Planning Now for Project Sustainability Beyond WIF Keith Lawing President & CEO Workforce Alliance of South Central

1. Planning Now for Project Sustainability Beyond WIF Keith LawingPresident & CEOWorkforce Alliance of South Central KansasMarch 2014

2. Discussion Topics • Partners & Models • Sustaining Outcomes • Braided Funding

3. WIA-LWIBs-Workforce Intermediaries • Local Workforce Investment Boards - over 600 across the country to oversee and govern WIA implementation • Workforce Investment Act - federal investments in employment and skills training, dual customer approach, employer led, locally operated

4. LWIBs are like snowflakes, no two are exactly alike.

5. WIA-LWIBs-Workforce Intermediaries • Workforce Intermediaries - Local partnerships that bring together employers and workers, private and public funding streams and other local  stakeholders to create pathways to career advancement and family self-sufficiency and, at the same time, meet a current workforce need.

6. WIA-LWIBs-Workforce Intermediaries • In some regions/communities, the LWIB is the best Workforce Intermediary, in others not so much • Community-based organizations, United Way, Goodwill, community college, chamber of commerce, local government often serve as a workforce intermediary

7. Sustainability Goals How can we keep, keeping on?

8. Types of Sustainability • Philosophical - When the ‘culture’ of a region or project partners absorb a grants ideas, which become part of the operating environment that future activities and strategies emerge. (example: Sector Strategies, Skills Panels) • Relational - The extent to which partners collaborate with a unity of purpose following a grant project.

9. Types of Sustainability • Institutional - The ability and desire for the ‘home’ of the grant to support a grant or project’s work after the initial life/funding cycle ends • Programmatic - The level of activity that is taken on by partner organizations after the initial life/funding cycle ends

10. Bringing It All Together Leveraging Resources & Aligning Services

11. Blending and Braiding Funds • Blending funds involves co-mingling dollars into one "pot" for project support and so program needs can be met.  Blended funds goes into the "pot" and when it is utilized to pay for a project-related expense, there is limited ability or a fiscal manager to report which funding stream paid for exactly which expense.Blending funding is politically challenging.  Some funding streams cannot legally, and or effectively, be blended.  Other streams will require the funder to allow an exception to how reporting normally functions.  • Braided funds involves multiple funding streams utilized to pay for service needed by a targeted group/audience, with careful accounting of how every dollar from each stream is spent.Braided funding is often the only and most practical option for leveraging dollars.  Most federal funding streams require careful tracking of staff time, with requirements for allocation of personnel hours and other expenses to specific federal streams.  

12. Braided Funding:Tips & Strategies

13. Braided Funding: Tips & Strategies

14. Questions or Comments?Keith Lawing, President & CEOWorkforce Alliance of South Central Kansasklawing@workforce-ks.com316-771-6603

15. Presented by: JoAnn Breedlove, Project Director Jennifer Meek Eells, Executive Director - Workforce Initiative Association ~Enrich Communities by Building Stronger Businesses~

16. BRN Mission and Shared Vision Business Resource Network Mission The Business Resource Network helps regional businesses survive, grow and create jobs by bringing a strategic and collaborative approach to solving their problems and expanding their opportunities. This client-centered approach transcends individual programs and red tape to focus on meeting the complete business service needs of the client and delivering measurable results to our clients and communities. Shared Vision ~Enrich Communities by Building Stronger Businesses~ ~Enrich Communities by Building Stronger Businesses~

17. WIF Grant Funds the Following • EXPANSION EFFORTS • BRN Staffing • EVALUATION • Database/Licenses ~Enrich Communities by Building Stronger Businesses~

18. WHAT IF • You could make one call to connect you with dozens of resources that can help your business grow? • You had the brain power of several experts working on a growth plan for your business or to help you meet a challenge? • You had one point of contact working hand-in-hand with you to deliver a package of grants, loans, worker training, and other resources custom designed for your business? • You could do this right now with no charge? Should I Export? Where do I find good workers? How will new legislation affect my business? Low interest loans? Where do I start? How about tax breaks? ~Enrich Communities by Building Stronger Businesses~

19. BRN Expansion Area Map AREA 19 Ashtabula Geauga Portage AREA 17/18 Mahoning Trumbull Columbiana AREA 6 Stark Tuscarawas AREA 16 Carroll Jefferson Harrison Belmont AREA 1 Brown Adams Pike Scioto ~Enrich Communities by Building Stronger Businesses~

20. The BRN Team • BRN Staff – BRN Manager, Account Representative (county based), Administrative Assistant • Partners - Organizations with services, programs, incentives or support for businesses and their workforce • Local and State Government Agencies • Chambers of Commerce • Economic Development Organizations • Workforce Development Organizations • Universities, Colleges, Career and Technical Centers • Social Services and related Non-profit Agencies All individuals and agencies MUST sign a confidentiality agreement to be a partner. Workforce Intermediaries ~Enrich Communities by Building Stronger Businesses~

21. A Three-Step Process • Learning about the Business • Targeted Interview using the Synchronist Business Information System • Assess Business Challenges and Opportunities • Creating and Delivering a Customized Solution • Request Partner Service Assistance • Customized Proposal Delivered 3) Providing Continued Support • BRN representative coordinates selected services • Continues contact and support as needed ~Enrich Communities by Building Stronger Businesses~

22. Send Employer Synchronist Background Form to Fill out Prior to Interview & Prime On-Site Interview Formfor them to Review BRN Rep/Partner Notify BRN Manager of Interview Info Use Prime On-Site Interview Form After interview Account Rep. and scribe(s) determine Challenges and Opportunities of the employer. BRN Account Representatives or BRN Partner Contact Employer & Set-up Interview. BRN Account Rep. should Attend On-Site Interview as either Interviewer or Scribe with Employer. Upon receiving the Challenges and Opportunities Form, the BRN partners can then review and respond as to what programs, services, and recommendations their organization can contribute. The form is then submitted via email back to the BRN Manager by date indicated. BRN Manager then reviews and edits the Challenges and Opportunities form and distributes this form to BRN partners via email. Account Rep. fills out Challenges and Opportunities form and then enters the information into the Synchronist System. It is then submitted to the BRN Manager. Partner responds even if services do not apply The proposal is submitted to the employer within two weeks of initial interview Account Rep/BRN Partner contacts employer and delivers proposal to employer. The employer can then decide what services he/she wantsto pursue. After reviewing all of the partner responses, the BRN Manager then creates a customized written proposal for the employer and sends to the Account Rep. This essentially is a menu of all of the responses, programs, and services that are available and appropriate to address the issues the employer is experiencing. The BRN Manager and the Account Rep/Partner then engage the appropriate partners to meet with the client. The Account Rep. maintains contact with the employer and partners and reports progress back to the Business Resource Network Manager. This information is noted in the Assistance Tracking of Synchronist.

23. WIF Performance Deliverables Professional Development Opportunities for BRN Staff Resource Partners included on Every Proposal At Risk Businesses Targeted Growing Businesses Targeted Customized Proposals Delivered to Business Identify Service Gaps Not Met by Partners Businesses Interviewed Leveraged Resources This is a sample text This is a sample text 515 5 787 142 633 111 As Identified $1,900,000 July 2012 – February 2014 6.84 $1,957,708 7 164 387 45 319 279

24. Sustainability – What Are the Goals for Project? • Now? • Future? • How Do Get There? • What are the Considerations? Institutional Programmatic Relational Philosophical ~Enrich Communities by Building Stronger Businesses~

25. Questions? Thank you! ~Enrich Communities by Building Stronger Businesses~