Workforce Service Area (WSA) Study Proposal (Draft 7-11-03)

Scope and expectations:

1. Study the current configuration of Workforce Service Areas in Minnesota and whether the efficiency or quality of service delivery could be improved by changing the boundaries of the Workforce Service Areas or reducing the number of areas.
2. Develop recommendations for clarifying the governance role of the Local Workforce Councils.
3. Create strategies for improving the ability of the Local Workforce Councils (LWC) and Local Elected Officials to oversee and manage an integrated service delivery system at the community level.

Leadership:  GWDC Creating System Excellence (CSE) Committee – Chaired by Dave MacKenzie, HHH Job Corps Center 

Governor’s Workforce Development Council (GWDC) committee members:

Gordon Aanerud, Carlton County Commissioner and Northeast MN LWC Member
Tom Bakk, State Senator (not confirmed)
LaDonna Boyd, Dakota Electric and Dakota County LWC Member
Don Gerdesmeier, MN DRIVE
Jim Johnson, Southeast MN Technical College and Winona County LWC Member
John Molinaro, West Central Initiative
David Nasby, General Mills and City of Minneapolis LWC Member (not confirmed)
Willie Negaard, Michelle’s Catering and South Central MN LWC Member
Tom Norman, University of Minnesota
Lynne Osterman, State House of Representatives
Jan Wiessner, Ramsey County Commissioner and Ramsey County LWC Member (not confirmed)

Additional committee members:
Erik Aamoth, Department of Employment and Economic Development (DEED)
Windy Block, Southwest MN LWC Member
Bonnie Elsey, DEED
Bob Hand, Metro Area Job Service
Randy Johnson, Southeast MN Job Training Director (not confirmed)
Ken Jude, retired Wright County Commissioner and Central MN LWC Member
Bob Niemiec, Bob Niemiec Training and Consulting
Bob Noah, Goodhue County Commissioner and Southeast MN LWC Member
Shelley Rose, Ramsey County LWC Member
Jack Stoehr, Metro Area Rehabilitation Services
Trish Taylor, Central MN LWC Member
Dennis Yecke, DEED

Additional key stakeholders to engage throughout the development of the study:  Local Elected Officials (LEO), Local Workforce Councils (LWC), and the MN Workforce Council Association (MWCA).  Also: Association of Minnesota Counties (AMC), Department of Human Services (DHS), Department of Employment and Economic Development (DEED), League of Cities, Regional Development Commissions (RDC), and Regional Initiative Funds. 

Staff support needed/requested:

1. Todd Graham and Steve Hine, Research Unit, Department of Employment and Economic Development (DEED), to work with the committee on compiling labor market data and estimating cost savings over a designated period of time if reorganization would occur.
2. Lee Helgen, MN Workforce Council Association, to help bring together the Local Elected Officials and Local Workforce Council leadership and to help gather information from those areas in order to support the study.
3. Chuck Johnson, Department of Human Services, to review current service delivery structure of workforce development programs at the county level (MFIP/FSET).
4. Bryce Miller, Policy, Planning, and Measures Office, DEED, to gather information from other states regarding the structure of their Workforce Service Areas, how they were determined, and how they link with other structures within the state
5. Rick Caligiuri, Job Skills Partnership Board and Libby Starling, Policy, Planning, and Measures Office, DEED, to gather input from stakeholders through listening sessions being held throughout the state.
6. Kathy Sweeney, Luke Weisberg, and Koryn Zewers, Governor’s Workforce Development Council Staff, to support the work of the Extended Creating System Excellence Committee.

Dislocated Worker Program Study

Revised outline for discussion  7/18/03

Scope and expectations:  Recommend administrative and/or programmatic changes at both state and local levels that would improve the program’s administrative efficiency and report recommendations to the Legislature in the context of the rest of the workforce development portfolio.

Leadership:  Ad Hoc GWDC Committee chaired Norb Conzemius (MJSPB/GWDC member)

Key stakeholders to engage:  DWP providers, Local Elected Officials, and Local Workforce Councils.  Also, employers who have worked with DWP, other workforce service providers, WorkForce Center managers, business leaders, worker advocates, and others.

