REPORT/RECOMMENDATION TO THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS
OF SAN BERNARDINO COUNTY
AND RECORD OF ACTION
February 25, 2025
FROM
BRADLEY GATES, Director, Workforce Development Department
SUBJECT
Title
Application to the State of California Workforce Development Board for the America’s Job Center of California Adult and Dislocated Worker Career Services Provider Designation
End
RECOMMENDATION(S)
Recommendation
1. Approve the submission of the application to the State of California Workforce Development Board for the San Bernardino County Workforce Development Board designation as the America’s Job Center of California Adult and Dislocated Worker Career Services Provider under the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act, for a term of four years from July 1, 2025, to June 30, 2029.
2. Authorize the Chair of the Board of Supervisors to submit a request letter to the State of California Workforce Development Board seeking designation of the San Bernardino County Workforce Development Board as the America’s Job Center of California Adult and Dislocated Worker Career Services Provider.
(Presenter: Bradley Gates, Director, 387-9862)
Body
COUNTY AND CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER GOALS & OBJECTIVES
Create, Maintain and Grow Jobs and Economic Value in the County.
Provide for the Safety, Health and Social Service Needs of County Residents.
FINANCIAL IMPACT
Approval of this item will not impact Discretionary General Funding (Net County Cost). The application to the State of California Workforce Development Board (State) is non-financial; however, should the San Bernardino County Workforce Development Board (WDB) be designated as the America’s Job Center of California (AJCC) Adult and Dislocated Worker Career Services Provider (Provider), funding is fully provided through the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) to provide services. WIOA sub-grant Revenue Agreement No. 24-711, in the amount of $6,524,862, was approved by the Board of Supervisors (Board) on August 6, 2024 (Item No. 49) and includes funding to provide career services in the county. Adequate appropriation and revenue have been included in the Workforce Development Department’s (WDD) 2025-26 budget (5712252260) and will be included in future recommended budgets, as needed.
BACKGROUND INFORMATION
On May 1, 2023, the Employment Development Department (EDD) released direction regarding the selection of the AJCC Provider under WIOA. In order for a local workforce development board to be designated as the AJCC Provider, an application must be submitted to the Governor by the Chief Elected Official of the county (Chair of the Board) and the local board chair of the Workforce Development Board. The State will then either recommend approval or denial of the AJCC Provider application to the Governor, no later than June 1, 2025, for a four-year period ending June 30, 2029.
The Governor shall approve the application if the local workforce board can demonstrate that it has:
• Experience providing career services;
• Met performance accountability measures for 2020-21 and 2021-22;
• Proven to be effective and efficient in providing such services as evidenced by testimonials from customers and partner agencies; and
• Provided a statement from the Chief Elected Official of the county requesting that the local board serve as the AJCC Provider.
With regard to the first and third requirements, over the last 23 years, operating under the initial Workforce Investment Act and, subsequently, WIOA, the WDB has developed a successful, effective and efficient program of providing employment services throughout the county. Currently, the WDB operates three AJCCs, located in the High Desert, East Valley, and West Valley. WDD staff provide career services, including one-on-one assessment, employment workshops, job development, job search and placement assistance, and vocational and on-the-job training services. Furthermore, WDD’s Business Services Unit serves the business community to support the retention of jobs and develop employment opportunities for the customers who use AJCC services. Businesses have access to customized recruitment services, specialized job fairs, labor market information, customized training, lay-off aversion services, and access to a large pool of screened job applicants through the AJCC.
WIOA requires AJCC Providers to be procured by the WDB every four years. A local board, such as WDB, may be designated as the AJCC Provider with the approval of the Chief Elected Official of the county and the Governor. On February 14, 2017 (Item No. 73) and February 9, 2021 (Item No. 61), the Board approved the submission of applications to the State for the WDB to serve as the AJCC Provider. The Governor approved both WDB’s applications.
The experienced case managers/advisors, business services, and other staff of the AJCC are vital to the continued success of the WIOA program in the County. Allowing the WDB to continue as the AJCC Provider provides positive, long-term impacts on the economic development and prosperity of the county.
As for the second requirement, the performance accountability measures compare the customers who have exited the program after receiving services, including the rate of those who have gained employment, the employment retention rate, and the average earnings. For 2020-21 and 2021-22, the WDB has met or exceeded all WIOA performance measures while serving as the AJCC Provider. WDB far exceeded the performance requirements that on July 31, 2023, it received notice from the State that the WDB was designated as a High Performance Board for the period of July 1, 2023, through June 30, 2026. This recognition is highly favorable to achieve the sought after designation as the AJCC Provider.
To be considered a High Performing Board, the local board must have performed successfully; have approved Regional and Local Plans; met WIOA Training Expenditure Requirements; met WIOA Youth Funding Requirements; and have a detailed Business Services Plan. High Performing Bards are also eligible to received incentive funds from the Governor.
Recommendation No. 2, which is requesting authority for the Chair of the Board to submit a letter to the State requesting designation as the AJCC Provider, meets the fourth requirement from the Governor.
PROCUREMENT
N/A
REVIEW BY OTHERS
This item has been reviewed by County Counsel (Sophie A. Curtis, Deputy County Counsel, 387-5455) on February 12, 2025; Finance (Carl Lofton, Administrative Analyst, 387-5404) on February 10, 2025; and County Finance and Administration (Robert Saldana, Deputy Executive Officer, 387-5423) on February 10, 2025.