The purpose of this Agreement is to integrate the County’s workforce development system into the City’s social and community services resource network. The goal is to support workforce development activities and training efforts that will enable the City’s employers to attract and retain top talent, as well as to provide adult and youth job seekers with Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) program services. 

The integrated service delivery model will be located at Maricopa County Resource Building located at 14140 W McDowell Rd Goodyear, AZ 85395.

Authorize the Mayor or designee to enter into an IGA with Maricopa County and approve required budget amendments to share the cost of a Workforce Development Coordinator (WDC) to be located in Goodyear. (Christina Panaitescu, Grants and Neighborhood Services Supervisor)

Goodyear and Maricopa County will evenly split the cost of the full-time WDC position for two years. The City’s portion will be $50,795 in FY2024, for 11 months of service, and $55,982 in FY2025. Funding for FY2024 will be transferred from the City Manager’s one-time contingency account and funding for FY25 will be included in the budget as a one-time base expenditure. Maricopa County will provide the WDC with all necessary equipment, supplies, and workspace.

The workforce development services to be provided at the identified facility will benefit Goodyear residents by having County staff available to meet with job seekers (adult and youth) and local employers and provide WIOA activities that will improve resident’s knowledge for:

• conducting job searches to secure stable employment;
• exploring career opportunities;
• improving skills necessary to enter or advance in a specific occupation or trade; and
• employment opportunities with local employers.

In addition, the WDC will act as a business liaison, trainer, career guidance specialist, and partner with the City to provide assistance to participants and businesses within the City by:

• Enrolling WIOA eligible program participants; 
• Organizing workshops for job seekers to assist with job searches and the development of job retention skills and assessment tools for measuring interests, aptitude and skills, career exploration, and vocational training; 
• Providing eligible participant support services that may include funding assistance to enable participants to continue training, retain or obtain employment, and encourage successful program completion;
• Directing job seekers toward activities that lead to the attainment of a secondary school diploma or its equivalent;
• Assisting in to coordination of attainment fairs promoting traditional universities, community colleges, and High School and nonprofit Career and Technical Education programs, scholarship and government loan programs;
• Organizing job fairs for local employers recruiting employees to fill vacant positions; 
• Engaging with the business community in collaboration with the City’s Economic Development Department;
• Providing case management and referral services; and
• Providing the City with reports on a monthly basis containing the following data metrics:
  • Community Outreach Efforts; 
  • Total number of Enrollments - including participants’ demographics; and
  • Summary of services provided;
  • Total number of Trainings provided; 
  • Employment Outcomes; and
  • Number of Goodyear Employers engaged in services.

The County will provide computers and equipment for WDC staff to fulfill their duties.

In addition to splitting the WDC expense, the City will:

• Work cooperatively with County staff to improve efficiency, effectiveness, and the coordination of workforce services;
• Identify and provide suitable locations for community meeting space and space for job/resource fairs as needed; and
• Include information attributing ARIZONA@WORK – Maricopa County program in any outreach materials, website, and other promotional/marketing materials related to this partnership.