Process / timeline:

June 30, 2003:    MJSPB reviews and offers input to Dislocated Worker Study proposal 

July 18, 2003:  GWDC Full Council reviews and approves Dislocated Worker Study proposal 

By July 21:  Ad Hoc Committee is named and meeting schedule established.  Suggested four meetings between July and end of September.   

First meeting:  Affirm DWP goals/mission, definition of efficiency, and identify key program elements for review.

By August 15: Background review of review of previous studies and relevant material completed (Berkley Reports, MJSP work group material).  Staff prepare context / background briefing for committee members to be used in reporting back to Legislature.

By September 26: Four meetings of ad hoc committee are complete.  Process analysis of state and local Dislocated Worker Program operations is completed and reviewed by ad hoc committee.  Ad Hoc committee has reviewed and discussed key operational elements of the program as defined during first meeting.  Ad Hoc committee has also heard relevant service delivery concerns raised through DEED “listening sessions” and other venues.  Draft recommendations are developed.

By October 15:  Draft recommendations for administrative changes and programmatic improvements for the Dislocated Worker Program are completed.  Committee meets to discuss and amend draft recommendations.

By October 31: Final draft recommendations are circulated among stakeholders for comment.

By November 21:  Comment period is completed for review, discussion, and reaction to draft recommendations.

By December 19:  Final draft report to Legislature is available for review and discussion by GWDC.

January 2004:  Final draft report reviewed and discussed by GWDC.  Final report approved and forwarded to legislative committees and others as appropriate.

Support requested/needed:

1.      Gail Sather, Department of Employment and Economic Development, to serve as staff with the ad hoc committee.  Support from Paul D. Moe, DWP program director and Jim Korkki, Director of Employment Programs.

2.      Lee Helgen, Minnesota Workforce Council Association, to help bring together the Local Elected Officials and Local Workforce Council leadership to support the study.

3.      Anthony Alongi / Cristine Leavitt, staff from DEED Policy, Planning and Measures office to assist in facilitating and recording committee meetings and discussions.

4.      Other DWP staff, Department of Employment and Economic Development, to gather information regarding program activity, structure, and concerns as needed by the ad hoc committee.

DISLOCATED WORKER PROGRAM STUDY AD HOC COMMITTEE

Leadership: Norb Conzemius, Former Business Owner, MJSPB/GWDC business representative (confirmed)

Local Workforce Council Members and Staff

·         Tom Bodine, Hennepin County LWC Chair (or another Local Workforce Council chair)

·         Jerry Vitzhum, Anoka County staff  (confirmed)

·         Bill Gray, Former Hennepin County LWC Chair (confirmed)

·         Dennis Wain, Northeast Minnesota Jobs and Training staff  (confirmed)

MJSPB / GWDC members

·         Carrie Thomas, Jobs Now Coalition and MJSPB community-based organization representative  (confirmed)

·         C. David Jones, PDI and MJSPB business representative  (confirmed)

·         Larry Mareck, Carpenter’s Union, Stearns-Benton Local Workforce Council member, and MJSPB/GWDC labor representative

Independent Grantees / Additional Providers

·         Jean Dunn, Teamsters Service Bureau  (confirmed)

·         Jane Samargia, HIRED (confirmed)

DEED Leadership

·         Erik Aamoth, Assistant Commissioner for Workforce Partnerships

·         Bonnie Elsey, Assistant Commissioner for Workforce Services

·         Jack Weidenbach / Chuck Hartfiel, Unemployment Insurance

Employers / Affected Workers

·         Large employer affected by mass layoffs (NWA, Fingerhut?) 

Other organizations/entities to include for input/comment:

Department of Employment and Economic Development
Local Elected Officials

Local Workforce Councils

MN Workforce Council Association

Staff Support:
Lee Helgen
Jim Korkki
Anthony Alongi / Cristine Leavitt
Paul D. More
Gail Sather
Kathy Sweeney
Luke Weisberg
Koryn Zewers