Primary Department: Economic Equity and Opportunity
Primary Department Head/Elected Official: Estella Gonzalez, Executive Director
Secondary Department: N/A
Secondary Department Head/Elected Official: N/A
Regular or Supplemental RCA: Regular RCA
Type of Request: Transmittal
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
Transmittal by the Department of Economic Equity and Opportunity of the Harris County Apprenticeship Advantage Program Year 2 Evaluation Report.
end
Background and Discussion:
In March 2022, Commissioners Court approved the advertisement of RFPs for the Apprenticeship Advantage Program, a targeted ARPA investment to expand occupational training programs and/or apprentice slots. Harris County is working with vendors to create and/or expand opportunities for the US Department of Labor Registered Apprenticeship Programs (RAPs) in traditional and high-growth emerging industries within the county.
On January 31, 2023 and February 21, 2023, respectively, NPower and the Texas Gulf Coast Region Labor Federation were awarded contracts as subrecipients based on their proposals’ fitness for the intended program requirements and quality of program services. The goal of the program is to increase access to apprenticeship opportunities for groups traditionally underrepresented in apprenticeship, including but not limited to underemployed, unemployed, dislocated workers, opportunity youth, and those without college degrees. The selected vendors also provide wraparound support services to increase the likelihood of program completion and employment.
On September 27, 2022, Elite Research was awarded a contract to provide applied research, data analysis, and other services in pursuit of a comprehensive evaluation of the Apprenticeship Advantage program under Job No. 210317. This subaward is funded through FLEX fund dollars as made available by ARPA funds.
In 2023, Apprenticeship Advantage received the Achievement Award from The National Association of Counties (NACo).
This comprehensive evaluation provides a comprehensive understanding of program implementation in Year 2 and highlights success from various stakeholders’ perspectives. It also included an assessment of program value in relation to the direct costs of serving beneficiaries.
Expected Impact:
The Apprenticeship Advantage program has proven to be more than just job training-it is a life-changing opportunity for participants to experience career growth, gain financial independence, and
increase their confidence in their ability to shape their future.
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): N/A
Infrastructure Initiative (Goal 2): N/A
Economy Initiative (Goal 3): K3: Increase reskilling and upskilling opportunities by leveraging community colleges, nonprofits, and other training and resource providers.
Health Initiative (Goal 4): N/A
Climate/Resilience Initiative (Goal 5): N/A
Housing Initiative (Goal 6): N/A
Additional notes related to the Strategic Plan: N/A
Prior Court Action (if any):
|
Date |
Agenda Item # |
Action Taken |
|
10/29/2024 |
#339 |
An amendment to an agreement and a renewal option with American Federation of Labor & Congress of Independent Texas Gulf Coast Labor Federation 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 21, 2025 - December 31, 2026, with no increase in the total contract amount (220111). |
|
10/8/2024 |
#296 |
An amendment to an agreement and a renewal option with NPower Inc. DBA Tech-TSC, Inc in the additional amount of $1,200,000 to make updates to the budget contained 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 period of February 2, 2025 - February 1, 2027 (220111). |
|
2/21/2023 |
#522 |
Request for approval of an award on the basis of best proposal meeting requirements and that the County Judge execute an agreement with the American Federation of Labor & Congress of Individual Texas Gulf Coast Labor Federation for training for Apprenticeship Advantage Harris Workforce Program for the county for the period of February 21, 2023 - February 20, 2025 (220111). |
|
1/31/2023 |
#22 |
Request for approval of an award on the basis of best proposal meeting requirements and that the County Judge execute an agreement with NPower Inc. DBA Tech TSC, Inc. for training for Apprenticeship Advantage Harris Workforce Program for the county for the period of January 31, 2023 - February 1, 2025 (220111). |
|
9/27/2022 |
#10 |
Request by DEEO for approval of an order authorizing the expenditure of funds in the amount of $366,000 for comprehensive program evaluation of Hire Up Harris and Apprenticeship Programs, as a subaward of the agreement with Elite Research, LLC. under Job No. 210317, MWDBE Contracted Goal: 100%. |
|
3/22/2022 |
#205 |
Approval of a project scheduled for advertisement and consent for Request for Proposal for training for Apprenticeship Advantage Workforce Program for Harris County (220111). |
Location:
Address (if applicable): N/A
Precinct(s): Countywide
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Fiscal and Personnel Summary |
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Program Planning and Innovation |
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Additional Budget Request (Requires Fiscal Review Request Form) |
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Grant Funds Applied for/Awarded (Total) |
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Personnel (Fill out section only if requesting new PCNs) |
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Current Position Count for Service |
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Additional Positions Request |
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Total Personnel |
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Anticipated Court Date: 8/26/2025 Click or tap to enter a date.
Anticipated Implementation Date (if different from Court date): N/A Click or tap to enter a date.
Emergency/Disaster Recovery Note: ARPA related item
Contact(s) name, title, department:
Estella Gonzalez, Executive Director, Economic Equity & Opportunity;
Jie Wu, Director of Program Planning & Innovation Division, Economic Equity & Opportunity;
Dr. Paula Pineda, Assistant Director of ARPA Initiatives, Economic Equity & Opportunity
Attachments (if applicable): Harris County Apprenticeship Advantage Program Year 2 Evaluation Report