State Workforce Board

July 29, 2016: 9:30 AM
Frances Perkins Room, CMCC


STATE WORKFORCE BOARD MEETING

JULY 29, 2016

Present: Fred Webber, Mel Clarrage, Tracey Cooley, Tom Davis, Rhonda Fletcher, Scott Good, Susan Hammond, Kevin Healey, Doug Ray, Jim Howard, Jon Mason, Mary Mayhew, Jeanne Paquette, Liz Rensenbrink, Gail Senese, Terry Young, Robert Carmichael (Proxy), David Duguay (Proxy), Joanne Harris (Proxy), Anthony Sirois in behalf of Jennifer McKenna (Proxy), Nicole Morin-Scribner (Proxy)

Staff: Garret Oswald, Cheryl Moran

• Fred Webber opened the meeting with welcomes and introductions and asked for approval of the 05/20/2016 minutes. Mel Clarrage motioned. Scott Good seconded. Minutes approved as written.

Chairs Report • Fred Webber reported that he will be in Chicago next week to attend the NGA. The discussion will be in reference to the WIOA regulations and will be conducting site visits to businesses. • Garret Oswald ? reminded members that we will be keeping with the schedule ? first half of the meeting will focus on general workforce development issues and the second half will focus specifically on WIOA compliance. Garret stated that the Unified State Plan was substantially approved with a few corrections and we are preparing for the federal WIOA review. • Jeanne Paquette ? stated the original review was scheduled for August but she pushed back and the audit will be conducted in September.

Competitive Skills Scholarship Program List Approval • Jeanne Paquette ? wanted to make sure that everyone understood that CSSP is not federally funded. • Garret Oswald ? then explained that CSSP funding is Maine dollars diverted primarily from the Unemployment Insurance (UI) trust fund and based on high wage/high demand occupations. He also mentioned that this Program has been copied by other states. When the list is approved annually, the occupations are reflective of what is really happening with Maine?s economy. • Joan Dolan ? to qualify for CSSP, the household income must be 20% or less of the federal poverty level; lack of a 2 ? 4 year degree or if they have a degree and it is more than 15 years old and is no longer considered in high demand. She stated that 8 occupations fell off the list due to not having at least 20 openings however, 23 occupations were added. The occupational wages have to be at least $16.69 per hour. CSSP is opened by county as opposed to the lottery. The lottery was overwhelming. The CareerCenter Counselors conduct intensive assessments to determine if appropriate. • Tom Davis ? felt there is more than just training to obtain employment. • Joan Dolan ? stated we do the best we can to assess to meet eligibility criteria. • Jeanie Coltart ? asked the question, ?What if a person has poor credit?? • Joan Dolan ? that is when counselors create a financial plan so they will be able to sustain their training.
• Mary Mayhew ? asked the question, ?Is there a report of numbers enrolled and sustainability?? • Joan Dolan ? responded, what is included in the report is annual comparisons. • Gail Senese ? asked for clarification. Are they able to transition into another program? • Joan Dolan ? Yes, program does allow. Joan strongly stated that there has been huge demand and success with this program. She also stated that the list is germane to other CSSP programs such as the Bridge Program. The CSSP Business Program is shorter as to the regular CSSP program. CSSP business is demand driven and can be used as an apprenticeship or on-the-job training. Since this program is shorter, it prevents a challenge for a person not being able to complete. • Kevin Healey ? stated quality is a big reputation builder with this program. • Ruth Pease who represents the Center for Workforce Research & Information (CWRI) explained that the list is based on 2014 and 2024 projections. CWRI provides every 2 years, a 10 year outlook of the workforce. The list is generated on 2 criteria, high demand which means an occupation has at least 20 openings, and high wage, the medium wage is above $16.69 per hour or $34,710 annual. The annual average openings are based on growth or replacement. The criteria for this list are written in Statute. • Joan Dolan ? strongly stated that job placement is #1 and they have quarterly training meetings with the CareerCenter Consultants.
• Fred Webber asked for the approval of the 2016 Competitive Skills Scholarship Program (CSSP) List. Tracey Cooley motioned. Terry Young seconded. CSSP list approved unanimously.

Workforce & Economic Development Challenges & Opportunities for Native American Communities in Rural Maine • Garret Oswald ? stated usually the main focus is on the I-95 corridor but rural Maine also is important of what we the Board do here. It is important to have great representation around the table and we do have great representation for the Native American Community, Susan Hammond. • Susan Hammond, Executive Director from the Four Directions Development Corp stated they are structured as a nonprofit revolving loan pool and service provider and responds to the particular credit and informational needs of tribal members. They have 2 programs; Housing (affordable) and Business (entrepreneurship). As far as the business program, they offer small business lending and help with the marketing. The reason why they assist in those areas is because it is difficult for a financial institution to come into the tribal community due to tribal ownership and only tribal ownership however, her organization is able to go into these communities to discuss MOU?S. To the tribal community we have lent out 11.5 million dollars, conduct financial education and made business loans. Also, the tribal community has enjoyed learning about their own tribal cultures. Susan mentioned about the challenges such as creating readiness in the tribe and leadership, living in an isolated community, strained relations and being able to put strategies in place and to keep them going. However within the last 20 years, we have been able to develop economic strategies including great partnership. You need to develop trust and a relationship with the tribe.

Live + Work in Maine website demonstration • Nate Wildes, Director of Engagement for Live + Work in Maine ? provided a demonstration on the Live + Work in Maine website. He stated that this website has existed for 5 ? 6 months. The purpose is to create a brand for Maine as a ?career destination? and to package information or showcase Maine to meet the needs of the people that work and live here. You can access the website at www.LiveandWorkinMaine.com. • Garret Oswald ? stated that the Live + Work in Maine website has popped up in unusual places in a very positive way and needed to be looked at. • Jeff Sneddon ? stated that this has been long overdue! It is great that someone took the initiative!

State Workforce Development Board ? WIOA Policies • One Stop Certification ? Ginny Carroll provided a handout looking for recommendations on what is important for these One Stops. She asked the Board to think about both the customer and employer satisfaction. Garret Oswald suggested due to time constraints, sending out an email to all Board members for review and bringing back to the next Board meeting on September 30th. Fred Webber asked for approval of sending the email. Mel Clarrage motioned. Jon Mason seconded. All approved. • Youth Service Provider Criteria ? Ginny Carroll provided a handout. The task: Identify criteria that must be used by Local Areas in selection of Title I Youth Services.
• Joanna Russell clarified that this handout is not the RFP document. • Ginny Carroll stated that the youth committees had a lot of input on the suggested criteria. The rest is required by Law. She strongly stated that these programs have the ability to change lives. She asked the Board members to provide input on what they feel is the most important criteria. • Jim Howard from the Maine State Corrections wanted to make sure the program includes early intervention before release.
• Fred Webber asked for approval on giving additional information and OK for the criteria right now. Tom Davis motioned. Scott Good seconded. Unanimously approved. The State Board Criteria for WIOA Title 1 ? Youth Service Providers will go out Monday August 8, 2016 for a 2 week public comment. • Training Expenditure Requirement ? Garret Oswald ? since this is not a WIOA deadline Policy, we will address at the next meeting due to time constraints.

Meeting adjourned.

Next meeting will be held on Friday, September 30th from 9:30 ? 12:00 in the Frances Perkins Room MDOL 45 Commerce Drive, Augusta.

Respectfully submitted by Cheryl Moran


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