Fiscal Note
The proposed resolution authorizes acceptance of a $150,000 grant from the National League of Cities to support equitable economic recovery and growth for marginalized youth and emerging young adults who are interested in careers in science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) fields. The Community Development Division’s revenue and purchased services will be amended to reflect the amount of the award. No additional City appropriation is required.
Title
Amending the Community Development Division's 2022 Operating Budget and authorizing the Division to accept grant funds ($150,000) from the National League of Cities (NLC) to support creating equitable outcomes for marginalized youth, particularly in high-demand science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) work force industries.
Body
In December 2021, the City of Madison joined a cohort of municipalities through the National League of Cities (NLC) to support the Youth Excel: Cities Advancing Equitable Youth Economic Recovery and Empowerment Initiative. The goal of the initiative is to implement short and long-term programs and practices that will support equitable economic recovery and growth for marginalized youth and emerging young adults ages 16 to 24 who are interested in careers in the STEM workforce. The NLC will provide the City of Madison technical assistance to create policy recommendations and programming advice for suggested service models to improve the coordinated education, training, and support services to Madison youth and emerging young adult residents. The NLC invited members to apply, and Madison was awarded, $150,000 in grant funding to help further develop the work over the next 18-24 months. The Community Development Division (CDD) will manage these funds and oversee the Youth Excel initiative.
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 youth by building strong pathways to quality jobs in STEM industries and promote long-term family and community economic security.
CDD already supports various youth and adult 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, the Workforce Development Board of South Central Wisconsin, and the Wisconsin Center for Education Research. These partnerships will allow for the recommendations to be presented in a collective approach to the educational and training needs of our BIPOC residents. These funds will bolster planning for local partners and community-based agencies to target and improve outcomes for youth and young adult participants, resulting in equitable access to education and training for careers in the STEM workforce. Outcomes from this planning 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 $150,000 planning grant from the National League of Cities (NLC), to support the Youth Excel: Cities Advancing Equitable Youth Economic Recovery and Empowerment Initiative; and,
WHEREAS, through this initiative, the NLC will offer 24 months of technical assistance to the City of Madison’s CDD, to aid in the development of a strength needs assessment for youth wanting to pursue education and training for STEM careers; and,
WHEREAS, CDD’s 2022 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 $150,000 planning grant from the NLC Fund to be used to implement and manage an Equitable Youth Economic Recovery and Empowerment Initiative; and,
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Community Development Division’s 2022 Operating Budget is amended to reflect the receipt of the $150,000 grant awards and the corresponding expenditure authority; and,
BE IT FINALLY RESOLVED that the Mayor and City Clerk are authorized to enter into a contract with the National League of Cities (NLC ) to implement the activities for which funds were provided.