GEORGIA MOUNTAINS REGIONAL COMMISSION WORKS OURCE GEORGIA MOUNTAINS

1856 THOMPSON BRIDGE RD., SUITE 3 • GAINESVILLE, GEORGIA 30501 PHONE (770) 538-2727 FAX(770)538-2730

January 25, 2018

Minutes

The Georgia Mountains Regional Commission Workforce Development Board (GMWDB) met on January 25, 2018 at 4:00 PM. The meeting was held at the Community House located at 601 Wyly Street, Cornelia, Georgia. A sign-in sheet was distributed, and the following were present:

Members Present Tim Bala David Cagle Andrea Gibby Mitch Griggs Tony Hoyle Robert Long Deborah Mack Rhonda McLean Dr. Ray Perren Ken Schubring Shelby Ward Bill Chafin Beth Williams Danette Smith

Staff John Phillips Heather Feldman Diane Jackson Dan Thornton Diana Eddins-Wiggin Jessica Williams Whitney Williams Nona Turk

Guest Benjie Hopkins Marsha Hopkins Robin Cone Britney Singer Kate Russell John Williams Ben Hames Ricky Carter

Members Absent Thomas Bridges, Chris Dockery, Pat Freeman, Sam Norton, William Wade, Charlie Auvermann and Marion Trusty

Call to Order/Welcome

Andrea Gibby, Board Chair, called the meeting to order and welcomed the attendees and guests, Ben Hames, Britney Singer, and Kate Russell with the Georgia Department of Economic Development, Workforce Division. Deputy Commissioner Ben flames stated that he was glad to be at the meeting and that he enjoyed working with Heather Feldman and John Phillips. All attendees gave a brief introduction.

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Tabled Items from Previous Meeting

Growth and Demand Occupations List

The Growth and Demand List was tabled at the previous Board meeting held in October. This item was tabled to allow WorkSource to gather more information on Agriculture and Hospitality occupations to determine if these occupations should be added to the Growth and Demand List for the WorkSource Georgia Mountains Area. The list had previously been sent out to all the Department of Labor offices and to the Development Authorities within the WorkSource Georgia Mountains area. All responses stated the current list was sufficient except for one, which suggested adding these two additional occupations. Board member, Danette Smith with the Georgia Department of Labor provided additional labor market information which was emailed out to the Board. Danette Smith explained the Labor market reports to the Board.

After some discussion, Robert Long made a motion to add Agriculture and Hospitality to the WorkSource Georgia Mountains Growth and Demand Occupation List. Shelby Ward seconded and motion passed unanimously.

Woodruff Medical

Diana EddinsWiggin, Adult/Dislocated Worker Program Supervisor presented an update on training provider Woodruff Medical which was approved by the Board on January 28, 2016 on a trial basis. WorkSource Georgia Mountains served six participants. The six participants had a completion rate of 83%, the credential rate was 50%, program related credential rate 16%, and the average median wage was $10.13. The State's median wage goal is $11.50. As early as May 2016, participants reported that Woodruff was planning to keep part of their Pell funds. The contract with Woodruff states the total cost of training is $5,000.00 in which WorkSource provided a tuition voucher. Three of the six participants raised this concern. Due to these concerns and the lack of meeting performance standards, WorkSource Georgia Mountains recommends that Woodruff not be included on the Approved Provider List for the Georgia Mountains area. Bill Chafin made a motion to accept staffs recommendation to remove Woodruff Medical. Deborah Mack seconded and motion passed unanimously.

Youth Committee Members

Jessica Williams, Youth Program Supervisor made a request to add WorkSource Georgia Mountains Board member, Rhonda McLean with Freudenberg NOK and Brenda Thomas, Adult Education with Lanier Technical College to the WorkSource Georgia Mountains' Youth Committee. Danette Smith made a motion accept the above individuals to the Youth Committee. Tim Bala seconded and motion passed with Rhonda McLean abstaining from the vote.

Pilot Entrepreneurship Program

Jessica Williams stated that at the last Board meeting she explained that the Youth Department would like to start a new program this summer in partnership with Hall County School System and Lanier Technical College. The new program for WorkSource Georgia Mountains was to be called Aboat Time. Instead of working with cars, Youth would be working on boats. This program idea came from the Texas Frankenstein Project. The Frankenstein Project allowed a small group of youth to rebuild old cars. The Youth would be able to complete the program having an A Certification in mechanics. However,

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WorkSource had conducted some research on boats and due to what was learned would like to start the program with cars and eventually work with boats. This program would help the participants with a mechanical certification but would also teach financial literacy and give them the skills to start their own business in the future. After some discussion, Shelby Ward made the motion to approve the program. Tim Bala seconded and motion passed unanimously.

Training Provider Applications

Play to Learn

Jessica Williams explained that WorkSource received an application from Play to Learn Consulting, Inc. The program this school offers is Child Development Associate Training (CDA Certification) and requires a GED or high school diploma. WorkSource conducted an on-site review to determine if the training site was handicap accessible. One concern was that they shared a facility with someone else. Therefore, class was only scheduled one time a week. WorkSource has not received all required information. WorkSource is requesting to continue to table until all information is received.

