July 09, 2024 minutes

Workforce Development Board Minutes

Employment Services - 315 N. 11th Ave, Bldg. B, Greeley, CO 80631
Meeting Location: First Floor Conference Room
Meeting: July 09, 2024 - 12:00 p.m. - 1:30 p.m.

Board Members Present:
Bill Johnson, Yoder Family Companies; Cecil Courtney, Denver Pipefitters Local 208; David Thompson, FMS Bank; David Zumbrun, Chicken Salad Chick; Elizabeth Barber, The Greeley Dream Team; Meghan Greene, Division of Vocational Rehabilitation;; Karla Torczon, Elevations Credit Union Kelly Folks, Colorado Department of Labor & Employment; Lisa Taylor, The Weld Trust; Lisa Vaughn, Golden Aluminum Lori Cuno, Community Educational Outreach; Matthew Hortt, High Plains Library District; Michael Wailes, Weld RE-5J; Nick Spezza, Aims Community College; Phil MacHendrie, City of Greeley; Rich Werner, Upstate Colorado; Robert Rigg, Elder Construction;; Shawn Croissant, Envision; Victoria Cordova, Banner Health; Zach Huston, Chevron U.S.A. Inc

Absent:
Justin Booker, City of Greeley Fire Department and IAFF Professional Firefighter's Union, Local 888 - Greeley Firefighters; Scott James, Weld County Board of County Commissioners; Amanda Ericson, HRx Services; Alex Kloehn, Lutheran Family Services, Rocky Mountains;

Quorum Present: Yes

Others Present:
Andrew Chadwick, ESWC; CeCe Majchrowski, ESWC; Greg Cordova, ESWC; Karina Amaya-Ragland, ESWC; Ruth DeBoer, ESWC; Jesus Borrego, CDLE; Thomas Hartman, CWDC; Lauren Price, Aurora Mental Health; Michaely Rosas, Aurora Mental Health; Landon with Aims; Kelsey Baun, Larimer County.

