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1 <br /> ORANGE COUNTY <br /> BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS <br /> ACTION AGENDA ITEM ABSTRACT <br /> Meeting Date: December 12, 2017 <br /> Action Agenda <br /> Item No. 8-f <br /> SUBJECT: Food and Nutrition Employment and Training and WIOA Workforce Innovation <br /> and Opportunity Act Grants <br /> DEPARTMENT: Social Services <br /> ATTACHMENT(S): INFORMATION CONTACT: <br /> Nancy Coston, 919-245-2800 <br /> Annette Moore, 919-245-2137 <br /> PURPOSE: To ratify the County Manager's execution of the continuation of Food and Nutrition <br /> Employment & Training grant funds contract for the period of October 1, 2017 through <br /> September 30, 2018 and approve the FY 2017-18 Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act <br /> ("WIOA") contract. <br /> BACKGROUND: In 2013, the Social Services Department piloted a Food & Nutrition <br /> Employment and Training (FNS E&T) Program for low income individuals. The purpose of the <br /> FNS E&T program is to provide employment services, education, training, work experience, and <br /> retention services for 90 days to recipients of FNS benefits who volunteer for the program. <br /> The goal is that this employment and training assistance will result in employment at a livable <br /> wage which will lead participants to self-sufficiency. Staff anticipates assisting an estimated 300 <br /> unduplicated participants in 2017-2018. <br /> In prior years, funding was received from the state via an allocation increase. However, this <br /> year due to an oversight, this contract was inadvertently not placed on the BOCC's agenda in <br /> time to secure continuation efforts. Since this program has been discussed several times <br /> during work sessions and the required match dollars were already approved in this year's <br /> budget, and in order to maintain the grant funding, the county manager signed the continuation <br /> contract with the NC Department of Health and Human Services, Division of Social Services. <br /> In June 2017, DSS was awarded the WIOA grant after a competitive process and the <br /> Commissioners approved the funds during the process. This grant provides employment and <br /> training opportunities for adults and dislocated workers. It also provides staff to provide <br /> administrative oversight of the Skills Development/Career Center. This is Orange County first <br /> award to serve this population. <br /> FINANCIAL IMPACT: The FNS E&T grant award of $399,908 provides significant support to <br /> assist both unemployed and underemployed individuals in Orange County. The match funds of <br />