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Project HOPE Core Committee Minutes 7 19 12PROJECT HOPE Project HOPE Core Committee Minutes Thursday, July 19, 2012 CFGD Board Room Present: Kristin Dietzel, Shirley Horstman, Wendy Knight, Susan Stork, Kelly Deutmeyer, Eric Dregne, Michelle Balek Excused: Ron Axtel, Wendy Mihm - Herold Opportunity Dubuque Update The next Orientation will be held on Wednesday, October 24, 2012 from 1 -4 p.m. in the Conference Center of the NICC Peosta campus. Bodine and EIMCo have agreed to do the tours, and possibly Randy Decker's business as well. This will also be a time when 2 staff from Iowa Works will come for a visit. Kelley will finalize the times with them, but the suggestion is: • About 11:30- 12:30: Lunch then travel to Peosta • 1:00 pm - attend the first hour or so of the Orientation until the tours • More detailed discussion with a small group from the PH Core Committee about the program. Some discussion centered on doing outreach to the rural areas and to Western Dubuque. • GDDC or DubuqueWorks has a media list for these areas that we can utilize. Bundle with GDDC ads that will go out — mentioning Opportunity Dubuque • Eric and Shirley will make a contact with Western Dubuque and set up a meeting that one or both Wendy's would also participate in to connect that school system with the program. • Kelley also has a list of clients in their housing programs and those on a waiting list that could receive information about the Orientation, etc. • Sarah mentioned that Opportunity Dubuque could present at their "You're Hired" event on October 10th. Concerns from employers were surfaced at a recent meeting, and discussion ensued of how we can improve communication with and engagement of employers in the program. Ideas surfaced: • Wendy will be working on a communication calendar /schedule of how (email, phone) and when to get info to employers O 2 weeks before an event O Need help in making phone calls O Emails that are sent out, Wendy will cc the Core Committee • Build in places in the program where employers meet students /participants O Bring in employers when shift from classroom to shop /lab O Perhaps hold interviews at that time — potential for part -time hire while studies continue Hold a mini -job fair the same day as graduation, a few hours prior so the students can get information from a variety of employers, employers can recruit • Ultimately employers need to take an active role in recruiting participants Kelley then shared a couple of ideas from the National Meeting of Workforce Development Professionals which prompted discussion: • Supporting Worker Needs programs that take a holistic approach and connect with community partners to provide needed services Shirley is in the process of putting together a resource list of health and other services in the community that we can adapt and make available to participants. Michelle will work with this to include other supportive services in the community (Dress for Success, Crescent Community Health Center, etc.) Look for providers /services that are free or at a discount • Blended Model: goal of program mentioned was to get an internship Clients themselves were responsible to secure the internship Employers financially supported the training The State of Iowa has a program that pays $3,000 to employer who offers an internship (for a year) Our goal is actual employment, not an internship Partner employers need equal access to the pool of participants • Create a "package" for employers — eventually we could set an amount they would pay (i.e. $500) for each participant they hire. That would help toward the funding gap, and move toward sustaining the program It was mentioned that we should be looking for any possibilities to nominate Opportunity Dubuque for various awards to help get the word out and attract funding. (This item should be kept on the agenda to keep it before the committee.) Send descriptive material to Sarah and she will work on the nomination to the Chamber. Places to keep in mind: • MAEDC: Mid American Economic Development Council • Chamber annual award for Community Impact • NAWD • IEDC • NADO Success Center Discussion Shirley reported that the DCSD has signed the MOU and it is on its way to NICC for Wendy Mihm Herold's signature. About 5 candidates were interviewed by Eric, Sue and Shirley. Tomorrow they will have a second interview with a very promising candidate whose skill set would be a plus in firmly establishing and building the center. Sue reported that approval was obtained to shuffle some grant monies to do some minor remodeling (remove the big window just inside the center). They are waiting for 2 more bids and once a contractor is chosen, it should only take 2 -3 days to complete the project. NEXT STEPS — and Questions • It was decided that Mike, communications person from DCSD, would take the lead on the initial marketing piece, working with all partners to ensure that any press release, etc. adequately reflects Project HOPE and its partners. • If the candidate being interviewed for a second time gets the position, he has marketing experience and could help set the timeline for launch, etc. • There needs to be a big event, such as a ribbon - cutting ceremony, but only after it has been up and running for a time. • Kristin reported that NICC applied for a grant of $200,000 (Bank of America) for a Success Coach, tuition, gap funding. • Would there be funding for scholarships for youth to get into NICC programs /certificates other than manufacturing (health care, etc.)? Kelley said they have some youth dollars (income /barrier criteria) — perhaps priority could be given to those going through the Success Center. Kelley will talk with Ron about this. • NICC offers a Health Care Academy for free — this may be an avenue for youth I the program to see if this is what they really want to pursue. • Are there other opportunities /ways for these youth to do job shadowing? Kelley reported on a Career Test Drive project /website that will be launching soon that could be helpful in this regard. • How can we help NICC in recruiting instructors for these advanced certificate trainings? Perhaps through Dan McDonald at GDDC we can get some ideas of how to recruit from businesses OTHER ITEMS Michelle distributed to the group a copy of the Project HOPE work plan for 2012 -2013 along with the beginning of a data collection format for each of the PH programs. While the Core Committee has been dealing mainly with Opportunity Dubuque and the Success Center, there are other programs and aspects of Project HOPE. Committee members are asked to review the documents and give feedback, especially in terms of the proposed metrics. TASKS TO DO: • Eric and Shirley will make a contact with Western Dubuque and set up a meeting about their potential participation in Opportunity Dubuque • Members will utilize their lists to help spread the word about the program, especially in the rural areas • Wendy Knight will be working on a communication calendar /schedule (employers) • Shirley & Michelle will work on a list of supportive services in the community to share with participants • Committee members will review the PH work plan and proposed metrics and give feedback — some discussion at the next meeting. ANNOUNCEMENTS: NLC Reengagement Center Network will convene in Denver in early December (sometime between December 4 and 7). It would be good to have a delegation participate. Next meeting will be Thursday, August 16, 2012 at 7:30 am in the CFGD Board Room.