  1. Call to Order: 12:01 pm  
  2. Changes to the Agenda:
    1. Motion to approve the changes to the agenda was made by Liz Barber and seconded by Zach Huston.
      1. Unfinished Business – PY22 Monitoring Closeout, Regional/Local Plan, Board Certification
      2. Announcement – Qualified Apprenticeship Intermediary
  3. Approval of Minutes
    1.  Motion to approve the minutes was made by Zach Huston and seconded by Bill Johnson.   
  4. Unfinished Business
    1. PY22 Monitoring Closeout, Regional/Local Plan, Board Certification
      1. On June 26th ESWC received a letter from CDLE on our Monitoring closeout, we received a successful closeout for monitoring of PY22.
      2. ESWC also received our WIG monitoring closeout letter; everything has been finalized and has been successfully closed out.
      3. On June 28th ESWC received a letter that our local/Regional plan was approved by CWDC, as well as our Board Certification
  5. Announcements, Updates, and Celebrations
    1. Awareness Committee
      1.  The Awareness Committee convened last month to discuss and work on the upcoming August newsletter. The newsletter will feature the introduction of Victoria as the new Chair-Elect. Additionally, the newsletter will highlight the upcoming Workforce Symposium and Workforce Development Month.
      2. A brief announcement was made to recognize Lisa Vaughn for her nomination for the BizWest Woman of the Year Award.
    2. Program Year 2024 Allocations
      1.  Program year started July 1
      2. We have been allocated $2.2 million for Adult, Dislocated Worker, Youth, and Wagner-Peyser programs. While funding has decreased across all programs except for Wagner-Peyser, which saw an increase of approximately $24,000.
      3. We have not yet received the final allocation for the Employment Support Fund (ESF). However, we have a preliminary estimate and have begun the budgeting process accordingly.
      4. Further details will be provided at the next meeting
    3. Qualified Apprenticeship Intermediary
      1.  Employment Services of Weld County (ESWC) has been formally recognized as a Talent Qualified Apprenticeship Intermediary by the Colorado State Apprenticeship Agency (CSAA). Over the next two years, ESWC will collaborate with the CSAA to expand apprenticeship opportunities across the state. As a Qualified Apprenticeship Intermediary, ESWC will receive public recognition on Apprenticeship Colorado’s website, be promoted to Registered Apprenticeship Program (RAP) sponsors and career seekers, gain access to exclusive trainings and events, and be eligible to apply for future funding opportunities specific to Qualified Apprenticeship Intermediaries through Apprenticeship Colorado.
  6. Board Focus
    1. Workforce Development Month
      1.  Open House – Sep 19th – The purpose of this event is to showcase "Weld County as a whole," with a focus on engaging job seekers, businesses, and public partners. An example of past success includes our support of NOCO Humane during their transition last year.
      2. Symposium – Sep 24th – This year’s Symposium is expected to be a remarkable event. Unlike previous years, we have branded the Symposium rather than changing the theme annually, aiming for a consistent and recognizable identity moving forward.
    2. CDLE Funding Opportunities
      1.  CDLE Funding Opportunities – Critical Sectors Job Quality Grant (FOA-ETA-23-13): The Colorado Department of Labor and Employment (CDLE) is reapplying for the U.S. Department of Labor’s (USDOL) Critical Sectors Job Quality Grant, FOA-ETA-23-13. Although CDLE was not awarded this grant last year, they are hopeful for a successful outcome this year. If awarded, the grant will be for a three-year period, with Weld County receiving $163,898. Under this grant, Weld County will be responsible for the following target outputs:
        1. Target Output 1: Introduce and engage new employers in Job Quality principles and activities in partnership with the Colorado Workforce Development Council’s Job Quality initiative.
        2. Target Output 2: Enroll and train workers in climate resiliency jobs, while introducing them to Job Quality principles and activities.
        3. Target Output 3: Conduct outreach to underserved communities to promote training and job opportunities in climate resiliency.
      2. USDOL Grant for Broadband Expansion:
        1.  There is a USDOL grant that the Colorado Rural Workforce Consortium (CRWC) will be applying for. Although Weld County is not expected to receive direct funds from this grant, it is anticipated that the funding will assist in expanding broadband access to rural communities, which would benefit the region.
      3. Pathways Home Grant:
        1.  CDLE did not receive the Pathways Home grant. USDOL informed them that states already awarded a Pathway grant would not be eligible for a second one, and Colorado already holds an active Pathway grant.
      4. Veterans Committee Discussion:
        1.  There has been ongoing discussion about establishing a Veterans Committee, particularly now that the Veterans Service Officer (VSO) is within ESWC. The focus is on exploring what this committee would look like. The committee would be modeled similarly to the other committees under the board and would focus on how to better serve the veteran community in Weld County, which includes approximately 17,000 veterans. Notably, in June alone, ESWC served 2,500 veterans.
          1. The primary benefit of establishing this committee would be to provide oversight and gather input on veteran services and initiatives.
          2. It was noted that Adams County has a veterans committee, and if there is a decision to move forward with creating one, Jeff will meet with them to gather more information and insights.
          3. If the committee is formed, it would require at least one, ideally two, board members to serve as committee chair(s) in accordance with WIOA regulations.
          4. Board members suggested that a veteran would be the best candidate to chair the committee.
          5. The board requested that Jeff gather additional information and report back to them.
          6. Questions were raised regarding the frequency of meetings. Jeff and Karina proposed holding quarterly meetings in the mornings.
            1. Cecil, a veteran, expressed interest in chairing the committee.
            2. Robert also expressed interest.
        2. WIOA Reauthorization
          1.  The federal government is in the process of discussing the reauthorization of the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA), which was last reauthorized in 2016. WIOA is a critical piece of legislation that provides the framework for workforce development programs across the country.
          2. Recent feedback from the National Association of Workforce Boards (NAWB) suggests that WIOA reauthorization may be postponed until after the 2024 elections. This delay stems from uncertainty about which party will control Congress and the White House, leading lawmakers to hold off on making long-term decisions. Given the political landscape, it is anticipated that Congress will pass short-term extensions or Continuing Resolutions (CRs) to maintain federal funding in the interim, effectively buying more time to negotiate a long-term resolution for fiscal year 2025. This cautious approach reflects the broader trend in Congress, as policymakers avoid committing to major legislative changes until there is more clarity on who will hold power after the election. As a result, significant decisions on workforce funding and reauthorization may not occur until the new Congress and administration are in place, pushing any major legislative moves into late 2024 or early 2025.
          3. Lisa Taylor reached out to the Colorado Workforce Development Council (CWDC) for guidance on the reauthorization, and CWDC noted that the Senate version is more favorable than the House version.
  7. Miscellaneous
    1. Draft PY24 Q4 Dashboard
      1.  The current dashboard is in draft form, as we are still awaiting the final June numbers, which will be available by the end of July. An updated version will be presented at the next board meeting.
      2. We are pleased to report that we have either met or exceeded our projected goals for the program year.
      3. Business Services achieved 156% of their performance goal for recruitment events, showcasing strong engagement and success in this area.
      4. All performance measures are currently being met at 90% or above, with the exception of one program. However, we are confident that once the final numbers from the last quarter are in, this program will also meet its performance goals.
  8. Action Items
    1.  Approval of the Aims Community College Carl D. Perkins Plan
      1.  Motion to approve made by Lisa T., seconded by Robert Rigg.
        1. The Perkins funds allow for many valuable initiatives to support student success and program improvement.
        2. Budget Overview:
          1.  The first portion of the budget is focused on innovative and student-centered activities, while the second half is allocated for program improvements.
            We do face challenges in meeting certain metrics, such as increasing male participation in non-traditional fields like early childhood education. However, this can be attributed to Weld County's unique demographics compared to other areas, such as Boulder.
            Last year, Perkins funds were used to provide an interpreter for a student with ADA needs.
            We have embedded tutors in specific programs, such as accounting, and are exploring opportunities to expand this initiative.
            The supplemental support these funds provide to students is highly beneficial.
            Discussions are ongoing with the Severance High School district to develop a heavy diesel program. The light diesel program is currently offered in Windsor. We are currently in the curriculum development phase, which needs to be completed before the facility construction can begin.
        3. Board Discussion:
          1. Board Responsibility:
            1.  The board’s role is to approve the budget proposal, not the plan or the grant application. Aims has already received the funding from the federal government. The budget presented shows that the funds will supplement, not supplant, existing resources.
          2. Flexibility in Budget Allocation:
            1.  If a spending category ends up costing less than budgeted, there is flexibility to reallocate funds to other areas as needed, as the initial numbers are estimates.
          3. Support for Individuals with Developmental Disabilities:
            1.  While this is not explicitly mentioned in the current budget, there is potential to include it in the grant. The plan can be written broadly enough to ensure qualification under a broad category, making it possible to extend support to individuals with developmental disabilities.
  9. Adjournment – 1:18pm  

