REPORT/RECOMMENDATION TO THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS
OF SAN BERNARDINO COUNTY
AND RECORD OF ACTION
August 18, 2026
FROM
BRADLEY GATES, Director, Workforce Development Department
SUBJECT
Title
Memorandum of Understanding for the Inland Empire Regional Planning Unit with County of Riverside
End
RECOMMENDATION(S)
Recommendation
1. Approve Memorandum of Understanding with the County of Riverside by and through its Housing and Workforce Solutions, Workforce Development Division, for the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act Inland Empire Regional Planning Unit, for the term of September 1, 2026 through June 30, 2031.
2. Approve the Inland Empire Regional Planning Unit Service Agreement template, attached as Exhibit B to the Memorandum of Understanding, for utilization between the County of Riverside by and through its Housing and Workforce Solutions, Workforce Development Division, for regional grants for the period of September 1, 2026 through June 30, 2031.
3. Authorize the Director or Assistant Director of the Workforce Development Department to execute the individual Inland Empire Regional Planning Unit Service Agreements with the County of Riverside, execute non-substantive amendments to the service agreements, and amend the list in Exhibit A Subgrants to the Memorandum of Understanding to add executed service agreements, provided that the terms do not extend beyond June 30, 2031, and the cumulative amounts do not exceed $2,000,000 per year and $10,000,000 over the five-year term of September 1, 2026 through June 30, 2031, subject to review by County Counsel.
(Presenter: Bradley Gates, Director, 387-9856)
Body
COUNTY AND CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER GOALS & OBJECTIVES
Create, Maintain and Grow Employment Opportunities and Economic Value in the County.
Improve County Government Operations.
Operate in a Fiscally-Responsible and Business-Like Manner.
Foster Sustainable Development Through Strategic Partnerships.
Provide for the Safety, Health and Social Service Needs of County Residents.
FINANCIAL IMPACT
Approval of this item will not result in the use of Discretionary General Funding (Net County Cost). The Inland Empire Regional Planning Unit (IERPU) Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the County of Riverside by and through its Housing and Workforce Solutions, Workforce Development Division, (Riverside) provides the administrative framework for the counties to collaborate on the shared expenditure of regional grant funds received from the California Workforce Development Board (CWDB) and other funding sources. Adequate appropriation and revenue related to the separately approved grant agreements will be included in the Workforce Development Department’s (WDD) 2026-27 recommended budget and future recommended budgets.
BACKGROUND INFORMATION
In 2016, the CWDB designated Regional Planning Units, comprised of Local Workforce Development Boards, for the purpose of implementing regional activities under the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA). The IERPU includes the San Bernardino County Workforce Development Board (SBCWDB) and the Riverside County Workforce Development Board (RCWDB).
Since the creation of the Regional Plan, the IERPU has been awarded various grants through either Riverside or San Bernardino County (San Bernardino) as the administrative and fiscal lead.
Each pool of grant funds supports the work planned under the Regional Plan and requires sharing of tasks and funding with the county.
On April 3, 2018 (Item No. 38) the Board of Supervisors (Board) approved a MOU with Riverside County (2018 MOU) to serve as an umbrella agreement between the two counties for the use of regional grant funds, with an initial term end date of June 30, 2021.
The 2018 MOU was created to serve as an umbrella agreement for the use of the regional grant funds and other WIOA funding for regional plan activities to coincide with the Regional Plan. The 2018 MOU allowed for the sharing of current grant funds within the IERPU, regardless of the designated administrative lead, and provided a mechanism by which funds for regional planning could be shared between the counties.
