HomeMy WebLinkAboutAgenda - 10-18-94-IX-D 1
ORANGE COUNTY
BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS
ACTION AGENDA ITEM ABSTRACT
Meeting Date: October 18, 1994
Action Agenda
Item # IX t
SUBJECT: Skill Development Program
PUBLIC HEARING: YES X NO
DEPARTMENT: EDC
ATTACHMENTS: INFORMATION CONTACT:
John Link (ext. 2300)
Albert Kittrell (ext. 2300)
Ted Abernathy (ext. 2325)
TELEPHONE NUMBERS:
Hillsborough - 732-8181
Durham - 688-7331
Mebane - 227-2031
Chapel Hill - 967-9251
PURPOSE:
To approve the composition of the work group to address the
need for an Orange County skill program
BACKGROUND:
In Orange County, there are a significant number of citizens
who need coordinated skill development opportunities to
become qualified for local employment opportunities. While
Orange County' s unemployment rate is low, the number of
underemployed citizens is alarming.
Challenge Ten of the Orange County Economic Development
Strategic Plan speaks to the need for County facilities that
could be used to provide skill development and re-training
opportunities for Orange County citizens.
Funds were included in the 93-98 CIP as seed money to begin
the planning process for a skill development program. This
process includes identifying the needs, the programming, the
financing and the creation of a skill development program for
Orange County. We are recommending that a work group be
appointed by the Board of County Commissioners with a charge
to include the following:
1. Identify the employment skill development needs of County
citizens and current or possible future businesses.
2
2. Develop an inventory of existing and/or potentially
available training/skill development opportunities or
resources.
3. Identify the space, programming and equipment needs that
will be required to successfully create a skill
development program.
4 . Explore all funding possibilities, including the State of
North Carolina and public private partnerships with
contributions of funding, equipment, or training
expertise coming from businesses directly benefiting from
such a program.
The proposed composition of the Work Group is one
representative from the following groups.
- Orange County Board of Commissioners
- Elected official from Chapel Hill, Carrboro, and
Hillsborough
- Chapel Hill/Carrboro School Board
- Orange County School Board
- Durham Technical Community College, President
- Alamance Community College, President
- University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
- The Private Industry Council, Chair
- Department of Social Services Advisory Board, Chair
- Economic Development Commission, Chair
- Orange County' s Representatives to the NC Legislature
- Joint Orange Chatham Community Action, Chair
- Orange County Commission for Women, Chair
- Chapel Hill/Carrboro Chamber of Commerce, Chair
- Hillsborough Chamber of Commerce, Chair
- The Employment Security Commission, Director
- Three representatives from Orange County' s major
employers (e.g. General Electric, Blue Cross, The Home
Health Agency of Chapel Hill)
- Three at-large citizen representatives
RECOMMENDATION:
Establish composition of work group and authorize BOCC Chair
to invite each member to participate.
3
e
Skills Development Center
Account Number: 61--119
Thru
1997,-94 1994-95 1995-96 1996-0- 199"-98 1998-99 Total
Project Costs
Land SO SO SO SO SO SO SO
Design SO 25,000 0 0 0 0 525,000
Construction SO 0 50.000 0 50,000 80.000 S180.000
Other SO 0 0 0 0 0 SO
Total Costs SO S25,000 S50.000 SO 550,000 580.000 5205.000
Funding Sources
Pay—As—You—Go SO $25,000 $50,000 SO S50,000 S80,000 S205.000
Bond Funds So 0 o 0 0 0 SO
Grant Funds SO 0 0 0 0 0 SO
Fees SO 0 0 0 0 0 5O
Total Funding SO S25.000 $50,000 SO S50,000 S80,000 5205.000
it Project Description
In Orange County, there are a significant number of citizens who need coordinated skill development
opportunities to become qualified for local employment opportunities. While Orange County's unemployment
rate is low, the number of underemployed citizens is alarming.
Challenge Ten of the Orange County Economic Development Strategic Plan speaks to the need for County
facilities that could be used to provide skill development and retraining opportunities for Orange County
citizens. There are many organizations and/or programs in this County that are important to this effort.
They include but are not limited to: The Orange County and Chapel Hill/Carrboro City School Systems,
Durham Technical College, Alamance Community College, Jobs Training Partnership Act (JTPA), Job
Opportunities and Basic Skills Training program (JOBS), and the Employment Security Commission.
Presently skill development training and retraining programs are housed in public school buildings and rented
space.
Funds are provided in this project as seed money to begin the planning process for a Skill Development
Center. This process includes identifying the needs, the programming, the financing and the creation of a
Skill Development Center for Orange County. We are recommending that a work group of local educators,
business leaders, government representatives, human service providers and citizens be appointed by the Board
of County Commissioners with a charge to include the following:
1) Identify the employment skill development needs of County citizens and current or
possible future businesses.
2) Develop an inventory of existing and/or potentially available training/skill
development opportunities or resources.
CIP Page - 35
4
3 Identify the space, programming and equipment needs that will be required to
successfully create a Skills Development Center.
4) Explore all funding possibilities. including the State of North Carolina and public-
private partnerships with contributions of funding equipment or training expertise
coming from businesses directly benefitting from such a center.
We recommend that the work group be appointed by August 15, 1994, with an initial report presented to the
Board of Commissioners by February 1, 1995.
The impact of this project on the County operating budget is dependent on the organization and scope of this
center. It may be possible that all operations are paid by the State and/or private businesses, with fees
partially offsetting the operating costs.
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CI? Page - 36