Consent Agenda Items

Minutes: To approve August and September Workforce Development Board Minutes.

Background: Minutes are attached in separate documents.

Executive: Metro Board Dues - To approve paying the full amount of the metro dues for 2019 in the amount of $10,400 and that will consider the 2020 dues request provided a number of items are clarified. Background: The metro workforce board requested dues of $10.400 from each of the six metro-area

local workforce boards. In November 2018, the Dakota-Scott WDB approved paying dues in a pro-rated

amount of $7,929.15. Recently, the metro workforce board chair Ramsey County Commissioner Toni

Carter requested local areas pay the full amount for 2019 and 2020. The motion above essentially

approves paying the additional $2,470.85 for 2019. Regarding 2020, the committee discussed: Do we

get the same level value of work of the metro board as other areas; it’s important to be at table and

supportive but also need to see value; what funding would be provided from DEED; how does the metro

board’s work benefit local areas; the desire to see pro-rated dues; and the need to see accomplishments,

goals and time frames. Staff will prepare a letter to this regard. Dues would be paid from the WDB’s

executive committee budget.

CareerForce: CareerForce Signage: To pay up to $300 to purchase hiring event signs. Background: Current hiring event signs need to be updated to include CareerForce branding. The Burnsville location already has signage; this purchase would be for one sign and stand for both Shakopee and West St. Paul. Signs would be paid for from the CareerForce committee budget.

Evaluation

Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program –

• To accept Department of Human Services (DHS) funding for SNAP E&T:

• Accept the 100% funding of $28,828 program funds and $2,699 support services funds and

accept the 50% funding of $11,250 administrative; $65,000 program funds; and $10,000 support

services funds for Dakota County

• Accept the 100% funding of $7,780 program funds and $759 support services funds for Scott

County

Background: The MN Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) Employment and Training

(E&T) is federally funded. The program will run from October 1, 2019 through September 30, 2020. Both

Dakota County and Scott County submitted an annual local area plan for FFY2018. Notification of

funding at the levels above was provided on September 19, 2019. Compared to 2018-19 100% funding

allocations, for Scott County, this is a reduction of 13% program funds and a decrease of 1% support

service funds; for Dakota County, this is a reduction of 20% program funds and an increase of 4% support

service funds. The motion above is slightly different in the ones approved by Evaluation and Executive

committees. The difference is that the support services funds for Dakota’s 100% program are modified to

be $2,699 (instead of $2,595).

WIOA Adult and Dislocated Worker Programs -

• To accept the additional Program Year 2019 Adult and WIOA Dislocated Worker funding and

approved the following WIOA program splits;

o For WIOA Adult – 24.2% (Scott) and75.8% (Dakota split = $167.71/$524.29

o For WIOA Dislocated Worker a 24.2% (Scott) and 75.8% (Dakota split0 = $74.29/$232.71

Background: Additional funding is due to revised allocations from DEED for the first allotment of 2019

funding.

Youth – Youth Award Funding To commit $500 of Youth Committee funds for the Scott County award in the circumstance that no other Scott County sponsor is identified prior to the event. Background: This funding, from the youth committee budget, provides the scholarship for the Scott County recipient of the Willis E. Branning Excellence in Youth Employment Services award. Dakota Electric provides the funding/scholarship for a recipient from Dakota County.

Regular Agenda Items:

From Executive:

Membership: Mike Forbord

To recommend Mike Forbord to be appointed to the Dakota-Scott Workforce Development Board

representing the private sector.

Background: Forbord is the Director of Operations for Schmitty & Sons, Lakeville. He was recommended

by Krista Jech, President of the Lakeville Chamber of Commerce. Boelter and Jacobs met with Forbord to

provide an overview of the WDB and answer questions. Forbord’s application and letter of

recommendation are attached.

