REPORT TO THE CITY COUNCIL FROM: GEORGEANNE A. WHITE, City Manager Office of the Mayor and City Manager BY: COURTNEY ESPINOZA, Business Manager Office of the Mayor and the City Manager SUBJECT ..Title Actions pertaining to allocation of One Fresno Youth Jobs Corps program funding for wrap-around services: 1. Approve three (3) Service Agreements allocating One Fresno Youth Jobs Corps grant program funding to local Community Based Organizations (CBOs) totaling $851,818 (RFP 3857) to the following organizations: (1) CASA of Fresno and Madera Counties $249,150; (2) Fresno Area Workforce Investment Corporation $281,550; and (3) Hope Now for Youth, Inc. $321,118. 2. RESOLUTION Granting Authority to the City Manager or his or her designee to enter into agreements with Community Based Organizations to provide programs and services funded by the One Fresno Youth Jobs Corps program for wrap-around services for Fellows hired in the program. ..Body RECOMMENDATION Staff is recommending the City Council approval to enter into service agreements with three CBOs to provide wrap-around services for Fellows in the One Fresno Youth Job Corp and to receive allocations from the One Fresno Youth Jobs Corps funding for local Community Based Organizations (CBOs) totaling $851,818 (RFP 3857). The CBOs listed below were selected from a competitive process to provide services to One Fresno Youth Job Corp Fellows: (1) CASA of Fresno and Madera Counties $249,150; (2) Fresno Area Workforce Investment Corporation $281,550; and (3) Hope Now for Youth, Inc. $321,118. Authorize and approve the City Manager or designee to enter and execute service agreements with each Community Based Organization (CBOs) as approved to provide wrap-around services for Fellows that are hired for this program. Wrap-around services include known and unknown barriers to employment such as childcare, transportation, work attire, mentoring and coaching services, etc. ensuring all Fellows do not have any barriers to unemployment. EXECUTIVE SUMMARY Staff is recommending the City Council approval to enter into service agreements with three CBOs to provide wrap-around services for Fellows in the One Fresno Youth Job Corp and to receive allocations from the One Fresno Youth Jobs Corps funding for local Community Based Organizations (CBOs) totaling $851,818 (RFP 3857). The CBOs listed below were selected from a competitive process to provide services to One Fresno Youth Job Corp Fellows: Organizations recommended for funding are (1) CASA of Fresno and Madera Counties $249,150; (2) Fresno Area Workforce Investment Corporation $281,550; and (3) Hope Now for Youth, Inc. $321,118. Authorize and approve the City Manager or designee to enter and execute service agreements with each Community Based Organization (CBOs) as approved to provide wrap-around services for Fellows that are hired for this program. Wrap-around services include known and unknown barriers to employment such as childcare, transportation, work attire, mentoring and coaching services, etc. ensuring all Fellows do not have any barriers to unemployment. This program is designed to provide inclusive economic investment while creating an opportunity for our most vulnerable youth to be hired and trained for employment with the City of Fresno. Services provided will help Fellows to realize their potential, obtain soft-skills and on-the jobs training for entry level positions throughout City of Fresno departments, and earn a living wage. In addition to contributing to outreach efforts for future Fellows, each selected CBO will provide various services to minimize and eliminate barriers to a successful employment experience. The City team dedicated to the operations of the One Fresno Youth Job Corps program are conducting assessments and regular check-ins with the Fellows to discuss and identify needs the Fellows may have while participating in the program. As needs are identified, the City team will coordinate a care connection with the proposed CBOs and follow up to ensure all needs are addressed to greatest extent possible. BACKGROUND On January 27, 2022, the City of Fresno received $7.4 million in funding from California Volunteers through the Governor's Office for the One Fresno Youth Jobs Corps program. As a part of Mayor Dyer's vision for 'One Fresno' and specific initiatives related to youth in our city, a workforce development program that invests in the next generation of workers and leaders in the city of Fresno is an essential piece. The primary goal of the program is to provide inclusive economic investment that includes creating opportunities for our most vulnerable youths so that they might ultimately realize economic mobility. The program will assist us in reaching this goal by providing resources necessary to invest in our young people in an inclusive way. Strategic objectives to meet this goal include: * Identifying the highest need 16- to 30-year-old youth and providing opportunities for entry-level employment in city government, as well as career paths for future upward mobility * Removing existing barriers of vulnerable residents for training and employment with the City * Providing job training, case management and mentorship through existing partnerships for all Fellows in the program * Providing Fellows with tools for success in future employment with the City or other outside organizations * Providing a living wage for Fellows throughout the duration of the program The One Fresno Youth Jobs Corps program interest and recruitment process for Fellows began April 1, 2022, and the first Fellow was hired in May 2022. With the support of all City departments, 23 fellows have been hired for the program and another 47 participants have been offered employment with the City. As a part of this program, we solicited Community-Based Organizations to provide wrap-around services to our Fellows to reduce any barriers to employment that they may have currently and throughout the life of this two-year program. Through a formal request for proposals, seven proposals were submitted totaling $4,547,846 through the City's Planet Bids portal. All proposals were vetted for completeness of all proposal submission requirements. A review committee was formed consisting of representatives from PARCS, City Manager's Office, Office of Community Affairs, and the Personnel Department. In May and June 2021, the committee held meetings to discuss proposals and make the final selection. Three proposals were chosen for award totaling $851,818. On March 21, 2022, a request for proposals for the One Fresno Youth Jobs Corps program for wrap-around services was published through our purchasing department via the City's Planet Bids portal with a due date of April 12, 2022. Seven proposals were submitted prior to the deadline and were determined ready for the review process. In May 2022, a review committee was formed, and proposals were sent to the committee for their individual review and recommendation. This committee met to discuss the proposals in depth and to provide recommendations. Through the application review process, the committee narrowed the proposals down to the following for recommendations. Below is a summary of the selected CBOs and their service proposal: CASA of Fresno and Madera Counties - This program will provide targeted outreach for those in the foster system or timing-out of the foster system to be hired as Fellows for the One Fresno Youth Jobs Corps program. CASA will also provide wrap-around services for current and future Fellows including mentorship, case management, trauma and resilience training, work attire, transportation, food, and clinical support. Fresno Area Workforce Investment Corporation - This program will provide wrap-around services to current and future Fellows within the One Fresno Youth Jobs Corps program. Services will include case management, assessments, job readiness training and supportive services including but not limited to childcare, transportation, uniforms/clothing, etc. Hope Now for Youth - This program will provide wrap-around services for current and future Fellows under the One Fresno Youth Jobs Corps program using Hope Now for Youth staff expertise in serving ex-gang and justice-impacted individuals to specifically recruit young men from the following populations: are or were justice-involved, are low-income, or have not completed high school. Hope Now for Youth will also provide targeted outreach and recruitment for Future fellows. Services include mentorship, case management, food, transportation, soft skills/workplace etiquette, and other support services. Any delay in approval will delay the ability to address identified needs for the current and future Fellows. ENVIRONMENTAL FINDING By the definition provided in the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) Guidelines Section 15378, these recommendations do not qualify as a "project" as defined by CEQA. LOCAL PREFERENCE Local preference was not considered in the bid evaluation process because this is a non-professional service. However, all of the organizations recommended are located in the City of Fresno and services proposed will assist City of Fresno residents. FISCAL IMPACT Proposals will be funded through the State of California, California Volunteers, CaliforniansForAll Youth Jobs Corps funding and will not impact the general fund. Attachments: Sample Grant Agreement Resolution - Youth Jobs Corps CBO services