Fiscal Note
The proposed resolution authorizes the acceptance of $75,000 in grant funding from the Wisconsin Division of Energy, Housing and Community Resources (DEHCR) and amends the Community Development Division’s 2023 Adopted Operating Budget. Funding will be used to support employment training and support for young adults experiencing homelessness. The Community Development Division’s revenue and purchased services will be adjusted to reflect the $75,000 award. No additional General Fund appropriation is required.
Title
Authorizing the Community Development Division to accept a $75,000 grant from the Wisconsin Division of Energy, Housing and Community Resources (DEHCR) to support creating equitable outcomes for homeless and other marginalized young adults in high-demand science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) workforce industries, and amending the Community Development Division’s 2023 Adopted Operating Budget to reflect the receipt and use of those funds.
Body
In December 2022, the City of Madison, in partnership with YWCA Madison, applied for grant funding through the State of Wisconsin Department of Administration’s Division of Energy, Housing and Community Resources Employment Grants Program. The goal of the grant is to implement short and long-term training programs and practices that will support equitable economic recovery and growth for homeless and marginalized young adults who are interested in careers in the STEM workforce.
Under the grant, the YWCA Madison will provide training and support services through their YWeb Career Academy program to young adults in Madison who experience homelessness. Grant funds will be used to pay the participants for the training academy hours. YWCA Madison will partner and sub-contract with the Community Development Division, in support of the City's goal of building human capital by prioritizing the provision of employment-related services and supports to unemployed or underemployed adults who face multiple barriers to employment to connect them to family-supporting jobs.
In and around Madison and Dane County, math, science, and technology-related education and training are in high demand in the emerging workforce economy. In the last 15 years, local changes in employment by occupation are led by computer and mathematical occupations, followed closely by heath care support, business, financial, and educational instruction. The City’s investments in education and training for these needed skills and career options will help improve the trajectory of young adults by building strong pathways to quality jobs in STEM industries and promote long-term family and community economic security.
CDD already supports various homeless and employment programs and has existing partnerships with the Madison Metropolitan School District (MMSD), Madison College, the UW Health Occupations and Professions Exploration Program (HOPE), United Way of Dane County, Greater Madison Chamber of Commerce, the Youth Employment Network of Greater Madison, Employment training network and the Workforce Development Board of South Central Wisconsin. These partnerships will allow for the further growth of programming for residents. These funds will bolster program outcomes for local participants and community-based agencies to target and improve outcomes for homeless young adult participants, resulting in equitable access to education and training for careers in the STEM workforce. Outcomes from this grant will be used to identify strengths and needs for ongoing resources within the community.
ACTION
WHEREAS, the City of Madison’s Community Development Division (CDD) has applied for, and been awarded, a $75,000 grant from the State of Wisconsin Department of Administration Division of Energy, Housing and Community Resources (DEHCR) to support the Connecting people experiencing homelessness with permanent employment program; and,
WHEREAS, through this initiative, CDD will provide funding to YWCA Madison, to provide paid stipends to City of Madison young adults who experience homelessness and are participating in the agency’s YWeb Career Academy program; and,
WHEREAS, CDD’s 2023 Adopted Operating Budget currently supports programming that focuses on economic mobility opportunities, such as employment training, financial literacy, and other community-based programming, as part of a broader strategy to support household stabilization; and,
WHEREAS, CDD continues to explore ways to improve these services and expand economic opportunity through collaboration with other government bodies, non-governmental funders, educational institutions, and financial institutions.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Common Council authorizes the Community Development Division to accept a $75,000 grant from the WI DEHCR to be used to provide paid stipends to homeless young adult participants enrolled in the YWeb Career Academy program; and,
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Community Development Division’s 2023 Adopted Operating Budget is amended to reflect the receipt of the $75,000 grant and corresponding expenditure; and,
BE IT FINALLY RESOLVED that the Mayor and City Clerk are authorized to enter into a contract with the State of Wisconsin Department of Administration Division of Energy, Housing and Community Resources to implement the activities for which funds were provided.