • Support County Certified Foster Care Parents and Adoptive Parents with summer activities for foster and adoptive children. The Chafee Foster Care Independence Program (CFCIP) is a federally funded program that provides age appropriate independent living services to youth who are in out -of -home placement. Currently, the program serves youth from the ages of 14 through 23. Funds from the CFCIP can be used to provide direct services to assist with self-sufficiency. Examples include life skills workshops, independent living skills, gain employment though work experiences, resume building, job search activities, career pathway exploration, accessing housing and education vouchers, and co - enrollments that help with employment and education such as the WIOA Program. The TANF program and the EF programs are working with the rest of ESWC to increase numbers of stackable and portable certifications by co -enrollments with the WIOA program and referrals to local schools. TANF clients are eligible to receive supportive services through the program. These supportive services include: Rent, car repairs, supplies and equipment for work, training opportunities and other types of assistance to stabilize and support families, so they can get regular full-time employment. The University of Northern Colorado, DVR, and ESWC provide wrap -around services for students in the GOAL program. As a Comprehensive Transition Program, UNC recognized the importance of connecting with the workforce center and applied for a board position. Since joining the board, the member has actively engaged in conversations regarding mock interview opportunities, employee opportunities, and additional services that DVR may be able to provide. For PY20, ESWC has committed to mock interviews each semester. Additionally, ESWC has partnered with DVR to host a webinar in October regarding Hiring Individuals with Disabilities. The month of October was intentionally chosen to align with National Disability Employment Awareness Month. The UNC GOAL program has committed to advertising this webinar to its extensive network. 6. The strategy to work with adult education providers funded under Title II of WIOA and Vocational Rehabilitation to align resources available to Weld County, to achieve the strategic vision and goals described in question 5 are described below ESWC has had long standing relationships with IRCNOCO, formally Right to Read and a Title II Adult Education and Literacy provider, and the regional office for DVR. The Director of IRCNOCO and the 49 Regional Supervisor for DVR have been part of the WCWDB for years and as a result have been involved in the collaborative development of programs, services, initiatives, and business services activities to the benefit of the local community. The Immigrant and Refugee Center of Northern Colorado (IRCNOCO) provides enhanced services to the refugee population for both the WP and TANF programs in addition to services to WIOA participants in need of literacy services, in alignment with Colorado WIOA State Plan, goal A. IRCNOCO continues to be involved in the coordination of services to customers for hiring events, career events and job development for co -enrolled clients by targeting business engagement o pportunities and expanding awareness of employment opportunities. The MOU outlines the roles and responsibilities of both ESWC and IRCNOCO regarding the provision of services and the alignment of resources to achieve the strategic goals. ESWC staff attend workshops at IRCNOCO to provide an overview of services available at ESWC and assist individuals, alongside IRCNOCO staff, with Connecting Colorado registration and navigation. Joint efforts between IRCNOCO, Aims Community College, and the ESWC Assessment and Learning Center began in 2011. Collaboration has taken place on projects designed to identify and define what each partner organization provided in services and programs, the types of student needs that were addressed, and identify how collaborative efforts could have the most impact. ESWC staff have ensured linkages between youth programs and the DVR SWAP programs available in Weld County schools and have previously been a part of the local Community Transitions Team, and the City of Greeley Commission on Disabilities. Assistive/Adaptive technology continues to be available in both the ESWC resource room and the Assessment and Learning Center for customers in need of such devices and equipment. Additionally, DVR utilizes the Assessment and Learning Center for a variety of assessments for their customers. The Business Services Unit (BSU) of ESWC continues to coordinate services and events with and through the DVR Regional Business Outreach Specialist (BOS). The coordination of services includes, but is not limited to, hiring events, career events and job development for co -enrolled clients by targeting business engagement opportunities and expanding awareness of employment o pportunities for individuals with disabilities. The Memorandum of Understanding between the Board of Commissioners of Weld County on behalf of the Weld County Department of Human Services, Division of Employment Services outlines the roles and responsibilities of both ESWC and DVR regarding the provision of services and the alignment of resources to achieve the WCWDB's strategic goals. Additionally, the Business Outreach Specialist, presents, at a minimum annually, information o n services available through DVR at ESWC in an Employer Seminar. The information is well received by local employers. 7. The strategies and services that will be utilized to strengthen linkages between the one -stop delivery system and unemployment insurance programs Please see section A.7.d for the strategies and services that will be used to strengthen linkages between the one -stop delivery system and unemployment insurance programs. 8. How the WCWDB will coordinate workforce investment activities carried out in Weld County with economic development activities carried out in the Upstate planning region, and promote entrepreneurial skills training and microenterprise services ESWC, in alignment with Colorado WIOA State Plan, goal D, works closely with the Weld County Economic Development organization Upstate Colorado. The ESWC Business Services Unit is 50 routinely called upon by Upstate Colorado to assist with providing industry specific labor market information. They also request ESWC presence at meetings when prospective employers express interest to establish, or expand, their business in Weld County; this method is now known as Weld WORKS, to include Aims Community College attendance. Additionally, ESWC hosts seminars to include information necessary for small entrepreneurs such as HR 101 and Child Labor Laws. ESWC has intentionally expanded its reach through the Awareness Committee of the WCWDB and the Weld Workforce Collaborative. These Committees are made up of staff from Economic Development (ED), Chambers of Commerce, and municipalities. ESWC has an excellent reputation with the numerous Chambers of Commerce throughout Weld County. ESWC staff are called upon to provide presentations routinely at the Chambers. This sort of coordination among chambers, workforce, and employers utilizes the time of all attendees wisely while promoting ESWC activities. 9. The workforce development system in Weld County that identifies the programs that are included in that system and how ESWC will partner with the required WIOA partners to increase awareness of career pathways and the critical role that workforce development plays in ensuring that all Coloradans have access to educational and career pathways that result in meaningful employment ESWC operates a number of the programs identified as partner programs including: Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act Title I Adult, Dislocated Worker, and Youth Programs; the Title III WP; TAA; the Migrant and Seasonal Farm Worker program (MSFW); the work components for the TANF and the EF programs; AmeriCorps; the TIGHT Youth Corps funded by CORE Service and TANF funding; services funded by CSBG; targeted programs for UI; and provides functional supervision to the DVOP staff under JVSG. As discussed in the Regional Plan, Career Pathways initiatives are an active workforce development strategy in Weld County. Through the Workforce Board, the standing Youth Committee has been committed to Career Pathway initiatives, in alignment with Colorado WIOA State Plan, goal A, and strives to align existing programs and services while expanding services with careful oversight to prevent duplication of services. Partner programs are represented on the Board, and the Director of IRCNOCO, is the chair for the Board's Youth Standing Committee. 10. The one -stop delivery system in Weld County, in particular a. The locations of the comprehensive physical one -stop centers within Weld County; and a list of locations of our network of affiliate sites, both physical and electronically linked, such as libraries. ESWC operates two comprehensive one -stop centers as follows: • Main Location: 315 N 11 Avenue Bldg. B Greeley, CO 80631 • South County Location: 2950 9th Street Fort Lupton, CO 80621 Additionally, linkages and collaborative efforts with the High Plains library district and the associated Carbon Valley Library allow customers to be able to link electronically. 51 b. Key strategies for integrating the core programs (WIOA Title I, II, Ill, and IV programs), as well as all required partner programs, within the local one -stop system of comprehensive and affiliate offices The Upstate Planning Region continues Integration of the core WIOA programs through the certification of a One -Stop Center and Delivery System. To be certified as a one -stop center, WIOA specifies that the CWDC and local WDBs establish certification criteria. One -stop centers and the one -stop delivery system must meet or exceed the standards established for each of the following areas: Focus Area Criteria to be used Standards to Meet • Performance accountability outlined agreements in grant and as a. agreements authorizations b. Outcomes and defined related expenditure in to grant negotiated Effectiveness Thresholds expenditure authorizations performance c. Coordination targets of goal setting across • Local Measures Performance programs d. Active exists involvement in initiatives and • Sector Partnerships discretionary grants and expected • Career Pathways outcomes for initiatives and discretionary • targeted objectives grants e. Demonstrate are met that strategies are Enrollment for populations • Alignment of services based f. Satisfaction on an analysis of employers of the area with • with Fiscal needs Res of p onsibilit the area y services g. provided rate exceeds the Expenditure Service •compliance minimum requirement to maintain Hours 2 Physical and ADA Guidelines In compliance as shown by an inspection, programmatic accessibility audit, or review within last three (3) years 3 improvement Continuous of one- CWDC's Improvement established Standards and may shift are connected as goals change to current goals The Continuous stop centers and the Process as incorporated one -stop delivery into the annual planning a. Business Services activities in system process and performance compliance with annual goals incentive funds b. c. in compliance Re-employment compliance Marketing and with with Outreach and annual annual Youth goals activities goals activities in 4 Integration of Service Coordination At a Minimum: available services Agreements a. An MOU is in place b. MOU includes all required The partners c. Co -enrollment is addressed d. A referral procedure for all programs is in place 52 e. Demonstrate that the level of integration has improved in the past three (3) years The WCWDB is responsible for assessing the one -stop centers and the one -stop delivery system with the above criteria and submit a record of the assessment and certification determination to the CWDC. The local policy, WCWDB-17-2020-01 Criteria for Certification of One -Stop Center, contains the criteria for assessing the one -stop centers and the one -stop delivery system. Certification criteria is incorporated into the Weld County Request for Proposal (RFP) process for the one -stop operator, therefore that selection process will also serve as the certification process. The WCWDB will continue to utilize the criteria in its RFP process for the selection of its one -stop operator to ensure the center and the one -stop delivery system are eligible to receive infrastructure funding from partners or the state funds for those areas that utilize the state infrastructure funding mechanism. ESWC currently operates the programs under Title I of WIOA; the Title III WP; TAA; MSFW; the work components for the TANF and the EF programs; and an AmeriCorps program; As previously indicated, ESWC has had long standing relationships with IRCNOCO, the predominant local Title II Adult Education and Literacy provider, and the regional office for DVR as well as with representatives from SER for the Senior Community Service Employment Program (SCSEP). The Director of IRCNOCO and the Regional Supervisor for DVR, and representatives from SER have been part of the WCWDB for more than 20 years and as a result have been involved in the collaborative development of programs, services, initiatives, and business services activities to the benefit of the local community. Through the execution of the current Memorandums of Understanding, collaboration with partners will continue. As the WCWDB was selected to act as the one -stop operator in May 2017 during the previous RFP process, the WCWDB will evaluate a report on the certification requirements for the one -stop center (ESWC) and delivery system. The certification report consists of the following items: 1. Assessment of physical and programmatic accessibility at the following locations: a. Comprehensive one -stop centers b. Affiliate one -stop centers providing Title I -B (Adult, Dislocated Worker, and Youth) and III (Wagner-Feyser) programs, at a minimum 2 Assessment of effectiveness of the core (Titles I -B, II, Ill and IV of WIOA) programs 3 Assessment of the continuous improvement efforts outlined in the local plan and reported on annually to the Colorado Workforce Development Council 4 Assessment