Primary Department: Economic Equity and Opportunity
Primary Department Head/Elected Official: Estella Gonzalez, Executive Director
Secondary Department: Universal Services
Secondary Department Head/Elected Official: Sindhu Menon, Executive Director
Regular or Supplemental RCA: Regular RCA
Type of Request: Memorandum of Understanding
Project ID (if applicable): N/A
Vendor/Entity Legal Name (if applicable): N/A
MWBE Contracted Goal (if applicable): N/A
MWBE Current Participation (if applicable): N/A
Justification for 0% MWBE Participation Goal: N/A - Goal not applicable to request
Grant Indirect Costs Rate (if applicable): N/A
Justification for 0% Grant Indirect Costs Rate (if applicable): N/A - Not a grant item
Request Summary (Agenda Caption):
title
Request that the County Judge execute an internship agreement between Harris County and its apprenticeship partner, NPower Inc., to provide interns or apprentices for the Harris County Universal Services Department, at no cost to Harris County.
end
Background and Discussion:
In 2022, the Harris County ARPA Steering Committee allocated the State & Local Fiscal Recovery Funds under the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) for the Apprenticeship Advantage program in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. It is a targeted investment to expand occupational training programs and/or apprentice slots.
On January 31, 2023, NPower was awarded the contract to provide technology and professional skills training and job placement to eligible individuals in the County under the Harris County Apprenticeship Advantage program. This Subrecipient Agreement is overseen by the Department of Economic Equity & Opportunity (DEEO).
Harris County is working with NPower to create and/or expand opportunities for apprenticeship and pre-apprenticeships in high-demand and/or growth industries; the two parties would like to enter into an internship agreement to ensure internship compliance with the County’s standards, at no cost to the County.
The internship agreement, contingent on NPower’s Subrecipient Agreement with the County that ends on October 30, 2026, provides work experience and employment consideration opportunities for NPower trainees. This is consistent with the Apprenticeship Advantage program’s goal and aligned with the County’s strategic plan. The agreement sets wages, hiring, and work expectations and standards for NPower interns engaged with Universal Services.
Expected Impact:
This agreement ensures Harris County standards for internships are in place to govern the NPower internship program with the Universal Services department.
Alternative Options:
N/A
County Strategic Plan Goal: 3. Make our economy more inclusive.
County Strategic Plan Objective: K: Provide workers with training and other supports (e.g. child care) to participate fully in the local economy.
Justice/Safety Initiative (Goal 1): Choose an item.N/A
Infrastructure Initiative (Goal 2): Choose an item.N/A
Economy Initiative (Goal 3): K2: Partner with community organizations to create new and build upon existing apprenticeship opportunities,
Health Initiative (Goal 4): Choose an item.N/A
Climate/Resilience Initiative (Goal 5): Choose an item.N/A
Housing Initiative (Goal 6): Choose an item.N/A
Additional notes related to the Strategic Plan:
N/A
Prior Court Action (if any):
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Date |
Agenda Item # |
Action Taken |
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3/22/2022 |
#204 |
Request for approval of a project scheduled for advertisement and consent for Request for Proposal for Training for Apprenticeship Workforce Program for Harris County (220111). |
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1/31/2023 |
#22 |
Agreement approved |
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10/8/2024 |
#339 |
Request that the County Judge execute an amendment to an agreement and a renewal option with NPower to update the renewal option, budget in the Best and Final Offer (Exhibit B), and Federal Award Identification Table (Exhibit E) for training for Apprenticeship Workforce Program for Harris County for the extended period of February 2, 2025 - February 1, 2027, with no increase in the total contract amount (220111), Justification for 0% MWDBE Participation Goal: 0% - Specialized, Technical, or Unique in Nature. |
Location:
Address (if applicable): N/A
Precinct(s): Countywide
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Fiscal and Personnel Summary |
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Anticipated Court Date: 5/22/2025 Click or tap to enter a date.
Anticipated Implementation Date (if different from Court date): Click or tap to enter a date.N/A
Emergency/Disaster Recovery Note: Not an emergency, disaster, or COVID-19 related item
Contact(s) name, title, department:
Estella Gonzalez, Executive Director, Department of Economic Equity & Opportunity;
Jie Wu, Director of Program Planning & Innovation Division, Department of Economic Equity & Opportunity; Dr. Paula Pineda, Assistant Director of ARPA Initiatives, Department of Economic Equity & Opportunity;
Sindhu Menon, Executive Director, Universal Services;
Lucy Ortega, Chief HR Officer, Universal Services.
Attachments (if applicable): Internship Agreement