Forbord-Michael.pdf

scan0010.pdf

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ATTENDANCE Present: Pam Oeffler, Chair; Vance Boelter, Vice Chair; Mike Yanda; Rich Wagner; Jack Phillips; Gloria

Fatze; Barb Dahl; Steve Buck; Jennifer Harmening; Barry Davies; Sarah Menke; Darren Kermes; Sally Haack; Michael Berndt; Commissioner Weckman Brekke

Audience: Mark Jacobs, Amber Higgins, Marti Fischbach, Sarah Montgomery, Jill Pittelkow, Kari Ouimette,

Tim O’Neill, Julie Toskey, Jane Xiong, Lorrie Janatopoulos, Andrea Ferstan, Ben Baglio

Call to Order – Pam Oeffler called the meeting to order at 7:30 a.m.

Consent Agenda

MOTION to approve the consent agenda made by Pam Oeffler; SECOND Jennifer Harmening; (M/S/P).

➢ Approve the June 21, 2019 Board Minutes. ➢ Pay dues of $4,257 to the Minnesota Association of Workforce Boards (MAWB).

➢ Pay dues of $1,000 to the National Association of Workforce Board (NAWB).

“Eye on the Future” – CareerForce

DEED Staff: Julie Toskey, Jane Xiong, Lorrie Janatopouos

CareerForce—Rebranding Minnesota’s Workforce System ➢ The rebranding of CareerForce is a collaboration between partners including MAWB, Governor’s

Workforce Development Board and the Department of Employment and Economic Development (DEED). Task Force and work groups have been a part of the planning.

➢ The purpose of rebranding is to:

• Create less confusion

• Raise awareness

• Change perspectives

• Drive more customers to services

➢ The CareerForce culture plan/values focus on:

• Collaboration

• Equity

• Passion

• Empowerment

• Innovation ➢ Implementation of the culture plan/values entails:

• Focusing on customer service

• Standardized service delivery

o 4 core workshops o Centralized help desk

• Enhanced employer services

• Communication and outreach

o I.e. weekly e-mail, monthly newsletters, etc.

Board Members: Pam Oeffler, Chair; Vance Boelter, Vice Chair; Cathy Weik; Steve Ditschler; Jenni Faulkner; Mike Yanda; Rich Wagner; Jack Phillips; Gloria Fatze; Barb Dahl; Steve Buck; Eric Lind; Glenn Starfield; Timothy Grimm; Jennifer Harmening; Jesse Nergard; Barry Davies; Sarah Menke; Darren Kermes; Rachel Resnick; Sally Haack; Michael Berndt; Commissioner Gerlach; Commissioner Weckman Brekke

MINUTES

Workforce Development Board

Friday, August 16th, 2019

7:30-9:00 a.m. Conference Room 520

Northern Service Center, West St. Paul

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• Diversity, equity and inclusion

o Translations including Somali and Spanish (will be available soon)

What comes next? ➢ The launch/roll-out is happening September 16th, 2019.

• Materials and signage have been updated

• Promotional events are in the works

• Media/social media outreach

• State-wide listening tours

CareerForce Demo

careerforcemn.com

➢ CareerForce was created using a $6 million dollar grant from the U.S. Department of Labor. ➢ Improvements to CareerForce are on-going, stemming from user/admin feedback.

➢ Aims to drive people from the website to CareerForce locations. ➢ Targeted user access includes:

• Customers

o Specialized resources for vets, youth, people with disabilities, military, and others

are provided o Career seeker resources include workshops, education/trainings, hiring events, skills

matcher tool, interest assessment, workforce data, etc. o Ability to search and apply for posted positions

o Labor market data

• Employers o Resources to attract, develop and retain talent

o Specialized resources for outreach to various workforce populations

o Regional experts/specialists by category to help support and develop employment strategies

o Statewide economic highlights, labor market information, regional news and success stories

o Ability to post jobs through MinnesotaWorks.net and review resumes

• Admin staff/partners

o Public promotion materials including handouts, flyers and posters o Training resources

o Performance measures o Best practices

o Diversity, equity and inclusion resources

➢ Questions, suggestions and feedback can be submitted online using the comment form.

Questions ➢ How will you reach employers with information about CareerForce?

• Presentations

• Connections with Workforce Boards and Chambers of Commerce

• Partner and referral word-of mouth

• Seeking suggestions for further outreach

➢ Are video tutorials available to introduce the site?

