Agenda - 12-09-2014 - 6h - Laserfiche WebLink

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Although many individuals receive comprehensive services at the Skills Development Center in Chapel Hill, there have been fewer opportunities in the northern part of the County and transportation between Hillsborough and Chapel Hill can be challenging for participants. There currently is a small resource room at DSS that is utilized by individuals to complete resumes and job searches and there are two classrooms, primarily used by Work First participants. As DSS has become more involved with employers, there have been competing groups asking to use the offices and meeting rooms in the public access area at DSS. For example, one business has hired persons through DSS and uses space at DSS to access families needing free or reduced cost phones. Another temporary agency has used DSS space to meet potential employees and conducted interviews on site. The agency has also sponsored job fairs utilizing all the space in the public area. At times these programs are competing with other nonprofits and service agencies trying to use space at DSS to allow clients easy access to their services. By providing additional space for employment activities, DSS can offer to partner with more employers and assist more unemployed or underemployed individuals without impacting other services for clients. A small space within the DSS has been designated for youth involved in the WIA program. However, the space is in the back of the building, creating some access barriers for the youth. DSS proposes using some of the adjacent space to allow a larger, more accessible space for youth to utilize when involved in agency efforts to increase their education and employment potential. In addition, DSS would also like to work with some of the youth and possibly other employment participants on entrepreneurial and business activities to enhance their skills. Since the Dollar Tree was providing a place for staff and visitors to purchase drinks and snacks, the agency would like to develop a canteen and support this activity for the participants as a way to understand business operations and to help them develop skills in managing small businesses. This has been used in other communities as a successful training program and resume - building activity for youth and others needing employment. Having such an activity located next to DSS allows for staff support and a targeted audience for their service. DSS has become increasingly focused on employment activities for all clients or persons accessing the agency. By increasing wages for families, DSS hopes to increase their ability to meet more of their own needs, thus needing fewer public services. By acquiring this space, DSS can continue to expand this effort, seek more employment grants (such as ones to serve Veterans) and provide services to the northern part of the County. Due to the enhanced rate for Medicaid administrative costs of 75% and the realignment of staff to the Medicaid program, DSS anticipates receiving over $500,000 in unanticipated revenue for economic services overhead this year, thus freeing up funds for other uses. Although some of this may be needed for child care, there should still be sufficient County funds to cover any costs for this year, including one -time expenditures to prepare the space for use. The Board may recall that the Space Study Workgroup is working diligently on the County's space assessment and needs in preparation for a report to the Board in the spring of 2015, coordinated with the Capital Investment Planning process. This Lease amendment reflects a short duration, one year Lease term so that the Workgroup can fully analyze the short and long-