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.