BACKGROUND

The Flint & Genesee Chamber of Commerce (Client) and the partners of the seven county I-69 Thumb Region, have been funded by the Michigan Economic Development Corporation (MEDC) to convene area employers, workforce development agencies, education, and government partners to discuss successes and challenges in workforce supply and seed fund regional projects to improve workforce supply in 2018.

Funding from the MEDC allowed the partners of the I-69 Thumb Region to host the I-69 Thumb Region Talent Forum on January 24, 2018, to review talent-related data, host roundtable discussions, and prioritize regional workforce supply opportunities.

MEDC funding provides an opportunity to take action on some of the conclusions drawn from the Talent Forum that implement workforce supply solutions within the region. Priority workforce supply factors that were identified at the forum are:

• Underemployment – Assist residents working part-time and at low wages with strategies to advance into higher paying, full-time jobs with benefits.
• Retirement/Succession Planning – Assist employers manage an aging workforce, plan for succession, and encourage apprenticeships and other job skills training that utilizes the expertise of those approaching retirement. Funded and underway.

Other factors were identified, but consensus among the participants were that these two factors have potential for high impact and can be addressed during the project implementation timeframe. We are in a position to fund one short-term project with approximately $20,000 in seed funding. All relevant discussion materials from the Talent Forum are available on the I-69 Thumb Region website www.i-69thumbregion.org. GST Michigan Works! may be a great resource for developing your project. Contact Ty Krauss, Business Services Manager, for assistance at (810) 233-5974 ext. 134, or email at tkrauss@gstmiworks.org.

TIMEFRAME

PROJECT DESCRIPTION

The partners of the I-69 Thumb Region will accept proposals based on the data shared, conclusions, and priorities set at the I-69 Thumb Region Talent Forum held on January 24, 2018, that will impact challenges facing many employers regarding workforce supply. Eligible entities include, but are not limited to economic development, workforce development, secondary and higher education, government, and career preparation providers. Project must be completed and impact made to workforce supply priority factors by August 31, 2018.

Proposals must demonstrate impactful projects that will address our priority workforce supply factors. Priority will be given to projects that achieve the following:

1. Involve employers and other partners from across multiple counties if possible.
2. Leverage additional programs and resources dedicated to the workforce supply factors
3. Create best practices or enhances model that can be replicated across the region

PROPOSAL NARRATIVE

Proposals shall include a brief organizational overview, contact information, staff experience/qualifications to deliver this service, major steps and key dates of the project, planned work methods, anticipated partners by name and organization type, proposed cost of the project, and anticipated terms associated with the delivery of this service within the mandated timeframe. It is suggested that projects include employer partners that are actively seeking employees. Individual proposal submissions must be organized and formatted as a single PDF document file.

Successful proposals will also include in their description of the project the specific metric(s) that demonstrate impact and can be monitored and reported against. Please provide suggestions for communicating your project’s results when achieved that can be utilized for regional communications on the impact made by this project and how it may be continued or expanded if further funding was available.

BUDGET

Please include a detailed budget that shows project revenue and expenses. This project shall be quoted to include staffing, travel, phone, materials, meeting space and other anticipated costs to be incurred by the organization. Priority will be given to projects that can demonstrate cash/in-kind match or leverage from other funding sources as demonstrated through letters of support. Preference will also be given to organizations that maintain a physical presence in the region, or is part of their service geography.

Proposal selection will be completed by April 4, 2018 by an Advisory Group with representation from across the region.

Please submit completed proposals via email to the attention of Janice Karcher, Senior Vice President – Economic Development, Flint & Genesee Chamber of Commerce, 519 S. Saginaw Street, Flint, MI 48502; jkarcher@flintandgenesee.org; Phone 810.600.1429. Read receipt recommended.