of the integration of available services across all required partners The assessments may be conducted and compiled by one or more members of the board. local board staff, sub -recipient staff, another American Job Center, state board staff (as applicable), state workforce agency staff, or a qualified contractor. The accessibility assessments should be completed using a recommended checklist that has been approved by the CWDC, the programmatic accessibility evaluation toolkit, or through a qualified contractor. After assessments are completed and prior to submission to the CWDC for review, the one -stop operator may review the reports and generate a response outlining action steps that may be taken to address any deficiencies. The report developers should review responses and generate a recommendation for the CWDC to certify, certify conditionally, or not certify the system overall and each individual site based upon the accessibility section of the report. The report, responses, and recommendations should then be submitted to the CWDC for review and a vote. 53 ESWC was re -certified as the one -stop center and one -stop delivery system for Weld County in September 2020, for a three-year term ending June 30, 2023. c. The roles and resource contributions of each of the one -stop partners Contribution of resources for the programs operated by ESWC fall under the County's cost allocation plan which allocates costs based on time charged by staff. As one of the five divisions in the Department, ESWC staff primarily charge to programs related to employment grants. Approximately 50% of the staff charge to TANF, Employment First, AmeriCorps, Community Service Block Grant and Child Welfare. Indirect costs like rent, phone lines and administrative cost pool costs are then reimbursed by the percent of staff time spent in the respective grants. Therefore, all grant programs effectively support the one stop center. Partner program contributions and roles are outlined in each partner's Memorandum of Understanding and typically consist of staff resources to assist shared customers, involvement in Business Services hiring events, shared training when appropriate, and staff resources to assist customers in accessing one stop services available in Connecting Colorado such as the review of open job listings. d. How the WCWDB will facilitate access to services provided through the one - stop delivery system, including in remote areas, through the use of technology and through other means; including our intended use of virtual job fairs, the upcoming virtual job shadowing capability, and other innovative strategies and initiatives to streamline and enhance services, as well as increase access The use of virtual job fair technology will be offered to businesses and job seekers in outlying locations. The information about the virtual job fair service will be included in the email campaign distribution of "Did You Know...". Self -registration and referral through Connecting Colorado is available from anywhere in the County where there is internet access and the extensive resources available through the US Department of Labor and other sites are also able to be accessed. Additionally, many of the services and activities provided by the ESWC Assessment and Learning lab can be accessed via the internet from any location that provides that access. RESEA now offers over the phone appointments to allow unemployed individual to complete their mandatory unemployment requirements if they are located in remote locations or have moved out of state e. The types of assessments and assessment tools that will be utilized within the one -stop delivery system and how these assessments will be coordinated across participating programs to avoid duplication of effort and multiple assessments of customers being served by more than one partner program In alignment with the Colorado WIOA State Plan, goals A and C, ESWC offers an on -site Assessment and Learning Center. The center offers the Workplace Readiness Credential, Behavioral Traits Assessments, Prove -its!, HSE preparation and much more. Duplication among assessments is avoided by having constant communication among partners. For example, DVR routinely has clientele referred to the center as does the Department of Corrections (through both Youth and Adult programs). It is pertinent to note that the Workplace Readiness Credential was piloted in 2015 and out of the 7 County offices that participated, 75% of the assessments taken during the 6 -month pilot emerged from Weld. This credentialing system covers critical soft skills many of our local employers have 54 identified when assessing potential job candidates The skills include Attitude, Communication, Planning and Organizing, Critical Thinking, Interpersonal/Social Skills, Teamwork, Professionalism and Media Rules f. How entities within the one -stop delivery system, including our centers, one - stop operators and the one -stop partners, will comply with WIOA section 188 and applicable provisions of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) of 199011 regarding the physical and programmatic accessibility of facilities, programs and services, technology, and materials for individuals with disabilities, including providing staff training and support for addressing the needs of individuals with disabilities ESWC has facility and program accessibility to career services School district's SWAP programs and DVR participate on Workforce Development standing committees and staff members from DVR, SWAP and ESWC cross train with one another Additionally, Business Services shares the list of open jobs weekly with DVR, school districts and community agencies such as SER Jobs for Progress so they can review and make referrals to employment or use the list as a discussion for careers A survey from the Department of Labor about the physical accessibility of our workforce center, its programs and services for people with disabilities was completed in June 2017 with a more in-depth self -assessment completed in June 2020 It was a great opportunity for self -assessment and analysis to determine as a center if we are accessible with both programs and services All staff is required to complete disability awareness online web training and are aware of Section 188 Implementation of the Nondiscrimination and Equal Opportunity Provisions and Access for All, a resource manual for meeting the needs of one -stop customers with disabilities The WP resource room has multiple ADA software programs that increase people with disabilities ability to access websites, email, and assessments g. How the WCWDB will ensure the continuous improvement of eligible providers of services through the system and ensure that such providers meet the employment needs of local employers, and workers and jobseekers The WCWDB reviews performance of WIOA programs on a quarterly basis As more of the WIOA performance measures are implemented across partner programs, the Board will also be provided that information 1 Regarding the delivery of training services to customers, the Eligible Training Provider List is continuously updated and by utilizing a system of review and update, ESWC works to ensure that employer, worker and job seeker needs are being met The WCWDB is able to provide input regarding the needs of employers and workers, and this information is then shared with providers of services to ensure services are structured to meet those needs. h. How training services under WIOA chapter 3 of subtitle B will be provided12 including, if contracts for the training services will be used, how the use of such contracts will be coordinated with the use of individual training accounts under that chapter and how the WCWDB will ensure informed customer choice in the selection of training programs regardless of how the training services are to be provided 11 42 U S C 12101 et seq 12 In accordance with section 134(c)(3)(G) 55 Customers identified as in need of training services will be provided by educational entities that are on the Eligible Training Provider List (ETPL) maintained by the state. In order to ensure customer choice in training, clientele work with case managers in selection of providers from the ETPL. Typically contracts for training will not be utilized and the funding for the training services is made through the Individual Training Account process under the WIOA program. Training funds will be utilized only in areas identified as in -demand occupations or growth industry sectors. In the case of WBL associated opportunities the final choice made between employers and employees will be solidified through a work contract. i. Outreach to Individuals with Barriers to Employment: How ESWC will engage the WCWDB and Youth Council/committee to increase the awareness of the services offered to returning Veterans, out -of -school youth, individuals with disabilities, long-term unemployed, and other targeted groups. Including what additional strategies will be utilized to reach out to these groups and the objectives and goals for this effort In alignment with Colorado WIOA State Plan, goal A, ESWC conducts outreach to individuals with barriers to employment, with Veterans and their eligible spouses receiving priority of service. Examples of ensuring the community has equitable access to opportunities are outlined below: In addition to the Veteran priority given in all employment related services, ESWC is fortunate to house a DVOP on site to immediately address the triaged Veteran's needs. The priority of service extends to BSU hosted events, such as hiring events and job fairs, where Veterans are granted early admittance to the event. To further increase Veteran access to services prior to the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, an Adult Employment and Training Case Manager was co -located at the Northern Colorado Veteran Resource Center (NCVRC) once a week. There are plans to continue the co -location when it is once again safe to do so. NCVRC continues to refer clients to ESWC. A partnership between the Department of Corrections (DOC) and ESWC, assists Individuals being released from the DOC system gain employment. Future parolees are interviewed via Skype, while still incarcerate, and then streamlined into employment upon release with the support of the workforce center. The Business Services team presented this initiative in a workshop entitled "Incarcerated to Employed" at statewide conference during the Summer of 2018. j. Outreach strategies to eligible New Americans and ESWC's objectives for this effort. In addition, the strategies ESWC will deploy to ensure services and programs effectively serve eligible New Americans. The MSFW Outreach Advisor frequently conducts field visits to evaluate working conditions, and to inform individuals of training opportunities and complete referrals to WIOA and supportive services. Additionally, they perform inspections and for H2A housing, provide an annual picnic with representatives from various community organizations are present to provide information and access to services. 11. How ESWC will coordinate education and workforce investment activities carried out in Weld County with relevant secondary and postsecondary education programs and activities to coordinate strategies, enhance services, and avoid duplication of services ESWC has a long-standing history of collaborative partnerships and efforts with both Adult Education, Aims Community College and other education partners to increase training opportunities in the health 56 care, energy, transportation, manufacturing.. administration, information technology and other local demand occupational areas. Our educational partners are critical in the development of training to meet employer needs. ESWC Leadership has been asked to participate with Advisory Committees at Aims Community College in the following areas: Manufacturing/Industrial, Construction, and Healthcare. Additionally, Aims has representation on the WCWDB and participated on the SP-NEG Leadership Team. A number of school districts participate on the Youth Committees. Schools throughout Weld County are informed and invited to participate in career events and all schools have a designated ESWC Youth Programs Case Manager which includes intentioned outreach efforts to each school with a consistent ESWC staff member. Each school receives distribution of materials as appropriate in an effort to provide youth with opportunities to participate and connect with ESWC initiatives. The standing Youth Committee has dedicated several agendas toward the strategic alignment of delivery of services, leveraging funds while avoiding duplication of services in an effort to maximize available resources to youth in Weld County. As a result, increased collaborative efforts with DVR / SWAP and area school districts have taken place. One example is SWAP Coordinators working in partnership with ESWC staff to identify appropriate worksite placement opportunities for youth with disabilities and the internship program for Greeley/Evans School District students. Initiatives, such as the internship program, provide meaningful WBL opportunities for in -school youth allowing ESWC to extend and dedicate resources to relevant WBL opportunities to out -of -school youth. The collaborative approach ensures WIOA continues to provide invaluable services and resources to out - of -school youth while supporting initiatives to also serve in -school youth through alternative funding sources. 