Fiscal Note
Funding for the Wanda Fullmore Internship program is included in CDD’s 2016 operating budget in MUNIS account 62224-54820 (Service: Economic Development and Employment Opportunities, Object: Community Agency Contracts). The adopted funding level will support 50 internship spots.
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SUBSTITUTE Approving the provision of up to $120,000 to Commonwealth Development Inc. for contracted staff and administrative costs associated with recruiting, training, supporting and paying salary and fringe costs for approximately 50 youth interns for the 2016 Wanda Fullmore Youth Internship Program, and authorizing the Mayor and the City Clerk to enter into an agreement with Commonwealth Development Inc. to implement the program.
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Background:
In 2014, the City implemented the Wanda Fullmore Youth Internship Program, which provided paid City internships opportunities for 20 young persons. City agency budgets were amended to provide levy-neutral, aggregate funding of approximately $50,000 for the program. In 2015, $20,000 was provided for contracted staff and administrative expenses and $48,000 in youth intern salaries and fringe costs. In 2016, the adopted Operating budget includes up to a total of $120,000, including approximately $30,000 for contracted staff and administrative costs and $90,000 for youth wages and fringe costs to be administered by the Community Development Division.
WHEREAS, the poverty rate for people with less than a high school diploma is nearly 35%, compared to a rate of only 5% for those who earn a college degree; and,
WHEREAS 88.7% of Black children, 80.7% of Hispanic children, and 88% of Hmong children attending the Madison Metropolitan School District receive free/reduced lunch and;
WHEREAS, the estimated unemployment rate (2008-2010) in Dane County was 19.8% African-Americans, 5.1% for Latinos and 5.7% for Asians, (please note the unemployment rate for Latinos is likely under-reported due to immigration status) and;
WHEREAS, African-Americans in our community are more than four times as likely to be without a high school degree than their white counterparts; and,
WHEREAS, the unemployment rate for African -Americans in Dane County is greater than 25%, and the poverty rate for Black children is nearly 75%; and,
WHEREAS, the City of Madison has identified the provision of youth employment opportunities as one strategy to address these disparities and created the Wanda Fullmore Youth Internship Program to help provide such opportunities; and,
WHEREAS, the Wanda Fullmore Youth Internship Program provides on the job experience, exposure to the world of work, and career awareness to high school age youth who face barriers to employment through placement with a City agency; and,
WHEREAS, the City of Madison has identified approximately twenty City government Departments, Divisions and Offices that will host approximately 50 high school age interns in the summer of 2016; and,
WHEREAS, the Community Development Division conducted a competitive request for proposal process to select a non-profit intermediary to recruit, train, support and pay wages and fringe costs for high school age youth for an 8-week summer internship in multiple City of Madison agencies; and,
WHEREAS, the request for proposals allowed for a two-year contract extension pending approval of funds in the City of Madison Operating budgets in 2017 and 2018, and provided the contracted agency has demonstrated the ability to meet contract goals; and
WHEREAS, a review panel evaluated two submitted proposals, and recommended awarding a contract to Commonwealth Development Inc. up to $120,000 for staff and administrative costs associated with recruiting, training, supporting and paying salary and fringe costs for approximately 50 youth interns in 2016. The recommendation would continue the contract for two additional years pending the authorization of needed funds in future operating budgets and Commonwealth’s satisfaction of specified contract goals.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that the Common Council hereby approves the recommendation as detailed above; and,
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the Common Council authorizes the Mayor and the City Clerk to execute agreements with Commonwealth Development Inc. for the described activities.