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TO: Mayor Richard C. Irvin
FROM: Adrienne M. Holloway, Ph.D., Chief Innovation Officer
DATE: April 13, 2018
SUBJECT:
Resolution authorizing the execution of memoranda of understanding between the City of Aurora, St. Augustine College, CompTIA-Creating IT Futures and the Kane County Local Workforce Innovation Area #5 to be submitted to the Illinois Department of Commerce & Economic for consideration of workforce development training funds.
PURPOSE:
The Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity (DCEO), as the state agency responsible for the administration of statewide workforce development activities, outlined in the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA), funded by the U.S. Department of Labor issued a Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) for the development of workforce development training programs. A requirement of the application is to include partnership agreements in the form of a memorandum of understanding that outlines the roles and responsibilities of each partner as it relates to program responsibilities, functions and strategies.
BACKGROUND:
Interested in complementing Aurora based workforce development programs offered through existing partners, the Innovation and Core Services Department identified CompTIA-Creating IT Futures as a provider for IT training. St. Augustine College, as a successful provider of workforce development training programs in advanced manufacturing and medical administration, which also includes a strong record of graduating English Language Learners from such programs, was included in this partnership formation. Subsequently, DCEO released a Notice of Funding Opportunity for workforce development training funds. The partners, interested in moving our training concept forward, agreed to seek funding from this source. In order to submit a complete application for consideration, an executed memorandum of understanding must be included in the application package. In this partnership, the City of Aurora will be the grantee and both CompTIA-Creating IT Futures and St. Augustine College will be our training partners. Additionally, the NOFO required a partnership with the local workforce innovation area. In our case, this is the Kane County Local Workforce Innovation Area #5. The memoranda of understanding with all partners will be null and void if the City of Aurora does not receive DCEO funding under its current 2018 NOFO (#75-451).
DISCUSSION:
If awarded funds, the new IT, advanced manufacturing and medical administration workforce development programs will be offered in the city of Aurora and will have as an initial focus, training of out-of-school youth between the ages of 18 and 24. Currently, there is a dearth of training programs for this target demographic, particularly for a city the size of Aurora. Our program, if awarded grant funds, will offer our young adults an opportunity to develop skills sets that can place them on a path towards career success.
IMPACT STATEMENT:
The Innovation and Core Services Department will work with both our Community Services Division and the Finance Department to manage both programmatic and fiscal compliance with DCEO grant regulations. A portion of grant funds will also be used to cover City of Aurora administration costs associated with grant management.
RECOMMENDATIONS:
The recommendation is that the City Council adopt the attached resolution that would authorize the execution of memoranda of understanding between the City of Aurora, St. Augustine College, CompTIA-Creating IT Futures and the Kane County Local Workforce Innovation Area #5.
cc: Alderman O’Connor, Chairman
Alderman Mesiacos
Alderman Bugg
Alderman Mervine, Alternate
CITY OF AURORA, ILLINOIS
RESOLUTION NO. _________
DATE OF PASSAGE ________________
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A Resolution authorizing the execution of memoranda of understanding between the City of Aurora, St. Augustine College, CompTIA-Creating IT Futures and the Kane County Local Workforce Innovation Area #5 to be submitted to the Illinois Department of Commerce & Economic for consideration of workforce development training funds.
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WHEREAS, the City of Aurora has a population of more than 25,000 persons and is, therefore, a home rule unit under subsection (a) of Section 6 of Article VII of the Illinois Constitution of 1970; and
WHEREAS, subject to said Section, a home rule unit may exercise any power and perform any function pertaining to its government and affairs for the protection of the public health, safety, morals, and welfare; and
WHEREAS, the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity (DCEO), as the state agency responsible for the administration of statewide workforce development activities, outlined in the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA), funded by the U.S. Department of Labor issued a Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) for the development of workforce development programs: and
WHEREAS, a requirement of the application is to include partnership agreements in the form of memoranda of understanding that outlines the roles and responsibilities of each partner as it relates to program responsibilities, functions and strategies, and
WHEREAS, the memoranda of understanding for this partnership where the City of Aurora is the grantee and both CompTIA-Creating IT Futures and St. Augustine College are program training partners and the Kane County Local Workforce Development Area #5, a required partner as included in the NOFO, will be null and void if the City of Aurora does not receive DCEO funding from its current 2018 NOFO (#75-451; and
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the City Council of the City of Aurora, Illinois, as follows: the City of Aurora is authorized to enter into memoranda of understanding with CompTIA-Creating IT Futures, St. Augustine College and the Kane County Local Workforce Innovation Area #5 for the purpose of submitting a funding application in response to the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity 2018 NOFO.