12. The availability of adult and dislocated worker employment and training activities in Weld County; in particular how Weld County will expand services to dislocated workers utilizing all sources of formula and discretionary funds targeted to the dislocated worker population When a resident of Weld County finds they are unemployed or underemployed, there are a variety of services and training opportunities available to them through ESWC. Once a client is identified as needing enrollment into either the Adult Employment and Training programs, they will begin with one- o n-one intensive case management. ESWC case managers have been trained to utilize information gathered by assessments and interviews with the participant to develop the best plan with them to o btain unsubsidized, meaningful employment. This plan may include referrals to any number of in- house or community resources to assist the participant in overcoming any challenges they may have that prevent them from gaining employment. These include, but are not limited to, IRCNOCO for ESL clients, Aims and the ESWC Assessment and Learning Center for High School Equivalency, Education Opportunity Center (EOC) for scholarship and financial aid information, DVR and North Range Behavioral Health for assistance with disabilities. The ESWC Business Services team has developed free workshops for clients in need of assistance with their resume, interview skills, identification of transferrable skills, navigating job search as an offender, and completing on-line applications. All of these resources are available in a Spanish speaking workshop. If training is determined the best course of action, Weld County has a variety of training activities available to all residents seeking additional education to make them more employable. Training has o ccurred in such industries as health care, business administration, transportation, oil and gas, renewable energy, and manufacturing to name a few. Participants have taken the opportunity to 57 attend the University of Northern Colorado (UNC), Aims Community College and Front Range Community College to earn certificates, credentials and post -secondary degrees. There are also a number of vocational trainings that include numerous truck driving academies, computer skills training, and adult education at the local community colleges. The resources available are strong and geared towards meeting the current needs of Weld County's prevalent industries; however, there is always room for improvement and Weld is already looking to the future. Through the Sector Partnership National Emergency Grant that targeted Dislocated Workers, strides were made by the Leadership Team to develop industry specific regional planning meetings for Transportation and to continue to strengthen the one for Manufacturing. In early Leadership Team meetings, that included representatives from both Manufacturing and Transportation companies as well as training facilities, employers were able to explain what skills they needed in potential employees and where the training facilities were not meeting those needs. Through this dialog, Aims Community College re -configured and enhanced the Advanced Industrial Credential that was first developed as the Multi Industry Systems Technician program (MIST) of 2008. Aims has also included several endorsement requirements for their Truck Driving School so their students can be more competitive in the workforce. Employment and Training case managers have effectively used the myriad of adult and dislocated worker employment and training activities available to serve almost 500 job seekers each program year. Key people are being brought to the table to address current gaps in services or training as well as keeping an eye on future employment needs. Focus is being sharpened on the hard to serve populations and the tools needed to assist them in overcoming their unique obstacles are constantly being developed and refined. 13. The availability of youth workforce investment activities in Weld County, including activities for youth who are individuals with disabilities, shall include an identification of successful models of such youth workforce investment activities; in addition, how services to out -of -school youth will be expanded and enhanced to incorporate additional work -based learning opportunities As a region, Weld has a commitment to serving individuals with barriers, including those with disabilities, which aligns with Colorado WIOA State Plan, goals A and C. ESWC has facility and program accessibility to career services and, school district's SWAP programs and DVR participate on Workforce Development standing committees and staff members from DVR, SWAP and ESWC cross train with one another. Local SWAP and Transitional Teachers often bring students to ESWC for a facilitated workshop to assist youth with disabilities to enhance employment related skills. Workshop topics include, but are not limited to, an overview of Connecting Colorado, job search, completing job applications, interview skills and resume preparation. Youth also navigate public transportation system to attend the workshops further developing life skills to be utilized to increase their independence. ESWC's strong collaborative partnership with SWAP has led to successful work experience placements for youth with disabilities. ESWC provides the wages and Weld County provides Workers Compensation coverage while SWAP provides extensive individualized job coaching as necessary. Leveraging resources and aligning the delivery of services has proved to be successful and impactful to youth participants. ESWC has historically engaged and targeted out -of -school youth in WA and has continued to have this level of focus in WIOA. Through the WCWDB and the Youth Committee, disenfranchised out -of - school youth has been identified as a priority target youth group to help meet the needs of Weld 58 County communities. ESWC has historically planned not less than 70% of funding being spent toward out -of -school youth and has exceeded that level of expenditures annually. This has consistently been achieved through extensive community partnerships to include, but not limited to, local Truancy Liaisons, the 19th Judicial District, Platte Valley Youth Services Center, Colorado Youth Detention , Youth and Family Connections, Child Welfare, IRCNOCO, North Range Behavioral Health, Aims Community College — Academic Pathways and area alternative High School programs. With confidence, ESWC planned and met the 75% expenditure requirement for out -of -school youth and 20% WBL expenditures during the initial year of WIOA and will continue to meet the identified targeted goals in subsequent years Since 1993, the Weld County Youth Conservation Corps (WCYCC) has continued to serve youth and young adults from ages 14-24 by providing youth with meaningful service opportunities in the realms of conservation (land, water, and energy) and community service. Projects include a broad spectrum from voluntary community service to contracted chainsaw work. WCYCC's programs have developed to incorporate environmental education, experiential learning, and service learning and values such as leadership and peer accountability. Based on the Civilian Conservation Corps model, WCYCC AmeriCorps members gain three to six months of full-time hands on WBL experiences in a variety of skills and receive employment preparation support, post -Corps placement assistance as well as an AmeriCorps educational award. In addition to the provision of services to disenfranchised youth through WIOA Youth programs, ESWC continues to explore options for expanding services and alternatives for youth who are involved in the social services or juvenile justice systems through the use of the TIGHT Youth Corps model. TIGHT, facilitated under the WCYCC umbrella, was intentionally designed to meet a specific community need; to delay or eliminate the need for out of home placement. TIGHT members are provided team -based learning experiences, and opportunities for, developing job readiness skills such as communication, pro -social behaviors, leadership, and responsibility. Youth are simultaneously engaged with educational activities to promote a successful re-entry into a traditional or non-traditional school setting or toward the obtainment of a High School Equivalency (HSE/GED) credential. Continuum 14. How the WCWDB will coordinate workforce investment activities carried out under this title in Weld County with the provision of adult education and literacy activities under title II in Weld County, including a description of how the WCWDB will carry out the review13 of local applications submitted under title II ESWC works with local education providers in support of the in -demand industries previously identified. The Executive Director of IRCNOCO is the WCWDB Youth Committee Chair and a general Board member, Community Educational Outreach attends as an associate member and a representative from Aims Community College is also a general member of the Board. The WCWDB has historically reviewed the Carl Perkins Plan prior to its submittal and has voted on its support. With the passage of WIOA and the inclusion of application under Title II, the Board will utilize a similar approach in the review and approval of those plans. 15. How the WCWDB will coordinate workforce investment activities carried out under this title in Weld County with the provision of transportation, including public transportation, and other appropriate supportive services in Weld County The WCWDB and ESWC have adopted a supportive services policy to ensure that services are provided on a consistent and equitable basis for those individuals who need such services to assist 13 Consistent with subparagraphs (A) and (B)(i) of section 107(d)(11) and section 232 59 them in obtaining or retaining employment, or to participate in and complete career or training services and who are unable to obtain such services through other program means. The supportive services that may be provided are: transportation, child care/dependent care, job related medical expenses, special clothing, license costs, assistance to secure bonding, books and supplies for training and work tools. 16. How maximizing coordination of services provided by the State employment service under the Wagner-Peyser Act (29 U.S.C. 49 et seq.) and services provided in Weld County through the one -stop delivery system, to improve service delivery and avoid duplication of services ESWC has been providing services under WP for nearly 40 years. During that period ESWC has assured services are coordinated with other programs, and that there is not a duplication of effort between programs. 17. The administrator/administrative entity responsible for the disbursal of Title I and III funds in Weld County, as determined by the chief elected official the fiscal agent The administrative entity for the disbursal of Title I and Title III funds in the Weld County area is the BOCC, and through the Weld County Department of Human Services. 18. The competitive process to be used to award the sub -grants and contracts in Weld County for activities carried out under this title ESWC does not intend to award sub -grants or contracts for any activities carried out under this title. Weld County embarked upon a Request for Proposal (RFP) venture in August of 2015 meeting with local procurement specialists and other specialized program staff, such as Area Agency on Aging, to identify local processes and best practices. At the request of the Youth Committee and upon receiving guidance from Weld County's Purchasing Department and in partnership with Weld County Attorney's, the WCWDB moved forward with a Request for Proposal in January of 2016. The RFP was advertised in the Greeley Tribune, published in the Rocky Mountain E -Purchasing System, sent electronically to local partners such as Adult Education and Aims Community College, and was provided on more than one occasion to all Youth Committee and WCWDB members. Throughout this process, one internal RFP was submitted by ESWC's Assessment and Learning Lab. There were no external RFP's received therefore at the direction of the WCWDB and the Weld County BOCC, it was determined ESWC was identified to be the eligible provider and will provide the required WIOA 14 youth elements. It's the explicit intent of Weld County to continue to meet the requirements of the law aligned in section 123, "the local board shall identify eligible providers of youth workforce investment activities in Weld County by awarding grants or contracts on a competitive basis (except as provided in section 123 (b)), based on the recommendations of the youth standing committee, if such a committee is established for Weld County under the subsection (b)(4); and (ii) may terminate for cause the eligibility of such providers." The procurement process for Weld County is located at www.co.weld.co.us. The WCWDB is once again preparing for the process of soliciting RFPs to designate one -stop operators as fully described in Section 121 (d), which refers to "the local board, with the agreement of the chief elected official, is authorized to designate or certify one -stop operators"; "shall be designated or certified as a one -stop operator through a competitive process;". Also, to identify eligible providers of youth workforce activities as fully described in Section 123 (a) which states "the local board for such area shall award grants or contracts on a competitive basis to providers of youth workforce investment activities identified based on the criteria in the State plan, and taking into consideration 60 the ability of the providers to meet performance accountability measures based on primary indicators of performance for the youth program" of WIOA. The WCWDB anticipates having published the RFP later in 2020 following the same process as outlined above in 2015. 