Below is a listing of the three amendments to the 2018 MOU that were approved by the Board:
|
Board Date |
Item No. |
Purpose |
|
December 17, 2019 |
67 |
Amendment No. 1 to the MOU with Riverside County for the WIOA IERPU to include two additional CWDB grant awards. |
|
June 23, 2020 |
97 |
Amendment No. 2 to the MOU with Riverside County for the WIOA IERPU to include one additional CWDB grant award. |
|
June 8, 2021 |
93 |
Amendment No. 3 to the MOU with Riverside County for the WIOA IERPU to 1) include one additional CWDB grant award; 2) Increase the Service Agreement cumulative amount not to exceed $1,000,000 per year, and $5,000,000 over the term; and 3) Extend the term from Amendment No. 2, that ended on September 30, 2021, by five years, for a new contract term of April 3, 2018 through June 30, 2026. |
The amended 2018 MOU expired on June 30, 2026. This proposed new MOU will continue the partnership with Riverside to ensure efficient and timely receipt of regional grant funds. The proposed MOU will be in effect from September 1, 2026 through June 30, 2031. The proposed MOU retains the same substantive terms and conditions as the 2018 MOU but includes minor contractual updates requested by Riverside County. As was authorized by the Board under the 2018 MOU structure, each grant awarded to the IERPU will require a separate Service Agreement between the two counties.
Representatives from each county are authorized under the MOU to execute new or amend existing Inland Empire Regional Planning Unit Service Agreements (Service Agreements) between San Bernardino County and the Riverside County, without further approval from their respective boards, provided that the sum of the Total Grant Allotments for a single State and Federal Regional Grant and Subgrant does not exceed a cumulative aggregate amount of $2,000,000 per year, and $10,000,000 over the Term of this MOU. This delegation of authority enables the counties to efficiently and expediently allocate grant funds, enabling them to meet funding deadlines. The Service Agreements outline how funds are shared between the counties and define the scope of work and responsibilities for each grant.
Coordination with Riverside County is vital to the utilization of the regional funding and leveraging of resources to the greatest effect to improve the workforce system in the Inland Empire.
On March 11, 2025 (Item No. 45) the Board approved the WIOA San Bernardino County Local Plan and Inland Empire Regional Plan (Regional Plan) for program years 2025-2028, which focuses on creating strategies that develop regional, sector-based career pathways in target sectors, ensuring access for all of the region’s residents, businesses, and organizations.
WDD recommends approval of the MOU with Riverside County to strengthen local training pathways, expand access to employment opportunities, and support partnerships that build a resilient workforce throughout the region. This collaboration is expected to improve job readiness outcomes and increase training and employment opportunities for San Bernardino County residents.
WDD is seeking delegated authority that will allow the Director or Assistant Director to implement necessary updates to the Service Agreements, such as administrative corrections, changes in timelines that do not extend beyond June 30, 2031, or adjustments within the approved funding limits. This flexibility is essential for maintaining continuity of services, keeping grant agreements current, and responding quickly to operational needs within the IERPU.
To support the continued coordination and funding of regional workforce activities, a Service Agreement needs to be developed with Riverside County. These agreements will vary by project and timing and often require prompt execution to maintain compliance with state and federal workforce requirements. Delegating authority to the Director or Assistant Director to execute new Service Agreements via the approved template allows WDD to respond efficiently. This authority ensures that necessary services are implemented in a timely manner, while maintaining fiscal controls through the established annual and cumulative limits.
As program requirements and operational needs shift over time, minor adjustments to existing agreements are often necessary to maintain alignment with funding regulations, deliverables, or administrative updates. These non-substantive amendments do not change the scope, cost limits, or term already approved by the Board, but they help keep agreements accurate and compliant. Allowing the Director or Assistant Director to approve these minor amendments ensures WDD can make timely updates without delaying services. All amendments will remain within approved limits.
The IERPU MOU requires that Exhibit A Subgrants be updated as additional Service Agreements are executed under the delegated authority granted by the Board. These updates ensure accurate documentation of all agreements linked to the regional collaborative structure and that the grant allotments do need exceed the cumulative thresholds. Allowing the Director or Assistant Director to amend Exhibit A Subgrants ensures that the MOU remains current and reflects all active operational agreements without administrative delays, while continuing to adhere to County Counsel review for compliance and consistency.
PROCUREMENT
N/A
REVIEW BY OTHERS
This item has been reviewed by County Counsel (Suzanne Bryant, Deputy County Counsel, 387-5455) on August 12, 2026; and County Finance (Eduardo Mora, Administrative Analyst II, 387-4376) on July 20, 2026.