TO: Mayor and Members of City Council
THRU: Kelly Olivera, Assistant City Manager
FROM: Christopher Cauley, MPA, Economic and Community Development Director
DATE: May 1, 2023
RE:
Title
American Rescue Plan Act Workforce Development and General Funded Youth Mentoring Proposals
end
COUNCIL DISTRICT(S):
Council District(s)
All
b
Relationship To Strategic Plan:
Goal 2: Responsive City Government Supporting a Diverse and Viable Economy.
Strategic Objective 2.3: Leverage partnerships for job creation and retention, with focus on local and regional workforce to increase per capita income.
Goal 4: Desirable Place to Live, Work and Recreate
Strategic Objective 4.6: Affordable Housing - Reduce poverty and homelessness.
Executive Summary:
Council is asked to consider and provide consensus to support funding the proposed initiatives for Workforce Development and Youth Mentoring. Several of these organizations applied for Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) funding and are recommended to be funded for two to three years from the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) instead. This allows for greater impact with General Funds, ARPA, and CDBG funds while we have these time-sensitive additional resources.
Background:
City Council allocated $1,000,000 in ARPA funding for workforce development initiatives. Staff has collaborated with community leaders, members of City Council, the nonprofit sector, and educational institutions to determine the recommended funding. Consultation with groups like the Fayetteville Cumberland Economic Development Corporation, Mid-Carolina Council of Governments, Cumberland County Schools, and Fayetteville Technical Community College yielded a variety of programs and partnerships to assist with job skills training for low to moderate income individuals. The Youth Mentoring funds are the remaining balance of $50,000 after funding the Tulsa Initiative and a high school mentoring program with Communicare.
Issues/Analysis:
|
Agency or Program |
Brief Description |
Funding Recommended |
|
Momma’s Village |
Doula and lactation consultant training |
$ 150,000 (ARPA) |
|
FTCC Job Skills |
$500 grant for trade school expenses |
120,000 (ARPA) |
|
Service Source |
Removing barriers for Veteran employment |
75,000 (ARPA) |
|
CREST |
Job skills training for special needs |
75,000 (ARPA) |
|
High School Coding |
Classes on programming at high school level |
100,000 (ARPA) |
|
Housing Authority |
Construction skills training for FMHA residents |
300,000 (ARPA) |
|
Youth Job Shadowing |
Workforce Development program for high school kids |
90,000 (ARPA) |
|
General Contractor Prep |
Test preparation for General Contractor license |
90,000 (ARPA) |
|
|
Total ARPA Funds |
$1,000,000 |
|
ROOTS Mentoring |
Mentoring for “at promise” youth |
$ 25,000 (General Fund) |
|
Two-Six Project |
Introducing children to broader opportunities |
25,000 (General Fund) |
|
|
Total Youth Mentoring Funds |
$ 50,000 |
Budget Impact:
Funds from ARPA are required to be committed by 2024 and expended by 2026. The Youth Mentoring funds were appropriated in the Fiscal Year (FY) 2023 Budget and, if unspent, will return to fund balance at the end of the FY.
Options:
• Provide consensus to support funding the proposed initiatives for Workforce Development and Youth Mentoring
• Provide consensus to support funding the proposed initiatives for Workforce Development and Youth Mentoring
• Direct Staff to some other action.
Recommended Action:
Provide consensus to support funding the proposed initiatives for Workforce Development and Youth Mentoring
Attachments:
ARPA Workforce and Youth Funding Presentation