19. The local levels of performance negotiated with the Governor and chief elected official14 to be used to measure the performance of Weld County and to be used by the WCWDB for measuring the performance of the local fiscal agent, eligible providers under subtitle B, and the one -stop delivery system, in Weld County. The process for agreement with the Governor regarding performance accountability measures were the same in Program Year 16 as they were for WIA. As additional guidance is received from the US Department of Labor (USDOL), the Colorado Workforce Development Council (CWDC), and the CDLE regarding the use of the performance adjustment model and how it will apply to Weld County, ESWC and the WCWDB negotiate standards as specified by the Council and CDLE. 20. The actions the WCWDB will take toward achieving the High Performing Board designation15 The WCWDB was designated as a high performing board for PY17, PY18, and PY19 by the CWDC. To ensure the board continues to be a high performing each member of the WCWDB is encouraged to be involved with the Board Committees. These committees include the: Awareness Committee, the Partner Committee, and the Youth Committee. Each committee has differing areas of focus; however, members on each committee are asked to help spread the word and participate in the initiatives and work being done by ESWC in the respective areas. A roster of the WCWDB members is kept by the Weld County BOCC and by ESWC staff. This dual monitoring provides a double check and ensures compliance of the business representation percentage. As vacancies occur, the Weld County BOCC list openings in the Greeley Tribune and the county website, and the Business Services Team in tandem with the BOCC and the WCWDB conduct outreach to possible board candidates. ESWC engages a very targeted recruitment strategy by analyzing Industry needs for additional representation on the WCWDB and specifically recruit employers in that industry. Workforce Board members are asked, and encouraged, to recruit for vacancies. The outreach is strategic and targets both employers within 1) geographic areas unrepresented on the board and 2) industries without board representation. As mentioned in Question 5 above, a WCWDB Orientation was initiated. This step assures ESWC that Board Members have a base knowledge when voting on important issues. A membership spreadsheet was created and includes contact information, meeting attendance, talent development and community event activity attendance, orientation completion, orientation acknowledgement, and an At -a -Glance for High Performing Board metrics. The spreadsheet is maintained by the Employment Services Support Specialist. Board members are also encouraged to attend talent development events to increase awareness of the board and the workforce center's service offerings to employers. The board plans to continue to operate as a high functioning board and apply for annual designation. 14 Pursuant to section 116(c), 15 As outlined in the Colorado High Performing Local Workforce Development Board Rubric PGL GRT-2019-01, Attachment 3 61 20. Evidence use in decision making and program implementation Colorado is focused on enhancing its use of evidence to inform workforce development strategies and to influence the design and execution of initiatives. By measuring progress and the results of implementation, the state overall and each local area will be able to collect data that can move our work along an evidence continuum. When we refer to an `evidence -based' program or strategy, it is helpful to have a shared definition. Evidence of effectiveness exists on a spectrum, including: a. Strong evidence: meaning at least two evaluation reports have demonstrated that an intervention or strategy has been tested nationally, regionally, at the state- level, or with different populations or locations in the same local area using a well -designed and well - implemented experimental design evaluation aa, Randomized Controlled Trial (RCT)) or a quasi -experimental design evaluation (QED) with statistically matched comparison (i.e., counterfactual) and treatment groups. See CLEAR.dolgov for full definitions of strong or moderate study design. The overall pattern of evaluation findings must be consistently positive on one or more key workforce outcomes. The evaluations should be conducted by an independent entity external to the organization implementing the intervention. b. Moderate evidence: meaning at least one evaluation report has demonstrated that an intervention or strategy has been tested using a well -designed and well -implemented experimental or quasi -experimental design showing evidence of effectiveness on one or more key workforce outcomes. The evaluations should be conducted by an independent entity external to the organization implementing the intervention. c. Preliminary evidence: meaning at least one evaluation report has demonstrated that an intervention or strategy has been tested using a well -designed and well -implemented pre/post-assessment without a comparison group or a post -assessment comparison between intervention and comparison groups showing evidence of effectiveness on one or more key workforce outcomes. The evaluation may be conducted either internally or externally. d. Pre -preliminary evidence: meaning there is program performance data for the intervention showing improvements for one or more key workforce outputs or outcomes. For interventions at each tier of evidence, it is important to leverage administrative data analysis or increasingly rigorous evaluation to build new evidence, improve programs and participant outcomes, and progress to the next tier. Levels of evidence applied to the overall approach of Weld County in implementing programs. Including any specific programs that have a higher use of evidence than other programs overall. Additionally, if Weld County would be interested in receiving technical assistance on the application of evidence -based practices to workforce development. Weld County uses preliminary evidence such as the Talent Pipeline report, legislation and Emsi information to be informed of program performance data for intervention and determine areas in need 62 of improvement related to workforce and education. Preliminary evaluation helps identify and address areas such as gaps in services, program inefficiencies, duplication of effort, etc. Weld County is supportive of CDLE's ongoing evaluation and research on current and new programs, including state initiatives, and to identify best practices that have the potential to become evidence - based practice. The Upstate Region is open to any future technical assistance from state agencies and other public partners. As a leader in workforce, the Upstate Region is available to discuss scaled pilots that show data informed, data driven, promising practice, proven practice, and evidence -based practice. 21. The process used by the WCWDB16 to provide an opportunity for public comment, including comment by representatives of businesses and comment by representatives of labor organizations, and input into the development of the local plan, prior to submission of the plan. Please see section A, question 14. for a description of the process for the public to provide comments and representatives of businesses and representatives of labor organizations to provide input on plan development. 16 Consistent with subsection (d) 63 Appendix A Historical Program Timeline Continued ESWC Development Timeline of Employment and Training Programs Year Name Purpose Partners Funding 2017 Weld Youth Works (W\N4Y) 4 A work the and program 2Gen summer, help experience approach families developing to financially which qualified provides employment through youth paid during a skills work Weld County Services Department of TANF Employment Human Program 2017 Sterile Processing Providing required to instrumentation knowledge infectious techniques. clean, for the process processes, of Sterile skills surgical and and and Processing obtain sterilize instrumentation, and certification sterilization a working Technicians surgical Aims Advisory Health, Community Weld Committee, County College, Banner Surgical Students responsible associated WIOA support were eligible ort accepted has to are those provided costs; for and who Technician Certification Program 2016 i Regional Discussion Advisory (RAD) 'highest Initiated brings educators, which of addressing collaborative moderated employers together employers and and and discussion common best co and meeting. -hosted employers, public face. use' all participates issues partners about by ESWC, the in one to one skills is by RAD the a gaps time Multiple NOCO Partnership, College, College, Weld Larimer County Manufacturing manufacturing Front Larimer, County Aims Schools, Workforce Boulder, Community Community Sector employers, and Centers and NoCo Partnership, Partnership Emergency Manufacturing National Grant Sector workforce, RAD in The approach Range ESWC 2015 ' Achieving Community Excellence (ACE) Provide Readiness services paid employment interview summer include Credential internships skills, related resume (WRC) access services. for to and youth. the City School of Greeley, District Greeley/Evans State businesses Farm, host ESWC preparation, Work additional 64 industries, Supports two Manufacturing of our identified and in -demand Transportation. Employers are served by Sector Partnershi p developing a strong qualified workforce in these industries. Employers also have an Evans, Milliken, Greeley, y 2015 National Emergency Grant opportunity to voice their needs and National Emergency g y Johnstown, United Way Grant concerns b y part i c i pat in g on a SP NEG(SP NEG Leadership towards with partners. employers, facilitating Team. workforce, The Regional team and works Discussions o public s Northeastern Provide many g em job e n skills t sere training, i ces, English case as a County Se Services Logan, Washington, ces g Departments Morgan, in Cheyenne, Weld, Phillips, and of Kit Human Yuma Sedgwick, Carson,TANF,Collaborative CSBG 2014 Colorado Counties of Second and counties soft Language(ESL)and skills in Northeastern training to the Colorado residents other region hard of 2014 Federal National Emergency Disaster Grant In ESWC placements repair, destroyed response renovation provided public to for the the temporary structures, September and cleanup, reconstruction subsidized demolition, facilities 2013 flood, and of job Disaster Emergency National Grant Evans, Milliken, Greeley, Johnstown, Kersey, United Way, Catholic Charities, City of Evans Community WCYCC, Greeley Outreach -Evans Center, District 6, (NEG) lands within Federal Emergency areas. Management Agency designated disaster Weld Food Bank 2011 Sustainable Manufacturing Focus manufacturin industry services sector's g and /advanced needs. training Upstate manufacturin towards Colorado g Upstate Economic Aims, College, manufacturing g Front Colorado, CAMT, Development, Range sector Adams Brighton Community employers, County State Sector Funding Initiatives for Sector Initiative and Brighton g Economic Development p were co -conveners for this initiative Workforce Region 2011 H1 B incumbent indust industry Focus man u f services actu sectors rin workers g/advanced and in training the manufacturing towards Upstate Colorado, multiple H1B employers, Brighton Economic Development 65 2009 Provide economically (TANF new jobs and paid UI) work disadvantaged and experiences support the job for creation seekers of Colorado Colorado Services, and community Department Department multiple employers local of of agencies Labor, Human TANF WIA ' Colorado HIRE 2007 TANF Youth Summer Designed families positive parent(s) beginning g by summer g are to unsubsidized having benefit in a program TANF their TANF children employment work low-income while activity in theTANF a or Weld local Social area community Services , work multiple sites Employment *(PPA 2007) 2007 Innovation Regional Workforce in Focus s energy Eventually pWIRED ecific services and to the led sustainable needs to and the develop development of employers energy training sectors. in of the a Aims Evans Community School District College, 6, Weld Greeley National other Colorado Collaborative Grant with School District RE -8, Boulder and Adams County Workforce Regions g ' prep and manufacturin an academy associate g and degree four ggy' distinct in industrial credentials Economic Development (WIRED) Brighton United Power, Energy Workforce Regions Logic, Board Xcel of Metro Energy, Denver Workforce 2006 Multi Youth Team 2006) -disciplinary Assessment *(PPA Designed collaborative risk youth to through provide services a pro a continuum for -active Weld approach County of at- TANF Service by WIA and funds. Youth CORE In -kind ESWC; Weld Social Services; Island Grove Regional Treatment Center; North Range Behavioral Health; Weld County Health Department; Greeley Evans School District 6; St. Vrain School District; Centennial BOCES (Board of Services); Probation Bridge Cooperative 19th Department; Judicial Educational District and Life - 2006 Independence Pillars Successful (PSI) p *(PPA for 2009) Engage care in four 14 -15 skill -year building -olds in areas: kinship Life or Skills, foster ESWC, Weld Social Services Social Skills, Education, and Employment CORE Service funds, to emancipation Chafee prepare services them and for (if independence prepare eligible). youth for or WIA in - kind 66 Expansion of Increase workers to the meet capacity identified to train needs/shortages entry level TANF Aims Community College and 2004 Certified Assistant(CNA)TANF Programs Nursing and advancement available development Health provide Sciences courses for (resulted and opportunities building and construction eventually in at the Aims) for expansion of career in the the Allied of . Program in community; designed functioning prepare valuable them engages to service levels educational improve to re-enter adjudicated in projects reading the components members' school that and at benefit or risk math obtain youth the and ESWC; Services; Treatment Behavioral Weld Island Center; County Grove North Social Regional Range Weld County CORE TIGHT Youth their GED; and life skill development Health; Weld County 2004 Corps 2007) *(PPA activities Corps experience to prepare them for life after their Services, WIA in -kind TANF, and Health District- Department; Probation 19th Department Judicial 2003 Gee Cam 2006 recognition p Whiz * ( National PPA Health involved Provide and the types youth Yp and exposure v a ri ety to of health occupations careers ESWC, Aims, North Colorado WIA, TANF Medical Northern Samaritan Greeley Center, Fire Colorado, Center, the Medline, University Bonell Good of 2003 Nuclear Radiological Technician Certification g Develop community's a new health program p g care to worker meet identified needs Aims, Center, North Poudre Colorado Valley Medical from Development (CWDC) WIA Workforce Competitive the Colorado Council grant WCWDB Hospital, p ' 2001 After Learning Project/Latch Pilot School Program Key Positively meaningful while the family their engage parents learning young are and at adolescents service work to activities support in Local Community school districts, College Aims In School Kind JTPA/WIA to Career and 1999 Youth Prevention Initiative Crime Target specifically development p g services Y adjudicated J to disenfranchised youth(led youth, to the Local entities, communities, TANF, JTPA, State Workforce historical YCPI/TGYS, JTPA/WIA, TANF (YCPI)/Tony i p of TIGHT) 67 I Grampsas Services (TGYS) Youth i ! Investment Services Child Act (WIA), Protection Human 1997 One Design Stop Center Provided significant input "Concerning and structure to Board Commissioners, Private Workforce Governor's Office Colorado of of Industry Weld Rural Department Coordinating Job County r Job Training Council, Weld Training, of County Colorado Council, Office, Labor n � One Stop Career House Bill 97-1281 the Establishment of a Statewide Networkof ! One Workforce -Stop Career Development Centers Programs" to Consolidate Planning Funding 1981 Private Council Industry (PlC) it Weld was County included established in the law. two years before Local Elected Officials, Local Comprehensive Employment and Employers,It Adult Education, additional Community Partners Training Act (CETA) 1979 ' Created system county, one and employers system Board -stop training of responsive building operated an location Weld employment through pgram' rojob County partnerships for under to a single the major local Commissioners and citizens seekers employment delivery training and control of utilizing and the of the and a Board Commissioners, Private County Services, of Industry Department Weld Colorado p County Council, Weld Department of CountyEmployment Social Weld of Comprehensive Training Peyser/rv� Employment y Job Act; and Wagner Service; - Employment Services County of Weld Opportunities Project � Pilot Labor the Weld County Private Industry Council. 