• Videos are available in the FAQ area of the website ➢ What will the diversity tools look like?

• The tools are still in development

• Collecting feedback about what resources are wanted/needed

• Spanish and Somali translations are currently in the works and will be available soon

• In the process of hiring for an Equal Opportunity position

➢ Will data analytics be captured and measured?

• The number of clicks can be captured to be responsive in improving the site

• Data analysis will become more targeted as things get going

Executive Committee – Pam Oeffler

➢ Membership and Committee Changes

• Gloria Fatze will be resigning from the WDB at the end of the year.

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• The WDB is seeking 3 private sector board members.

• The Employment for People with Disabilities Committee (EPWD) is disbanding.

• Committee goals, structures and member compositions were reviewed. A survey was

distributed for WDB members to identify interest in joining or switching committees.

• Looking into having young professionals join committees. o 6-12 month commitment

o Would employers allow time for them to attend?

Community Relations Committee – Jack Phillips ➢ Legislative and Employer Awards

• Happening December 6th at the Ames Center in Burnsville.

• Save the date notices will be sent out soon.

• Working to secure a keynote speaker. Open to suggestions.

• Committees will need award nominations.

Business Services – Mike Yanda

➢ Job Fairs

• Lakeville is happening September 5th

• Burnsville is happening October 1st

➢ CEO Next is now available in Dakota and Scott County. More information to come. ➢ Employers of Excellence

• Approximately 90 people attended

• The keynote speaker, Kari Switala, presented information about how to use a story to

present a business.

• Award winners shared one tip/strategy used to make their company stand out and retain employees.

CareerForce Committee – Mark Jacobs

➢ CareerForce is launching on September 16th.

➢ DCTC will be offering a Flex Track program which will provide a format for people who are fully employed or need more flexibility. The Veterinary Tech Program is being rolled out; more degrees

will be offered as things are figured out.—Berndt

Youth Committee – Barb Dahl

➢ Traitify

• Reviewed data and discussed marketing strategies. ➢ WDB Business and Education Bus Tour

• Took place on August 14th.

• Representative Angie Craig provided an introduction/welcome.

• Four sites were visited—DCTC, Rihm Wentworth, Uponor and Fairview

Employment for People with Disabilities

➢ The committee did not meet.

Evaluation Committee – Pam Oeffler ➢ Reviewed Dislocated Worker Projects

• 3M

o Off to a slower start for enrollments

• Seagate

o 90 participants were served o 22 participants were approved for training

o Wage entrance was $54.77 per hour. Wage exit was $48.26 per hour. ➢ WIOA and state dislocated worker and the WIOA Adult monitoring reports were reviewed. Positive

feedback was received and no corrective actions are required. ➢ The committee reviewed the Plan of Work.

➢ Tim O’Neill (DEED) will provide workforce data to the WDB twice a year.

Scott County Commissioner Report – Commissioner Weckman Brekke

➢ Attended the Minnesota Association of Workforce Boards (MAWB) conference in Duluth. ➢ Construction is underway to open new frontage roads for the Renaissance Festival.

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➢ High project bids are resulting in projects needing to be pulled. Budget discussions are underway. Tim Talks—Tim O’Neill (DEED)

➢ O’Neill provided an overview of area data including population changes, demographics, top/fastest growing industries, job vacancies, etc.

➢ The full data profile report will be sent out to the WDB following the meeting.

Other

➢ Minnesota Association of Workforce Boards (MAWB) conference highlights and open discussion • Duluth Mayor Emily Larson and Commissioner Steve Grove provided motivating

presentations. • Lots of brainstorming of ways to connect job seekers with hiring employers. (Rover app

idea)

Meeting was adjourned at 9:00 a.m.

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ATTENDANCE

Present: Pam Oeffler, Chair; Vance Boelter, Vice Chair; Cathy Weik; Jack Phillips; Barb Dahl; Steve Buck; Eric Lind; Jennifer Harmening; Darren Kermes; Sally Haack; Michael Berndt; Commissioner Wolf

Audience: Mark Jacobs, Amber Higgins, Marti Fischbach, Sarah Montgomery, Kari Ouimette, Rand

Retterrath, Morris Allen, Dee Skeens, Sam Peterson-Etem

Call to Order – Pam Oeffler called the meeting to order at 7:30 a.m.