University of North Georgia Continuing Education

Diana Eddins-Wiggin stated the University of North Georgia (UNG) Continuing Education had submitted an application for two programs, Lean Six Sigma Green Belt Certification and Microsoft Office Certificate. These two programs had been tabled by the Board at the previous meeting. Research showed that 90+ jobs for Lean Six Sigma require a bachelor's degree. The UNG certificate only requires a High School Diploma. The cost for the certificate at UNG is $3,000.00. Kennesaw College offers the same program for $1,995.00 including the cost of the exam. Lanier Technical College also offers the program for $1,600.00 excluding the cost of the certification exam which cost around $400.00. The research shows that the average cost of the program to be around $2,000.00. After detailed discussion by the Board, Rhonda McLean made a motion to deny approval of the UNG Lean Six Sigma program at this time. Bill Chafin seconded and motion passed unanimously.

The Microsoft Office Certificate program does not lead to a recognized credential. The cost for the program at UNG is $999.00. WorkSource Georgia Mountains does not recommend approval of this program. Bill Chafin made a motion to accept staff recommendation. Shelby Ward seconded and motion passed unanimously.

Lanier Technical College

WorkSource received an application for Industrial Truck (Forklift) Maintenance & Repair program. Labor market information showed that this occupation only had 2.44% in growth. For the program to be considered on the WorkSource Georgia Mountains list of approved programs, the occupation should be in demand. WorkSource is not recommending this program. Robert Long made a motion to accept staff recommendation. Beth Williams seconded and motion passed with Dr. Perren abstaining.

New Business

Lanier Technical College Microsoft Excel Program

Jessica Williams stated WorkSource currently has a GED success program with Lanier Technical College, Athens Technical College, and North Georgia Technical College. In connection with the GED program, WorkSource would like to offer the Excel Core class. The cost of the class would be $1,380.00,

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which also includes the cost of the certification exam. WorkSource requested approval for the Excel Core class for the GED Success program at Lanier Technical College. Ken Schubring made a motion to approve the Excel Core class. Danette Smith seconded and motion passed unanimously.

Youth Work Experience

Jessica Williams explained the Youth Work Experience program policy was taken before the Workforce Developments Board's Executive Committee in December. The summer work experience would remain the same at $8.00 an hour for youth under the age of 18. If older than 18, a higher rate of pay would be considered depending on the placement and program. The wage for out of school youth that are completing an internship would be $10.00 to $12.00 per hour. A motivational incentive for increase in rate of pay may be used in $.25-.50 increments, not to exceed $12.00, upon completion of determined benchmarks or skills gains. This policy was approved by the Executive Committee.

Maher & Maher Contract

John Phillips, WorkSource Georgia Mountains Director stated that the Executive Committee voted to approve the High Demand Career Initiative contract for Maher and Maher. The Board approved Maher & Maher as the contractor at the last Board meeting on October 26, 2017. The grant for the contract was $227,979.00. The contract runs from November 2017 until October 31, 2019. The funding came from the Georgia Department of Economic Development, Workforce Division.

One-Stop Partner MOU Revision

Chair Gibby explained the One-Stop Partner MOU revisions that were emailed to the Board for their review. One of the findings from the audit required revision to the MOU which included adding methodologies and itemization for allocating the other/career services shared cost and a budget for each Partner's share of the cost and the estimated budget for each Partner's share of the infrastructure cost. Ken Schubring made a motion to accept the revisions as written. Robert Long seconded and motion passed unanimously.

Apprenticeship Exceptions

Diana Eddins-Wiggin explained that the Executive Committee met on December 4, 2017 and approved to raise the limit to $14,000.00 per participant for a two-year period. Specific exceptions for On- the-Job Training (OJT) was the apprentice wage must be a minimum of $11.42 per hour and OJT time limit will be limited to one year for Apprenticeships. Reimbursements to employers will be made quarterly.

Status of Discretionary Grant Applications

Diana Eddins-Wiggin stated that the day after the Discretionary Grant was announced WorkSource Georgia Mountains put together a working group and completed an application for the grant. WorkSource should find out the status of the grant next week. North Georgia Technical College has also applied for the grant which would also serve Colwell Detention Center and Lee Arrendale. Shelby Ward with North Georgia Technical College stated that it was a joint effort. This would offer additional type of culinary as well as occupational skills training.

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Budget

Nona Turk, Financial Assistant stated that by June 30, 2018, WorkSource Georgia Mountains needs to spend $1,480,000.00. If salaries are subtracted, we only need to spend $747,000.00. The 80% required obligation amount of all funds that should be obligated by June 30, 2018 is $3,128,898.00. Breaking it down by program, Adult has 72% obligated which is a total of $772,394.00; Dislocated Worker has 11% obligated which totals $66,258.00; and Youth has 54% obligated and it totals $811,722.00.

Old Business

Consideration of Minutes

Bill Chafin made a motion to approve the minutes from the October 26, 2017 Board meeting. Deborah Mack seconded and motion passed unanimously.

Heather Feldman, GMRC Executive Director informed the Board that this Board meeting would be Diana Eddins-Wiggin last meeting to attend. Diana will be leaving WorkSource in February and has accepted a job in New Hampshire. Diana was chosen the GMRC Employee of the Year in December. Heather thanked her for the good job she had done and wished her well.

Benjie Hopkins, WorkSource Georgia Mountains One-Stop Operator gave an update to the Board on the One-Stop. From October through December, the One-Stop received 543 customer visits which is an increase of 15% from last year. Out of 543, a total of 120 visits were customers that came to the One-Stop to attend the Overview and 45 came for Partner services. Hopkins stated that the Lanier Technical College GED class was also doing well. They are having an average of four to five students per class and 10 to 12 for Orientation.

Adjournment

Andrea Gibby, Board Chair adjourned the meeting at 5:00 PM.

- . ~C_. Board Chair

4e44 )7zA Board Secretary

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