68 • 4.:117..20-.r. . ��_..�'S2 wZ i,Cj ��7it•.iC:..tTt �'�:.. ^2P._"./.['•. .:'.lnAa-v.}* veterans receive priority of service in all programs. Employment Services of Weld County is an equal opportunity employer/program. Auxiliary aids and services are available upon request to individuals with disabilities. Dial 711 for Relay Services. Attachment 3 PY21 WELD COUNTY ANNUAL C i PLI Signature Page NCE PLAN The undersigned below authorize the PY21 Local Area Annual Complia ce Plan and attest that the information is accurate and complete to the best of their knoledge. This signature page shall become an Exhibit to the Master Agreement for Workf • rce Development Programs, indicating that the Local Area Annual Cmpliance Plan has been submitted and appr ede fiN Local Area: Weld County Local Workforce Development Board A m a n d a Ericson Digitally signed by Amanda Ericson Date: 2021.08-26 08:09:06 -06'00' Signature: late Printed Name: Amani4a cson Title: Chair Signat Date: Print re: Local Area Director Digitally signed by Karin: Amaya ri n/\rri �y� Date: 2021.08.26 08:16:33 -06'00' d Name: Karma Amaya Signature: Additional Approval(s) Date: SEP 0 re" ra 2021 Printed Name: Steve Moreno Title: Chair, Weld County Board of Commissioners Signature: Date: Printed Name: Click o F tap here to enter text. Title: Click or tap here to enter text OGG& WIOA-2021-01, Attachment 4 PY21 Weld County Annual Compliance Plan Questions Please address the questions in this attachment, which cover these compliance items: Organizational/Infrastructure Changes, AD-DW Fund Transfers, Cost Allocation Plan, Language Assistance Plan, Other Plans, and Charts. Your responses will be reviewed by the Regional Liaisons, and Program and Fiscal Monitors, as appropriate. There is no page limit for these items. All items below (with the exception of items 17a&b) are due to the three Regional Liaisons no later than Friday, May 21, 2021. (These items are not required to be published for public comment.) We are requesting that local areas send items 1-4, each in a separate file, and then the remaining items can be sent in one file. However, if you choose to send all items in one file, please put them in the same order as they are numbered below. In addition, if your file format allows it, please provide a table of contents on the first page of the combined file and include a live link to the beginning of each item. 1. Cost Allocation Plan Attach a copy of your latest local area Cost Allocation Plan and a copy of the organization -wide (county or state) Cost Allocation Plan. If the local area cost allocation plan is incorporated in the county or state plan, then the county or state plan is the only document that needs to be submitted. Weld County's Cost Allocation Plan to establish cost allocations or billings for FY21 and the Weld County Department of Human Services Cost Allocation Plan are included as attachments 1 a and 1 b. 2. Layoff Aversion Plan (update and resubmit for PY21) Please describe local plans for averting layoffs, accelerating re-employment and/or reducing the duration of unemployment for dislocated workers. Specify which of the following or other strategies you plan to utilize and how success will be measured. • Ongoing engagement, partnership, and relationship -building activities with businesses in the community to create an environment for successful layoff aversion efforts and to enable the provision of assistance to dislocated workers in obtaining reemployment as soon as possible. • Providing assistance to employers in managing reductions in force which may include the early identification of firms at risk of layoffs, assessment of the needs of (and options for) at -risk firms, and the delivery of services to address those needs. • Funding feasibility studies to determine if a company's operations may be sustained through a buyout or other means to avoid or minimize layoffs. • Developing, funding, and managing incumbent worker training programs, or other worker upskilling approaches, as part of a layoff aversion strategy or activity. • Connecting companies to state provided short-term compensation or other programs designed to prevent layoffs to quickly re-employ dislocated workers. 8/26/2021 • Connecting companies to employer loan programs for employee skill upgrading and other federal, state and local resources as necessary to address other business needs. • Establishing linkages with economic development activities at the federal, state and local levels including the Federal Department of Commerce programs and available State and local business retention and expansion activities. • Partnering, or contracting, with business -focused organizations to assess risks to companies, propose strategies to address those risks, implement services, and measure the impact of services delivered. • Engaging in proactive measures to identify opportunities for potential economic transition and training needs in growing industry sectors or expanding businesses. • Connecting businesses and workers to short-term on-the-job or customized training programs or incumbent worker training and apprenticeships before or after layoff to help facilitate rapid re-employment. ESWC adopts a Layoff Aversion Plan which will minimize job loss within Weld County and reduce the duration of those impacted by unemployment. ESWC is committed to strategies such as job matching, onsite reverse hiring events, and workshare to affect the course of the employer's downsizing. When appropriate, ESWC will consider Incumbent Worker Training (IWT) as a strategy to assist employers. The Rapid Response team maintains collaborative partnerships with a range of organizations that help identify and avert potential layoffs. In conjunction with Upstate Colorado Economic Development and Aims Community College, the Weld Works Collaborative (WWC) continuously supports the community. On a much larger scale, the Northern Colorado Regional Economic Development Initiative (NoCo REDI) supporting Northern Colorado communities, and ultimately the growth and sustainability of our joint region, frequently discuss the retention of businesses in the region. With the full support of the County Commissioners, Larimer and Weld County economic development lead NoCo REDI. Meeting once a month with participants from the following towns: Ault, Berthoud, Brighton, Dacono, Eaton, Erie, Estes Park, Evans, Firestone, Fort Collins, Fort Lupton, Frederick, Garden City, Gilcrest, Greeley, Grover, Hudson, Johnstown, Keenesburg, Kersey, LaSalle, Lochbuie, Longmont, Loveland, Mead, Milliken, Northglenn, Nunn, Pierce, Platteville, New Raymer, Severance, Timnath, Thornton, Windsor, and Wellington, the region can focus on a variety of initiatives, COVID-19 is a prime example of excellent regional collaboration. The coalition created a website (nocorecovers.com) to provide a single source of up to date information on COVID requirements and potential funding resources in order to retain businesses in Northern Colorado. A Work -Based Learning Alliance was formed, and powers NoCo Inspire, an effort to connect businesses and workers through a collaboration of public partners to develop a robust and qualified pipeline of candidates to meet businesses' workforce needs. Initially created by the Poudre and Thompson Valley School Districts, working with Larimer County, the project was gifted to Larimer who has shared it with Weld County. The NoCo Inspire website continues to add partners and resources to the alliance. ESWC may leverage Federal and State COVID-19 pandemic relief funds to pay administrative and program costs for allowable services that may arise due to increased need for Rapid Response activities to aid in economic recovery. This may include the option for businesses to apply for grants through the workforce center to assist with averting layoffs and offset business expenses; workforce stimulus payments to businesses for each new hire obtained 2 through recruitment activities such as job fairs and hiring event services provided by ESWC; and other allowable activities. anguage Assistance Plan Please attach a copy of your new two-year Language Assistance Plan (LAP) that will be utilized through PY22. (See PGL ADM -2019-05: Language Assistance Plan for further guidance.) Employment Services of Weld County's PY21-22 LAP is included as attachment 2. E ligible Youth Services Provider List Please attach the most up-to-date version of your local Eligible Youth Services Provider List. This is now an annual compliance requirement. Please send in Word, spreadsheet, or Google format (not PDF). CDLE publishes these lists annually on our public website at: https://cdle.colorado.gov/jobs-training/workforce-partners-resources/training-providers- wioa-youth. If there have been no changes to the currently published list, please indicate this in answer to this question, rather than sending a new list. There have been no changes to the currently published list of the local Eligible Youth Services Provider List. ignature Authority Attach copies of current county or city ordinances, policies, or other documents that identify the current signature authorities for any bilateral legal agreements that may be entered into between the Local Area and CDLE , such as MOUs, any contracts outside of the WDP Master Agreement that may be entered into, and the delegation levels for different thresholds of money. Include a copy of any signed statement of delegation for the local area to sign bilateral legal agreements in place of a designated signature authority. The Board of Weld County Commissioners is the authorized signatories for Expenditure Authorizations (EA). Weld County does not delegate this authority to the workforce region. The Workforce Director can sign minor modifications to EAs. The Weld County Signature Authority Resolutions appointing the Board Chair and the Pro-Tem are included as attachment 3. TABOR Limit and Acceptance of State Employment Support Funds ESF): If your Local Area is subject to TABOR limitations and is not "de-Bruced," please submit/Attach verification from the Local Area's local legal/financial/budget department that confirms the maximum dollar amount of State dollars that the Local Area can accept during Program Year 2021. If de-Bruced, please say so in response to this question. The TABOR Limit and verification is included as attachments 4a and 4b. -ESEA 3 Please provide a description of how the local area will leverage the Reemployment Services and Eligibility Assessments (RESEA) program to promote program integration with WIOA and other service delivery options for job seekers. Include specific actions you will take to increase co -enrollment of RESEA customers with the WIOA Title I programs, and strategies to increase the local show/completion rate for customers. Weld has administered a variety of Unemployment Insurance (UI) programs in the past, such as Extended Unemployment Compensation (EUC), LINKS, and most recently, RESEA. Staff meets with claimants to provide Labor Market Information (LMI) and identify employment goals and barriers to meaningful employment. Claimants receive one on one staff assistance to create an employment plan that utilizes ESWC services to become reemployed quickly. If the claimant requires more intensive job search assistance, re-training, or work -based learning opportunities, the RESEA program is used as a feeder system into the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) Dislocated Worker program. ESWC continuously serves RESEA claimants beyond the funding that is provided annually and is confident that our level of local show/completion rate will continue. As a continued effort to increase show rates, we offer flexible scheduling options and complete weekly reminder calls to the claimants that have not called to report employment or scheduled an appointment. Other efforts will be made to reengage claimants if they fail to find meaningful employment after being invited to the RESEA program to participate in workforce services or WIOA. ESWC may leverage Federal and State COVID-19 pandemic relief funds to offset administrative and program costs as local areas have yet to receive RESEA funds for calendar year 2021. 