Consent Agenda

➢ Quorum not met. Consent items were adopted by Oeffler.

• August 16, 2019 Board Minutes

“Eye on the Future” – CareerForce

Pathways to Prosperity and Well-Being: Marti Fischbach, Director of Employment and Economic Assistance

Overview ➢ Dakota County is partnering with Olmsted County on the Pathways pilot project.

➢ The project will address current service delivery issues -

• Services are provided in siloes

o All have their own set of rules.

• Complex program rules o One eligibility specialist may work on many programs.

• Benefit cliffs

o People making minimum wage may not be eligible for cash benefits.

• Need for livable wage o Minimum wage is not a living wage.

▪ Federal minimum wage = $7.25/hr. ▪ MN minimum wage = $9.86/hr.

▪ Federal poverty level = $9.99/hr.

▪ Living wage in Dakota County = $31.18/hr. (varies depending on family size)

• Disparate outcomes o In Dakota County, 22% are people of color. 47% of people of color are on public

assistance. o Home ownership in Dakota County = 78% of white people vs 50% people of color.

➢ Design labs and interviews with clients/families helped shape a program. A human centered design

will keep families at the center while assessing needs and streamlining eligibility. ➢ The project targets parents age 30 or younger who are eligible for TANF and/or SNAP.

➢ The practice model involves various departments working together for integrated service delivery. County programs/services will help families achieve the social determinants of health. (environmental

health, education, transportation, housing stability, safety, food and nutrition, employment and

income stability and health and wellbeing)

Board Members: Pam Oeffler, Chair; Vance Boelter, Vice Chair; Mark Lofthus, Cathy Weik; Steve Ditschler; Jenni Faulkner; Mike Yanda; Rich Wagner; Jack Phillips; Gloria Fatze; Barb Dahl; Steve Buck; Eric Lind; Glenn Starfield; Timothy Grimm; Jennifer Harmening; Jesse Nergard; Barry Davies; Sarah Menke; Darren Kermes; Rachel Resnick; Sally Haack; Michael Berndt; Commissioner Gerlach; Commissioner Weckman Brekke

MINUTES

Workforce Development Board

Friday, September 20th, 2019

7:30-9:00 a.m. Conference Room 520

Northern Service Center, West St. Paul

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➢ Tools being leveraged:

• The Integrated Services Assessment Tool (ISAT) will be used to help track status and

progress.

• The financial calculator/cliff forecaster will be used to illustrate needs and gaps. o Bridge to Benefits

o Economic Stability Indicator (ESI)

• Case management (sharing notes, plans, etc.) ➢ Programs are outdated and need modernizing. A Flexible Benefit Set (FBS) will allow:

• One set of eligibility rules, applications, intake and agency

• Pooled resources with flexibility on how money is spent

• Person-centered service delivery for-

o TANF

o SNAP o Child Care Assistance Program

o Housing Choice Voucher Program

• The FSB amount will not exceed the public dollar amount. Consumers will be accountable for making spending decisions.

• The goal is to eliminate the benefit cliff in an effort to reach economic sufficiency, stability

and well-being. ➢ Identifying potential career pathways could help lead to livable wage jobs.

➢ Focusing on equity and inclusion will increase cultural awareness and create a workforce more

reflective of the community.

Questions ➢ Who will manage the cases?

• It will be determined by what makes most sense when addressing the needs of the family.

• There is a new Pathways Manager and Social Worker who will focus on cross divisional work.

➢ How are possible career pathways being modeled?

• A model is in the works that incorporates real world jobs that are available now. Work to

develop 2-4 year education/training connections is continuing. ➢ Will clients be required to participate in financial programming?

• Yes, clients utilizing the FBS will be required to participate in financial planning.

➢ How will the measurement of success be tracked?

