Explanation
Background: This legislation authorizes the Director of the Department of Development to enter into contract with the Central Ohio Workforce Investment Corporation (COWIC) to support Work Readiness/Job Preparedness programs and services.
COWIC is a one stop employment service provider. COWIC's mission is to meet the employment needs of businesses and job seekers to support economic development in Central Ohio. Every employer today requires candidates to be prepared and ready to go to work, and job seekers need to understand employers' expectations. A drug test, background check, and mental health assessment are three components of pre-employment screening. Pre-employment screenings, including, but not limited to background checks are components of the pre-employment process. By providing these services as part of COWIC's candidate referral process, COWIC can refer candidates whose experiences and backgrounds fit the job specifications. Therefore, COWIC will ensure the appropriate screenings are conducted provide drug testing and background checks on behalf of employers, upon request, prior to referring candidates to job openings as part of the employer's pre-employment process. This would serve as an incentive for the employers to consider the referred candidates. COWIC will conduct comprehensive Work Readiness Training or Job Preparation sessions to enhance the employability (soft skills) and computer literacy (online applications) skills needed to obtain and maintain employment.
Fiscal Impact: $50,000 is available in the 2012 General Fund budget and $40,000 from the Jobs Growth Fund for this purpose.
Title
To authorize the Director of the Department of Development to enter into contract with the Central Ohio Workforce Investment Corporation (COWIC) to support Work Readiness/Job Preparedness programs and services; to authorize the appropriation of $40,000.00 within the Jobs Growth Fund; to authorize the transfer of $40,000.00 from the Jobs Growth Fund to the General Fund; to authorize the appropriation of $40,000 from the General Fund to the Department of Development; to authorize the expenditure of $90,000.00 from the General Fund; and to declare an emergency. ($90,000.00)
Body
WHEREAS, the Central Ohio Workforce Investment Corporation (COWIC) is responsible for determining policy on a variety of workforce issues, recommending certification of training programs for providers and ensuring that the Central Ohio's labor force supply is prepared to meet the needs of local employers now and in the future; and
WHEREAS, the mission of COWIC is to meet employment needs of businesses and job seekers to support economic development in Central Ohio; and
WHEREAS, every employer today requires candidates to be prepared and ready to go to work, and job seekers need to understand employers' expectations; and
WHEREAS, a drug test, background check, and mental health assessment are three components of pre-employment screening; pre-employment assessments and screenings are components of the hiring process; and
WHEREAS, by providing ensuring completion of these services as part of COWIC's candidate referral process, COWIC can refer candidates whose experiences and backgrounds fit the job specifications; and
WHEREAS, therefore, COWIC will provide drug testing and background checks ensure that the appropriate screenings are conducted on behalf of employers, upon request, prior to referring candidates to job openings as part of the employer's pre-employment process; and
WHEREAS, this would serve as an incentive for the employers to consider the referred candidates; and
WHEREAS, COWIC will conduct comprehensive Work Readiness Training or Job Preparation sessions to enhance the employability (soft skills) and computer literacy (online applications) skills needed to obtain and maintain employment; and
WHEREAS, emergency action is requested to allow COWIC to continue providing Work Readiness/Job Preparedness programs and services without interruption; and
WHEREAS, an emergency exists in the usual daily operation of the Department of Development, in that it is immediately necessary to enter into contract with the Central Ohio Workforce Investment Corporation, thereby preserving the public health, peace, property, safety and welfare; Now, Therefore,
BE IT ORDAINED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF COLUMBUS:
Section 1. That the Director of the Department of Development is hereby authorized to enter into contract with the Central Ohio Workforce Investment Corporation (COWIC) to support Work Readiness/Job Preparedness programs and services.
Section 2. That from the unappropriated monies in the Jobs Growth Fund, Fund 015, and from all monies estimated to come into said Fund from any and all sources for the period ending December 31, 2012, the sum of $40,000.00 is hereby appropriated to the City Council, Division 20-01, Object Level One 10, Object Level Three 5501, OCA Code 200115.
Section 3. That the City Auditor be and is hereby authorized and directed to transfer $40,000 from the Jobs Growth Fund to the General Fund, as follows:
From: Jobs Growth Fund, Fund 015, City Council, Division 20-01, OCA Code 200115, Object Level One 10, Object Level Three 5501
To: General Fund, Fund 010, Department of Development, Division 44-02, OCA Code 440314, Object Level One 03, Object Level Three 0886
Section 4. That from the unappropriated monies in the General Fund, Fund No. 010, and from all monies estimated to come into said fund from any and all sources and unappropriated for any other purpose during the fiscal year ending December 31, 2012, the sum of $40,000.00 is hereby appropriated to the Department of Development, Division 44-02, Object Level One 03, Object Level Three 3337, OCA Code 440314.
Section 5. That for the purpose stated in Section 1, the expenditure of $90,000 or so much thereof as may be necessary, be and is hereby authorized to be expended from the Development Department, Economic Development Division, Division 44-02, General Fund, Fund 010, Object Level One 03, Object Level Three 3337, OCA Code 440314.
Section 6. That the funds necessary to carry out the purpose of this ordinance are hereby deemed appropriated, and the City Auditor shall establish such accounting codes as necessary.
Section 7. That this contract is awarded pursuant to Section 329.15 of the Columbus City Codes, 1959 as amended.
Section 8. That for the reasons stated in the preamble hereto, which is hereby made a part hereof, this ordinance is hereby declared to be an emergency measure and shall take effect and be in force from and after passage and approval by the Mayor, or ten days after passage if the Mayor neither approves nor vetoes the same.