8. Veterans Priority of Service • Describe how the local area will coordinate workforce investment activities with the provision of Veteran's priority of service that is the responsibility of the Wagner-Peyser and WIOA programs. (See PGL VET -2019-01: Veterans Priority of Service) ESWC remains committed to providing Veterans, transitioning service members, and eligible spouses with the resources and services to succeed in the 21st Century workforce. Priority of service is evident at the point of entry of the lobby and resource room areas to immediately allow self -identification. Portable banners are available for use at offsite events; a dedicated Veteran's page on ESWC's website; and priority of service notification on marketing materials are designed to increase opportunities for Veterans to self -identify. For several years, a triage system has been in place to identify Veteran's that qualify for the Disabled Veterans Outreach Program (DVOP) prior to enrollment into any other program. This allows and encourages Veterans and covered persons to self -identify and receive services before others at every point of entry. Additionally, any Veteran or eligible spouse who is on public assistance, low income or basic skills deficient will receive services before all others including non -veterans for the Adult Employment and Training Programs. In the event a self - identified Veteran is enrolled into a program where funds will be used to provide services or training for the Veteran, then their Veteran status is verified by obtaining a copy of the individual's DD214, a letter from Veteran's Affairs (VA) or other approved documentation. The triage system has proven to be efficient when working with Veterans (and covered persons) in identifying barriers as well as making them aware of the full array of employment, training and 4 placement services available. This form was updated during PY19. ESWC is fortunate to have the co -location of two DVOP Specialists on site and this system was recognized by the State and the Weld County Board of County Commissioners (BOCC) as a best practice. The DVOPs are positioned within the Adult Employment and Training unit making referrals as seamless as possible. The DVOPs also act as liaisons between Veteran's Services and WIOA bringing important information and communication to, and from, both entities. This promotes cross training in the way of case management and program processes and alignment with other service providers of intensive services. Using the case management approach taught by the National Veterans Training Institute (NVTI), case management continues to be an appropriate service delivery strategy or framework in which intensive services will be delivered to Veterans and covered persons with significant barriers to employment will be facilitated. A Veteran who is placed in case management by a DVOP Specialist is coded with a Veteran Service (VS) code in Connecting Colorado. VS is not a program in the sense of WIOA, but rather a code to identify eligible Veterans who are being case managed by a DVOP . Initial services include: • Comprehensive Assessment (CA): Comprehensive and specialized assessments of the skill levels and services which may include diagnostic testing and use of other assessment tools and in-depth interviewing and evaluation to identify employment barriers and appropriate employment goals. • Individual Employment Plan (lE): A formal written document outlining a course of action that will lead to the individual entering employment; to include short and/or long-term goals to remove barriers to getting and keeping employment. • Counseling (CS): A client centered service that may involve personal, financial, life management, case management, career guidance and counseling. This service also includes referrals to other assistance, as well as, arranging for additional support services not previously acquired. • Vocational Guidance (VG): Recommending a course of action, including providing suggestions and advice that will assist the Veteran or other eligible customer in making vocational decisions or selecting training opportunities. If a Veteran is identified through an Initial Assessment, or registration with WIOA or Trade Adjustment Act (TAA) programs, an ESWC case manager ensures the Veteran applicant is served prior to other applicants. An explanation of Veteran Priority of Service is provided, and the program services are reviewed with the participant. As a recipient for the Veteran Service to Career (VSCP) Grant, funds are available to Veterans, eligible spouses and dependents to assist with employment, training, and supportive services costs not covered by WIOA. This is advertised as Weld Project Salute and is in partnership with the Northern Colorado Veterans Resource Center (NCVRC). An Adult Employment and Training case manager is at their site once a week to provide services directly to Veterans visiting the center. ESWC may leverage Federal and State COVID-19 pandemic relief funds to offset admin and program costs to accommodate an increase in service delivery for Veterans and their families that may arise during economic recovery efforts. • Describe the strategies and processes used in the local area to improve the coordination between the Jobs for Veterans State Grant (JVSG) program and the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act. Include a description of how RVER staff will be integrated into local business services activities and initiatives. The DVOPs and Regional Veteran's Employment Representative (RVER) continue to work in partnership with the Weld County Veteran's Service Office to ensure that Veteran's and their 5 dependents receive no fee services. This encompasses filing for all VA benefits, Service - Connected Disability Compensation, Non -Service -Connected Pension, VA Healthcare Enrollment, Burial & Survivor Benefits and Education Benefits, to name a few. In addition, Veterans and their dependents are encouraged to connect with, and take advantage of, services provided by many local partners. The DVOPs and RVER regularly promote ESWC's Weld Project Salute program. A continuing effort is to target recently separated Veterans, with a concerted effort being placed on Veterans 24 years and younger, for recruitment into the Weld County Youth Conservation Corps (WCYCC) AmeriCorps Program, particularly if they are identified as interested in continuing to serve their community. ESWC also targets those that have been Honorably Discharged and have graduated from Weld County high schools within a year and a half for eligibility in the Bright Future's program. The Bright Futures Grant Program is a "last dollar in" educational tuition assistance program for Weld County residents who have graduated from high school, GED recipients and honorably discharged U.S. Veterans, after 2016. The purpose is to provide financial assistance to qualifying Weld County residents who pursue post -secondary education or training from a Title IV accredited higher education institution or certified training program. Weld County is the first County to support this initiative to include allocating 10 million in funding. The grant must start within 2 years of GED attainment or high school graduation and completed within six (6) years. The RVER has a great working relationship with the Business Services Unit, attending monthly meetings, and maintaining continuous contact. Additionally, the RVER participates in many job fairs, hiring events, and workshops throughout the year, in which ESWC offers Veterans early admittance. The RVER regularly contacts the Employment and Training program to provide information on training providers that have a vested effort in recruiting Veterans into their programs. With the increased need for virtual services, the RVER recently worked with the ESWC Workshop Facilitator to host a resume workshop open to the public with an emphasis on Veteran attendance. 9. Adult Priority of Service Please describe in detail the specific strategies your local area is using to increase services to individuals meeting the statutory Adult priority of service categories (public assistance recipients, other low-income individuals, and individuals who are basic skills deficient) in the areas of marketing, recruitment and enrollment. Please detail any specific referral processes, data sharing agreements, common intake forms, and/or community outreach. ESWC continues to collaborate with several partner agencies and community -based organizations to increase services to individuals with barriers. ESWC has been co -located on the Human Services campus since 2010, ultimately being one of the first one -stop center's in the State. Weld County has a rather seamless method of referring clients from one Division to another, an example being recipients of food assistance or cash aid (low income individuals). Once they are deemed eligible for benefits, they are referred to the Employment First or Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) programs, also housed at Employment Services, to participate in work participation programs. Participants are then referred to employment workshops and the WIOA program for further assistance in gaining self- sufficiency. Other internal programs such as Chafee Foster Care Independence Program (CFCIP), Jobs for Veterans State Grant (JVSG), Migrant Seasonal Farm Worker (MSFVV), Reemployment Services and Eligibility Assessment (RESEA), Wagner Peyser, Colorado Child Care Assistance Program (CCCAP), Child Welfare, and the Area Agency on Aging, also have referral processes similar to the already mentioned, truly providing wrap around services. 6 As mentioned above, an Adult Employment and Training Case Manager is co -located at NCVRC. Additionally, a second Adult Employment and Training Case Manager is co -located, once a week, at the Housing Navigation Center, the Weld's Way Home initiative to help those experiencing homelessness regain housing and to prevent those at -risk of homelessness from losing their housing. Finally, through memorandums of understanding, ESWC continues to provide services on -site and on -location at partner sites such as Aims Community College and the Immigrant and Refugee Center of Northern Colorado, to name a few. The most recent partnership being A Precious Child, an organization that provides children with opportunities and resources to empower them to achieve their full potential. ESWC staff provide referrals to program participants. ESWC may leverage Federal and State COVID-19 pandemic relief funds to offset administrative and program costs that may arise due to an increased need for WIOA services activities. Strategies may include: designating additional funding towards work -based learning; supportive services beyond what is allowed under WIOA. Another strategy may include exploring entrepreneurship opportunities for participants in conjunction with Business Services and public partners. ESWC is also exploring the idea of a mobile workforce center to increase delivery of services to participants with limited access to services including transportation and technology, similar to a mobile library 10. Local Priority of Service Groups If the local area has identified additional local priority of service group(s) for the WIOA Title I Adult program, please indicate the group(s) and provide data supporting the need to serve these individuals. Per PGL 2015-07: Adult Priority of Service, local priorities must be identified in the local area plan. The local area has not identified additional local priority of service groups for the WIOA Title I Adult program. 11. Service Options for PY21 a. Describe the local area's strategy for using customized training per PGL WIOA-2018-05. Or indicate that this strategy will not be used. ESWC has not implemented "Customized Training" as described in the PGL. b. Describe the local area's strategy for using incumbent worker training per PGL WIOA-2017- 02, change 3, including the percent of Adult and/or DW funds that will be set aside for this purpose. Or indicate that this strategy will not be used. While ESWC does not historically use incumbent worker training, we reserve the option to utilize this per our Incumbent Worker Policy. c. Describe the local area's strategy for using transitional jobs per PGL WIOA-2019-04, including the percent of Adult and/or DW funds that will be set aside for this purpose. Or indicate that this strategy will not be used. ESWC does not utilize transitional jobs. 7 d. Describe the local area's strategy for using WIOA Pay for Performance Contracts per WIOA Sec. 3(47), including the amount of Adult, DW, or Youth funds that will be set aside for this purpose. Or indicate that this strategy will not be used. ESWC does not utilize WIOA Pay for Performance Contracts. 12. Training Completions and Training -Related Employment (USDOL and State Audit Requirements) Please describe your strategies to increase the local area's rate of successful training completions and training -related employment outcomes, including assessments, customer choice of training providers and training services options, supportive services, job search services, and other case management services that might be provided. ESWC utilizes a Comprehensive Assessment (CA) and Individual Employment Plan (IEP) for adult participants and an Individualized Service Strategy (ISS) for youth participants which outlines assessment results and interpretation, educational background, financial situation, areas for improvement, supportive service needs, and participant/case manager expectations. ESWC ensures that appropriate services are provided to a participant through the CA/IEP or ISS. In the documents, an in-depth determination of needs based on the Initial Assessment (IA) and computerized assessments taken are clearly outlined. The IEP identifies career pathways for training and/or employment through the employment goals section, this is also shown in the "Investment in Challenges" section. Through research of their chosen industry, and review of Eligible Training Providers, the participant and case manager establish the pathway. If needed, ESWC will work with participants on training provider placements of their choice, assisting with the process of adding the training provider of choice to the ETPL. Training requests are reviewed by a Training Committee to determine the anticipated success the participant will have with the selected training. The Training Committee reviews detailed information submitted by the case manager which provides a full scope of the participants progress and efforts throughout their enrollment. The requests from case managers include the CA/IEP or ISS, LMI for their chosen career path, background check results, assessment results, program enrollment information, case notes, and a Virtual Job Shadow quiz or an essay detailing their interest in their chosen career path. ESWC maximizes the resources available to participants through program co -enrollment and braided funding to provide training to participants. With the wide variety of funding available and varying funding provisions, ESWC and our partners can provide services to a wide range of individuals. Case Managers provide consistent follow-up with participants. Leadership reviews performance on a monthly basis, if not weekly, and report progress quarterly to the Weld County Workforce Development Board. ESWC may leverage Federal and State COVID-19 pandemic relief funds to offset administrative and program costs to increase the rate of successful training completions by providing incentives to eligible youth for post TABE, approved upskilling from training resulting in a credential and other allowable training activities. In addition, ESWC may utilize these funds to explore and implement new computer technology platforms for participants ages 50+; provide necessary electronic equipment to participants; as well as other age -friendly initiatives. 