Explanation
BACKGROUND: This legislation authorizes the Director of the Department of Development to enter into a not-for-profit service contract with Aspyr, formerly known as the Workforce Development Board of Central Ohio, to provide fiscal manager and other services as a partner in the City of Columbus CAREER 500 grant program.
The City of Columbus seeks to create the CAREER (Columbus Access to Resources for Expanding Employment Readiness) 500 grant program. This grant program is designed to provide transformative support to the workforce development ecosystem. CAREER 500 aims to uplift 500 or more Columbus residents by supporting existing programs that provide training, wraparound support, and job placement services to underemployed individuals. Workforce development organizations will be able to apply for capacity-building grants with pay-for-performance structures. The program’s strategic design is meant to help agencies maximize their strengths, expanding in areas where flexible dollars will allow them to recruit, serve, and graduate more clients. Programs like CAREER 500 have the unique benefit of serving underemployed individuals who do not qualify for traditional WIOA-funded employment services.
The not-for-profit service contract will include a fee to Aspyr for administration expenses. To ensure that grants are disbursed in an expedient manner, the Department of Development shall issue all funds associated with CAREER 500 to Aspyr in advance of program administration and grant disbursement.
Aspyr, formerly known as the Workforce Development Board of Central Ohio, is the appropriate organization to administer this program and manage these funds because of their expertise on the workforce development ecosystem in Central Ohio. Aspyr’s vision is for a future in which Central Ohio’s workforce ecosystem thrives, providing career opportunities for all and driving regional economic growth. Aspyr leads Central Ohio’s workforce development ecosystem, providin...
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