• ISAT and employment outcomes will serve as indicators. ➢ How many clients will take part in the pilot?

• 100 families between Dakota and Olmstead Counties.

➢ Is the program geared towards Minnesota or national regulations?

• Support for the program is at the national level.

• Other states have helped with the planning.

• Others could replicate the model in their areas. ➢ What’s the timeframe for the pilot?

• The pilot will be rolled out in 2 parts.

o On a small scale, the first families will be served in October. Kinks will be worked

out as the project progresses. o The large scale pilot will roll out in early 2020.

➢ What would the K-12 partnership look like?

• Public Health incorporates the Birth to 8 initiative which ties into the schools.

• Genograms may be incorporated to help stabilize families based on characteristics identified.

Reports

Executive Committee – Pam Oeffler

➢ Membership and Committee Changes

• The WDB is seeking 3 private sector board members.

• Vance Boelter and Mark Jacobs met with a potential member from Schmitty & Sons Bus Co.

• Discussing representation from the banking industry.

• Results from the WDB member surveys show most members chose to continue working on their current sub-committees.

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Evaluation Committee – Pam Oeffler

➢ Did not meet.

Community Relations Committee – Jack Phillips ➢ Legislative and Employer Awards

• Happening December 6th at the Ames Center in Burnsville.

• DEED Commissioner, Steve Grove, will be the speaker.

➢ Feedback from the Employers of Excellence event was positive and it received a lot of media attention.

➢ Met with SunMedia to explore digital marketing in promoting CareerForce and building career

awareness.

➢ The October WDB meeting will be held at ProAct.

Business Services – Mark Jacobs

➢ Employers of Excellence

• The goal was approximately 40 applicants. This year there were 26; last year 29. ➢ A new committee member shared that many of his neighbors work in California, but live in, and

telecommute from,Minneapolis because of cheaper housing. ➢ Job Fairs

• In partnership with Jobs HQ, past events have taken place in Eagan and Lakeville. The next

job fair will be at the Burnsville Center on October 1st from 2-6pm.

• Southwest Media is looking to host a job fair in Scott County.

• There is interest in a potential LGBTQ job fair. Connecting with DEED leadership to determine next steps.

➢ DEED’s 2020 strategic plan has been released.

➢ On October 3rd, DCTC is partnering with the WDB, Dakota Electric and Dakota County Regional Chamber to offer an Employer Forum: Building a Diverse, Inclusive and Equitable Workforce.—Berndt

CareerForce Committee – Eric Lind

➢ CareerForce Launch

• CareerForce launched on September 16th. Many locations hosted hiring events. A large rollout

event took place in Minneapolis on Sept. 17th. ➢ Vocational Rehabilitation Services (VRS) will be moving from West St. Paul to Woodbury. VRS in

Shakopee has already relocated. ➢ Reaching out to expand committee members.

Youth Committee – Barb Dahl ➢ Youth service providers gave reports.

➢ Bus tour for educators feedback was positive. ➢ Dakota Electric Association (Dakota County) will sponsor the scholarship of $500 for 2019. Currently

seeking a Scott County sponsor. ➢ A sub-committee is forming to developing marketing strategies for Traitify.

➢ The Plan of Work was reviewed. There are concerns about the disbanding of the People with

Disabilities Committee and figuring out ways to incorporate efforts into current actions. ➢ The idea was shared to have work-based learning as an Eye of the Future presentation.

Scott County Commissioner Report – Commissioner Wolf

➢ The Intensive Residential Treatment Services facility groundbreaking took place on Sept. 16th.

Other

➢ Burnsville is seeing the effects of the workforce shortage. A leadership team is meeting to discuss workforce needs in the area; there could be an opportunity for all chambers to gather to discuss local

data. A parent forum is also in the works. More information to come.—Harmening ➢ Geo-fencing could be used to let jobseekers know who is hiring.—Weik

➢ Project development should involve businesses to know how it could affect the workforce. Many

programs require tax dollars for funding, which comes from businesses. The more profitable businesses are, the more revenue generated to support programming.—Boelter

Meeting was adjourned at 8:58 a.m.