13. Local Board Needs Additional Assistance Criteria 8 WIOA requires that Local Workforce Development Boards establish a "needs additional assistance" criteria for in -school and out -of- school youth in their local plans when the state has not established these criteria. Please identify the "needs additional assistance" criteria that you are currently using in your local area. ESWC has established criteria for "needs additional assistance" in the local policy WCWDB-5- 2020-1 WIOA Title I Eligibility Guidelines and Youth Requires Additional Assistance, included as attachment 5. The criteria are incorporated into the WIOA PY20-23 plan. ESWC may leverage Federal and State COVID-19 pandemic relief funds to offset administrative and program costs that may arise due to an increased need for needs related payments as defined by WIOA. 14. Organizational Changes Describe organizational changes that occurred during PY20 and indicate any changes that you anticipate for PY21, as well as office moves or consolidations. Explain the reasons for the anticipated changes, such as reduction of formula funding or leveraging and managing of discretionary or additional grants. Include any hiring or layoffs that have or may occur with temporary and permanent staff. During PY20, ESWC experienced normal replacement of staff for those that sought other opportunities. ESWC notes the possible replacement of staff that may seek other opportunities during PY21 and are open to exploring the potential of new staff should the opportunity arise. The following organizational changes occurred in PY20: o Workforce Director, Lora Lawrence, retired in February 2021. o Employment and Training Manager, Karina Amaya, was promoted to the Workforce Director position in April 2021. o The role of Workforce Deputy Director has been added to the ESWC organizational structure and was recently offered to Cecilia Moreno, Business Services Manager. The Workforce Deputy Director reports to the Workforce Director. o An Employment First Case Manager is temporarily assigned to the Adult Employment and Training Programs unit. o A Client Services Technician shared with the TANF unit was transitioned solely to a Client Services Technician in the Registration Unit. o The Employment and Training Manager position has been reclassified as a Youth Employment and Training Supervisor and is undergoing the recruitment process. This position will report to the Workforce Director. o Recruitment for the Business Services Manager should be complete before Program Year 2021. This position will report to the Workforce Deputy Director. The Weld County Department of Human Services (DHS) completed the building renovations for the Greeley ESWC location in early May 2021. The Fort Lupton location is slated for remodel, though a request for proposals has not been published at the time of this plan. 9 15. Organizational Staff Chart Workforce Karina Amaya Director Service Delivery Sites 315 N 11th Ave Bldg. B. Greeley, CO 80634 2950 9 St.. Fort Lupton, CO 80621* Employment First & MIS Consultant Dora Lara Deputy Workforce Director CeCe Moreno ESWC Support Specialist Heather Roberts Workforce Director Deputy Workforce Director Veterans WIOA Programs WCYCC EF/CW Programs Child Care Client Data System Unit Business Services Adult Employment and Training Supervisor Tracey Brookover Youth Employment and Training Supervisor Vacant Supervisor Holly Bernhardt Manager John Kruse Manager Anna Korthuis Manager Briana Davies Manager Vacant DVOP Adult Program Specialist Greg Cordova Employment First Shared Office Support Francinette Holokahi Colorado Works TANF Supervisor Julie Atkinson Child Care Specialist Judith Bush Resource Room and Registration Assessment & Learning Center Resource Specialist Business Services Resource Specialist Elvira Gonzalez Kris Armstrong Tim Marquartt Sharon Lindellt Ari Macias* Charlotte DeBrock Nancy Sanchez Shelby Clark Tammy Winter Victoria Thomas YOUTH: David Woolman Terry Williams Erik Acosta Jazmine Gonzalez* Theresa Joseph Vacant Brittiny Vasquez Karla Masters Margarita Marquez Maria Chavez* Misty Falk Tabitha Locke Tracy Jacks Vacant Shanna Pratt Norma Sotelo Sylvia Flores Shawnda Kozanecki Judith Baptiste Claudia Cabral Josefina Marquez Lidia Gonzalez Nancy Hunnicutt Patti Wolff Ruth DeBoer Sterling Swanson Venessa Martinez Delila Luna (WE) Jamie Villarreal (WE) Anne Wolney Lupita Guadarrama* Ivan Contreras Margii Crackel Amber Duchaine Efrain Cano Juanita Segura Jasmin Dominguez Leslie Galindo -Salazar Nereyda Williams* Nora Myers State Positions Special Initiatives / Grants TAA Chafee GSJH Special Initiatives / Grants AmeriCorps TIGHT Corps Special Initiatives/ Grants CSBG Employment First Colorado Works/TANF CCCAP FLC MSFW RESEA Special Projects -MIS Wagner-Peyser The Center operates on a fee for service basis and is self- sustaining ESF FLC Special Projects- Wagner-Peyser * - South County Staff; t -Co -location with CDLE; Green - Bilingual Team 8/26/2021 Revised 8/26/2021 16.. Staff and Salary List Attach a spreadsheet listing the job title for each staff member and gross annual salary In addition, provide the average percentage of total salary that is expected to be charged to WIOA funds Of these expected WIOA charges, provide the % that is expected to be charged to the WIOA Administrative cost category and the % expected to be charged to the WIOA Program cost category The ESWC staff and salary list is included as attachment 6 1'7. Charts/Forms (separate attachments or entered in Google share folder) WORKP.LAN and WORKBOOK for PY21/FY22 funding: Use the Google share file to submit the WORKPLAN and enter data into the PY21/FY22 WORKBOOK within 30 days of receiving notice of PY21/FY22 allocations (see PGL #FIN - 2019 -07 and its attachments for guidance regarding completion of these documents ) Transfer of Funds between Adult and Dislocated Worker Utilize the PY21 Local Area WORKPLAN and WORKBOOK to request transfer of funds between the Adult and Dislocated Worker formula programs, per guidelines provided in PGL WIOA-2017-01: Transfer of Adult/DW Allocations within 30 days of receiving notice of PY21/FY22 allocations 18. OMB Uniform. Guidance .Risk Assessment Form. (Attachment 5): This is an annual requirement that is part of the OMB Uniform Guidance (Super Circular) The nine local areas operated by county governments are required to complete this form and submit it with their PY21 Local Area Compliance Plan The data will be used to calculate low, mid, or high- level risk related to financial and operational factors and assist in determining what types of oversight, monitoring, or technical assistance actions will be taken to mitigate the risk NOTE: Questions on the risk assessment form are to be answered on behalf of the county as a whole that serves as the sub -recipient to the Colorado Department of Labor and Employment. The Risk Assessment Form for Weld County is included as attachment 7 8/26/2021 WORK PLAN NFA HWE21-001 WIOA/ESF: Local Area: Weld County i Weld County Local Area WIOA and ESF WORK PLAN i This WORK PLAN is agreed to by the partys' signature b For the Local Area Nattily signed by Amanda Amanda Ericson Encson X Dote 202' .08 26 08:08-07 -06'00' LWDB Chair or Designee Date: X Karina Amaya 6' Workforce Center Director or Designee Date: 1. WORK PLAN SUMMARY X Ch C or De Date: 1 2" T teve Moreno) For Workforce Development Programs Operations Director or Designee Date: Sepf13 2021 A. THIS WORK PLAN IS FOR (INSERT NFA TABLE BELOW): Does this WORK PLAN include a request for Transfer of Funds. OYES ®NO If YES, complete Section V. NFA# WE- Funding Year Program/Source Period Performance of Code Amount Formula CFDA# FAIN # 21- 001 PY21 PY ADULT 21 WIOA 7-1-21 to 6-30-23 4A61, 4A81 $93,726 Y 17.258 AA36361D90 21- 001 PY21 PY21 DISLOCATED WORKER WIOA 7-1-21 to 6-30-23 4D61, 4D81 $90,390 Y 17.278 AA36361DQ0 21- 001 PY21 4 PY21 Youth WIOA 7-1-21 to 6-30-23 4Y61, 4Y71, 4Y81 $623,301 Y 4 17.259 AA36361E10 21- 001 PY21 PY 21(SFY22) ESF 7-1-21 to 6-30-22 2W22 $380,823 Y ■ ■ ■ B. THIS WORK PLAN MODIFICATION IS FOR : Select Appropriate Check Box And Include A Brief Explanation Here: CLICK OR TAP HERE TO ENTER TEXT. CHANGE TO WORK PLAN COMPONENTS OR PROJECT PLAN CHANGE TO BUDGET CHANGE TO PERFORMANCE OUTCOMES TRANSFER BETWEEN AD & DW (IF CHECKED, COMPLETE SECTION v) ❑ OTHERCIick or tap here to enter text. (complete all changes in review/track changes/strikethrough mode and II. PROGRAM CONTACTS highlight new information) LOCAL AREA COORDINATOR 1 WDP PROGRAM COORDINATOR WDP LIAISON Name:Tracey Phone or Email:970-400-6783 Brookover Name:Jesus Phone:303-318-8805 Borrego Name:Jesus Phone:303-318-8805 Borrego Name:Jesus Phone:303-318-8805 Borrego Name:Jesus Phone:303-318-8805 Borrego Name:Tracey Phone or Brookover Email:970-400-6783 Name:Greg Phone Cordova or Email:970-400-6762 Name:Jesus Phone:303-318-8805 Borrego Name:Jesus Phone:303-318-8805 Borrego Name:Briana Phone or Email:970-400-6744 Davies Name:Jesus Phone:303-318-8805 Borrego Name:Jesus Phone:303-318-8805 Borrego WORK PLAN 1.19 OOO ! - 3 WORK PLAN NFA #WE21-001 WIOA/ESF: Local Area: Weld County III. FUNDING PROVISIONS (CHECK ONE) ►mil No changes to previous provisions. ❑ Funding provisions included or embedded below: IV. WORK PLAN A. WORK PLAN TYPE (SELECT ONE) Annual Compliance Plan is the WORK PLAN and incorporated by reference. Project Plan/Grant proposal is attached as the WORK PLAN. WORK PLAN follows in Section IV, B & C below. WORK PLAN modification follows in Section IV, B&C below and/or Section VI. WORK PLAN 1.19 WORK PLAN NFA ttWE21-001 WIOA/ESF: Local Area: Weld County B. WORK PLAN COMPONENTS (CHECK ALL THAT APPLY) 1. Planning 7. Business Services ❑ ❑ 2. Outreach 8. Sector Strategies ❑ ❑ 3. Partnerships 9. Career Pathways ❑ ❑ 4. Program Integration 10. Evaluation ❑ ❑ 5. Service Delivery 11. Other:Click or tap here to enter ❑ ❑ 6. Work Based Learning ❑ C. WORK PLAN COMPONENT OUTLINE DATE RANGE: 7/1/2021-6/30/2023 Note: Component rows will automatically expand to fit multiple bullet points Component # Program/Project -LIST AS BULLET Activities POINTS- Estimated Completion *If indicate ongoing, Date "OG" Anticipated -LIST AS BULLET Outcome POINTS - (s) 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 WORK PLAN 1.19 WORK PLAN NFA #WE21-001 WIOA/ESF: Local Area: Weld County V. TRANSFER REQUEST (check one) 1 Tier I (Up To 50%) ❑ Tier 2 (Between 51% And 75%) ❑ Tier 3 (Between 76% And 100%) A. REASON FOR REQUEST (SEE PGL WIOA 2017-01) FOR CDLE USE ONLY: TIER 1(CHECK ALL THAT APPLY) Local Area has a documented need to transfer funds in order to respond to market conditions and use resources effectively that is based on labor market information, Worker Readjustment and Retraining Notification (WARN) notices, or one -stop center data. ❑Local Area has met the 70% expenditure requirement for funding available during the prior program year for Adults and Dislocated Workers; and ❑ Local Area is on track to meet participant measurements for the Adult and Dislocated Worker programs. TIER 2(CHECK ALL THAT APPLY) All Tier 1 items and: Local area is on track to meet priority of service requirements for the Adult program; Local area is enrolling participants in Work -based Training (On the Job Training, Apprenticeships, Internships, Work Experiences, etc.) as part of the plan; and ❑Local area is conducting outreach activities to Dislocated Workers, such as participation in Rapid Response or Reemployment Services and Eligibility Assessment (RESEA), across all eligibility categories applicable to the local area and to those with barriers to employment. TIER 3 (CHECK ALL THAT APPLY) All Tier 1 and 2 items and: ❑Local area has a documented, significant need to transfer funds; ❑ Local area has collaboration with Partner Agencies demonstrated by co -enrollments and leveraging of multiple funding streams and program referrals; and Local Area has met or is on track to meet its goals for discretionary grants that serve adults and dislocated workers. WORK PLAN 1.19 WORK PLAN NFA #WE21-001 WIOA/ESF: Local Area: Weld County VI. CHARTS (BUDGET & PERFORMANCE) This information will reside in a Workbook, as a separate document from the Work Ian, to provide annual and historical data. PROGRAM ADULT Funding Year PY21 Period of Performance 7/1/21 6/30/23 DATA ENTRY DATE (1) NFA# (2) Line Item (3) Program Code (4) CURRENT ALLOCATION (5) Transfer In from DIN/ EDW or in between AD ADM/PRG or restored (6) Enter Transfer Code. SEE TAB 1 for WIOA CODES (7) Transfer Out between AD ADM/PRG (enter $ w/o minus sign or brackets) (8) Revised Allocation (9) Allocation % (10) 7/29/21 21-001 Admin 4A61 $9,372.00 $9,372.00 10% 7/29/21 21-001 Program 4A81 $84,354.00 $84,354.00 90% Mod #1 below Total $93,726.00 $0 $93,726.00 Adult Projected Quarterly Expenditures - Cumulative ADULT 4th Quarter PY20 Carry In New (PY21) Allocation New Allocation (FY22) Total + Allocation) (Carry New in 1st % Expended Quarter Of Total 2nd Quarter % Expended Of Total 3rd Quarter % Expended Of Total % Expended 4th Quarter Of Total 7/1/21- 9/30/21 10/1/21- 12/31/21 1/1/22- 3/31/22 4/1/22- 6/30/22 Administration $49,892.50 $9,372.00 $0.00 $59,264.50 $16,936 $28,226 $45,162 $56,453.00 Program $170,266.14 $84,354.00 $0.00 $254,620.14 $68,794 $114,657 $183,451 $229,314.00 Total/ALL $220,159 $93,726 $0 $313,885 $85,730 27% $142,883 