Strategic Goals

Continue seeking clarity and improving connections for programs and services between Employment Services and the businesses and individuals in the Weld County Community.

Increase awareness and clarify the 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.

Increase Weld County Workforce Development Board (WCWDB) member engagement by involving board members in planning, leadership pipeline development, and committee involvement.

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.

Board Recruitment

The following positions are vacant:

Two Business Representatives–

  • Accommodation and Food Service
  • Transportation and Warehousing.

If you know someone interested in workforce initiatives and can fill one of these roles, please direct that person to Andrew Chadwick or CeCe Majchrowski.

Upcoming Events

Required Meeting: 09/10/2024; 11:45 AM to 1:30 PM (12:00 PM-1:30 PM Virtual)
Regional WDB Meeting: 08/14/24; 11:00 AM to 1:00 PM
Awareness Committee Meeting: 08/13/2024; 11:45 AM to 1:00 PM (12:00 PM-1:00 PM Virtual)
Youth Committee Meeting: 09/17/2024; 11:45 AM to 1:30 PM (12:00 PM-1:30 PM Virtual)

Assurance

Veterans and eligible spouses are entitled to priority access to Department of Labor-funded programs. Auxiliary aids and services are available upon request to individuals with disabilities. Dial 711 for Relay Services. Employment Services of Weld County is an equal opportunity program and employer.

Back to top