46% $228,613 73% $285,767.00 91% ADJUSTED TOTAL AFTER TRANSFERS (Tab 2) $313,885 Incumbent W.rker.Se -As'de $0.00 ADULT PROGRAMS OUftOME CHART-CUMULAiVE 1st Quarter 2nd Quarter 3rd Quarter 4th Quarter IW CPP = N/A CPP = $1,504.04 Total Cumulative Participants *(include carry -in and NEW) 133 158 189 190 Carry -In Participants 107 New Participants (Cumulative) 26 51 82 83 New Participants in WBL 2 4 6 10 New WBL Participants in Registered Apprenticeships (RA) 0 0 0 1 Incumbent Worker (IW) enrollments (if applicable) 0 0 0 0 Employed at 2nd Quarter* 77.5% % Employed at 4th Quarter* 75.70% Median Earnings at 2nd Quarter* $7,086.00 Credential Attainment* 70.00% Measurable Skill Gains* 62.50% WORK PLAN 1.19 WORK PLAN NFA #WE21-001 WIOA/ESF: Local Area: Weld County PROGRAM DATA ENTRY DATA (1) NFA/WP# (2) DW Line Item (3) Funding Program Code (4) Year CURRENT ALLOCATION (5) PY21 Transfer In from EDW Period of Performance 7/1/21 Revised Allocation (9) 6/30/23 Allocation % (10) Enter Transfer code from Transfer Out between DW ADM/PRG WIOA CODES Tab 1 (7) (enter $0 w/o minus sign or brackets) (8) or Transfer in between DW ADM/PRG or restored (6) 7/29/21 21-001 I Admin 4D61 $9,039.00 $9,039.00 10% 7/29/21 21-001 Program 4D81 $81,351.00 $81,351.00 90% Mod #1 below Total $90,390.00 co $90,390.00 DW& EDW 4th Quarter PY 20 Carry In New Allocation DW (PY21) New Allocation DW (FY22) New Allocation EDW (FY22) Total(Carry in + Allocations) New 1st Quarter /fl Expended Of Total 2nd Quarter % Expended Of Total 3rd Quarter % Expended Of Total 4th Quarter % Expended Of Total 7/1/21- 9/30/21 10/1/21- 12/31/21 1/1/22- 3/31/22 4/1/22- 6/30/22 $34,139.00 Administration $27,812.19 $9,039.00 $0.00 $0.00 $36,851.19 $10,242 $17,070 $27,312 Program $146,884.92 $81,351.00 $0.00 $0.00 $228,235.92 $61,149 $101,915 $163,064 $203,830.00 Total/DW $174,697 $90,390 $0 $0 $265,087 $71,391 27% $118,985 45% $190,376 72% $237,969.00 90% ADJUSTED TOTAL AFTER TRANSFERS $265,087 Incumbent Worker Set -Aside $0.00 DW PROGRAMS OUTCOME CHART -CUMULATIVE _ 1st Quarter 2nd Quarter 3rd Quarter 4th Quarter IW CPP = N/A CPP = $2,087.45 Total Cumulative Participants *(include carry -in and NEW) 44 64 84 114 Carry -In Participants 20 New Participants (cumulative) 24 44 64 94 New Participants in WBL 2 4 6 10 New WBL Participants in Registered Apprenticeships (RA) 0 0 0 1 Incumbent Worker enrollments (if applicable) 0 0 0 0 % Employed at 2nd Quarter* 76.40% % Employed at 4th Quarter* 76.90% Median Earnings at 2nd Quarter* $6,800.00 Credential Attainment* 68.00% Measurable Skill Gains* 58.60% WORK PLAN 1.19 WORK PLAN NFA #WE21-001 WIOA/ESF: Local Area: Weld County DATA ENTERY DATE NFA# Line Item Program Code Initial/Current Allocation _ Transfer (ADM In YOUTH -IS -OS) Transfer (ADM Out YOUTH -IS -OS) Revised Allocation Allocation 7/29/21 21-001 Admin 4Y61 $62,330.00 $0 $0 $62,330.00 10% 7/29/21 21-001 OS 4Y71 $448,777.00 $0 $0 $448,777.00 72% 7/29/21 21-001 IS 4Y81 $112,194.00 $0 $0 $112,194.00 18% Total $623,301.00 $0 n $623,301.00 100% Y 4 UT ' '_! JECT EX • EN ! ITU.'_E,S Ch ' rt - Cumul - tiv - _� 4th Quarter PY20 Carry In New Allocation (PY21) Total (Carry in + Allocation) New 1st Quarter 7/1/21- 9/30/21 % Expended Of Total 2nd Quarter 10/1/21- 12/31/21 Expended Of % Total 3rd 1/1/22- 3/31/22 Quarter Expended Of Total 4th Quarter 4/1/22- 6/30/22 % Expended Total Of Admin $5,137 $62,330 $67,467 $14,630 $24,384 $39,014 $48,769 Out School $52,662 $448,777 $501,439 $110,041 $183,402 $293,444 $366,806 In School $87,191 $112,194 $199,385 $49,718 $82,863 $132,581 $165,728 Total $144,991 $623,301 $768,292 $174,389 23% $290,649 38% $465,039 61% $581,303 IF YOU ADJUST CARRY IN NUMBERS, INDICATE THE CHANGE HERE *NEW NUMBERS GO IN QUARTERLY EXPENDITURE CHART FROM TO ADJ DATE: FROM TO ADJ DATE: 20% Min. to WE (Program $) $112,194.20 Admin $0 $0 1/0/1900 Admin $0 $0 1/0/1900 WE Out Sch. $89,755.40 Out School $0 $0 Out School _ $0 $0 $0 WE In Sch. $22,438.80 In School $0 $0 In School $0 YOUTHsprogrgm Outcomes Chart - Cumuli.tiv, 1st Quarter 2nd Quarter 3rd Quarter 4th Quarter CPP = $3,043.47 Total Participants (carry -in and NEW) Carry -In Participants 94 112 142 191 65 Cumulative New Participants 29 47 77 126 In -School Youth (If using waiver) 0 0 0 0 Targeted Populations 25 40 65 107 Employed @ 2nd Qtr.* 68.00% % Employed @4th Qtr* 72.00% Median Earnings @ 2nd Qtr* $3,350 Credential Attainment* 57.00% Measurable Skill Gains 61.00% WORK PLAN 1.19 WORK PLAN NFA #WE21-001 WIOA/ESF: Local Area: Weld County ESF CUMULATIVE PROJECTED EXPENDITURES Program Code Name Allocation 1st Quarter 2nd Quarter 3rd Quarter 4th Quarter 07/01/21 - 09/30/21 10/01/21- 12/31/21 01/01/22 - 03/31/22 04/01/22 - 06/30/22 2W22 PY21 ALLOCATION Total $ 380,823.00 $ 114,246.00 $ 380,823.00 $ 114,246.00 $ 190,411.00 $ 190,411.00 $ 304,658.00 $ 304,658.00 $ 380,823.00 $ 380,823.00 % Expended of Total 30% 50% 80% 100% WORK PLAN 1.19 Chloe Rempel From: Sent: To: Cc: Subject: Attachments: Dear CTB, Heather Looney Monday, August 30, 2021 3:50 PM CTB HS -Contract Management REVIEW REQUESTED: ES WIOA Regional/Local and Compliance Plan for 2021 (CMS 5217) PY21CompliancePlanFinal (e).pdf; 8.24.21 Regional and Compliance Plan-WIOA and ESF Exependiture Authorization (CMS 5217).pdf; RE: Approval Requested: ES WIOA Regional/Local and Compliance Plan for 2021 (CMS 5217); RE: Approval Requested: ES WIOA Regional/Local and Compliance Plan for 2021 (CMS 5217) Please find attached two of the three approvals requested below, from the Director (Jamie Ulrich) and Legal (Gabe Kalousek) for the addition of the Compliance Plan to Contract ID 5217. I will send the Fiscal approval as soon as I have it. Thank you, Heather Looney Contract Management and Compliance Coordinator Weld County Dept. of Human Services 315 N. 11th Ave., Bldg A PO Box A Greeley, CO 80632 W(970) 400-6544 Contract Management Extension: 6556 (970) 353-5212 hlooney@weldgov.com Pq Confidentiality Notice: This electronic transmission and any attached documents or other writings are intended only for the person or entity to which it is addressed and may contain information that is privileged, confidential or otherwise protected from disclosure. If you have received this communication in error, please immediately notify sender by return e-mail and destroy the communication. Any disclosure, copying, distribution or the taking of any action concerning the contents of this communication or any attachments by anyone other than the named recipient is strictly prohibited. From: Heather Looney Sent: Monday, August 30, 2021 1:13 PM To: Jamie Ulrich <ulrichjj@weldgov.com>; Chris D'Ovidio <cdovidio@weldgov.com>; Gabe Kalousek <gkalousek@weldgov.com> Cc: HS -Contract Management<HS-ContractManagement@co.weld.co.us>; CTB <CTB@co.weld.co.us>; Tami Grant <tgrant@weldgov.com> Subject: Approval Requested: ES WIOA Regional/Local and Compliance Plan for 2021 (CMS 5217) Hello All, 1 Please find attached the Compliance Plan that goes with the WIOA Regional/Local Plan, Contract ID #5217 and let me know if you approve as this was missing (would have been the third attachment) from the CMS/OnBase record that you have recently approved. The complete package includes the Regional/Local Plan, the Compliance Plan, and the Expenditure Authorization. The Pass Around was approved by all five Commissioners and a copy is attached for reference. Please let me know if more information is required. Heather Looney Contract Management and Compliance Coordinator Weld County Dept. of Human Services 315 N. 11th Ave., Bldg A PO Box A Greeley, CO 80632 (970) 400-6544 Contract Management Extension: 6556 A (970) 353-5212 hlooney@weldgov.com Pq Confidentiality Notice: This electronic transmission and any attached documents or other writings are intended only for the person or entity to which it is addressed and may contain information that is privileged, confidential or otherwise protected from disclosure. If you have received this communication in error, please immediately notify sender by return e-mail and destroy the communication. Any disclosure, copying, distribution or the taking of any action concerning the contents of this communication or any attachments by anyone other than the named recipient is strictly prohibited. 2 Chloe Rempel From: Sent: To: Subject: Looks fine. -Gabe Gabe Kalousek Monday, August 30, 2021 2:10 PM Heather Looney RE: Approval Requested: ES WIOA Regional/Local and Compliance Plan for 2021 (CMS 5217) From: Heather Looney <hlooney@weldgov.com> Sent: Monday, August 30, 2021 1:13 PM To: Jamie Ulrich <ulrichjj@weldgov.com>; Chris D'Ovidio <cdovidio@weldgov.com>; Gabe Kalousek <gkalousek@weldgov.com> Cc: HS -Contract Management<HS-ContractManagement@co.weld.co.us>; CTB <CTB@co.weld.co.us>; Tami Grant <tgrant@weldgov.com> Subject: Approval Requested: ES WIOA Regional/Local and Compliance Plan for 2021 (CMS 5217) Hello All, Please find attached the Compliance Plan that goes with the WIOA Regional/Local Plan, Contract ID #5217 and let me know if you approve as this was missing (would have been the third attachment) from the CMS/OnBase record that you have recently approved. The complete package includes the Regional/Local Plan, the Compliance Plan, and the Expenditure Authorization. The Pass Around was approved by all five Commissioners and a copy is attached for reference. Please let me know if more information is required. Heather Looney Contract Management and Compliance Coordinator Weld County Dept. of Human Services 315 N. 11th Ave., Bldg A PO Box A Greeley, CO 80632 (970) 400-6544 Contract Management Extension: 6556 8 (970) 353-5212 hlooney@weldgov.com P-4 Confidentiality Notice: This electronic transmission and any attached documents or other writings are intended only for the person or entity to which it is addressed and may contain information that is privileged, confidential or otherwise protected from disclosure. If you have received this communication in error, please immediately notify sender by return e-mail and destroy the communication. Any disclosure, copying, distribution or the taking of any action concerning the contents of this communication or any attachments by anyone other than the named recipient is strictly prohibited. 1 Chloe Rempel From: Sent: To: Cc: Subject: I approve. Jamie Ulrich Monday, August 30, 2021 1:56 PM Heather Looney; Tami Grant HS -Contract Management RE: Approval Requested: ES WIOA Regional/Local and Compliance Plan for 2021 (CMS 5217) Jamie Ulrich Director Weld County Department of Human Services 315 N. 11th Ave, Building A Greeley, CO 80634 970-400-6510 Vision: The people of Weld County are connected to the resources needed to thrive in the community and feel safe and empowered. Mission: Engaging and partnering with the community to improve the safety, health and well-being of individuals and families through the delivery of responsive and collaborative services. Confidentiality Notice: This electronic transmission and any attached documents or other writings are intended only for the person or entity to which it is addressed and may contain information that is privileged, confidential or otherwise protected from disclosure. If you have received this communication in error, please immediately notify sender by return e-mail and destroy the communication. Any disclosure, copying, distribution or the taking of any action concerning the contents of this communication or any attachments by anyone other than the named recipient is strictly prohibited. From: Heather Looney <hlooney@weldgov.com> Sent: Monday, August 30, 2021 1:54 PM To: Tami Grant <tgrant@weldgov.com> Cc: HS -Contract Management <HS-ContractManagement@co.weld.co.us>; Jamie Ulrich <ulrichjj@weldgov.com> Subject: RE: Approval Requested: ES WIOA Regional/Local and Compliance Plan for 2021 (CMS 5217) Hi Tami, Everyone that approved the incomplete record in CMS/OnBase. So, Gabe was first, then Jamie, then it was Chris from Fiscal so they all have to approve the additional document that wasn't in CMS with the rest of the WIOA Regional/Local Plan. Thanks, Heather Looney Contract Management and Compliance Coordinator Weld County Dept. of Human Services 315 N. 11th Ave., Bldg A 1 Contract Form New Contract Request Entity Information Entity Name* Entity ID* COLORADO DEPARTMENT OF LABOR & g X10010497 EMPLOYMENT Contract Name* PROGRAM YEAR 2020-2023-PY21NARRATIVE UPDATE TO REGIONAL,LOCAL WORK PLAN AND EXPENDITURE AUTHORIZATIONS Contract Status CTB REVIEW Contract ID 5217 Contract Lead* HLOONEY EY ❑ New Entity? Parent Contract ID Requires Board Approval YES Contract Lead Email Department Project # hlooneygveldgov.com;cobb xxikcswveidgov.com Contract Description* PROGRAM YEAR 2020-2023-PY21 NARRATIVE UPDATE TO REGIONAL 'LOCAL WORK PLAN AND ASSOCIATED EXPENDITURE AUTHORIZATIONS: - W1OA ADULT, $93,726 - WIOA YOUTH, $623,301 - W1OA DISLOCATED WORKER, $90,390 - EMPLOYMENT SUPPORT FUND (ESF), $380.823 Contract Description 2 PA ROUTING THROUGH NORMAL APPROVAL PROCESS. ETA TO CTB 08/26/2021. THREE DOCUMENTS REQUIRE BOCC CHAIR SIGNATURE. Contract Type* GRANT Amount* $1,188,240.00 Renewable* NO Automatic Renewal Grant ICA Department HUMAN SERVICES Department Email CM- HumanServices T'weldgov.co m Department Head Email CM-HumanServices- DeptHeadwrreldgov.com County Attorney GENERAL COUNTY ATTORNEY EMAIL County Attorney Email CM- COUNTYATTORNEYWELDG RN EY:: W ELDG OV.COM If this is a renewal enter previous Contract ID Requested BOCC Agenda Date* 09:01;2021 Due Date 08282021 Will a work session with BOCC be required?* NO Does Contract require Purchasing Dept. to be included? if this is part of a MSA enter MSA Contract I'D Note: the Previous Contract Number and Master Services Agreement Number should be left blank if those contracts are not in OnBase Contract Dates Effective Date Termination Notice Period Contact Information Contact Info Contact Name Purchasing Review Date' 06,24'2022 Committed Delivery Date Renewal Date Expiration Date* 08,'26;`2022 Contact Type Contact Email Contact Phone 1 Contact Phone 2 Purchasing Approver Purchasing Approved Date Approval Process Department Head JAMIE ULRICH DH Approved Date 08!26f2021 Final Approval BOCC Approved BOCC Signed Date BOCC Agenda Date 09%01x2021 Originator HLOONEY Finance Approver CHRIS D'OVIDIO Legal Counsel GABE KALOUSEK Finance Approved Date Legal Counsel Approved Date 08/272021 08/30/2021 Tyler Ref # AG 090121 Hello