Name of Promising Practice: BUilding Skills In Monroe County (BUSIMC)
Category: #1, Services to Business Customers (Single Application)
Application Contact: Connie Felder
Title: Business Services Manager
Organization/Address:
Rochester Resource Alliance, Inc. (RochesterWorks!)
34 St. Paul
Rochester, New York 14604
E-Mail Address: cfelder@rochesterworks.org
Phone: (585) 258-3538
Since the implementation of WIA in New York State in July of 2000, the Monroe County/Rochester Workforce Investment Board (LWIB) has placed a high priority on upgrading the skills of employed workers in order to retain jobs. They have demonstrated this by establishing a self-sufficiency guideline of $25.01 per hour and allocating a significant portion of local adult funds to customized training and on-the-job training programs. Over the last 2-1/2 years, over $1M has been reimbursed to over 100 companies to upgrade the skills of over 1,900 employees through these programs. Additionally, the LWIB secured three incumbent worker State training grants to upgrade the skills of high tech and manufacturing workers. Through these grants 75 companies were reimbursed almost $1.7M to upgrade the skills of 1,600 workers in the Greater Rochester area.
In FY 2002 a softer economy resulted in higher unemployment. This, coupled with funding cuts, resulted in a decrease in the amount of funds available for employed worker training initiatives. The Building Skills in New York State grant (BUSINYS), posted in July of 2002, was viewed as opportunity to continue to support employed worker skills upgrading, retain jobs and help our local companies remain competitive. The local Customized Training Programs were re-designed to compliment the BUSINYS grant criteria and targeted primarily small companies with a $10,000 application cap.
Initial feedback from companies regarding the BUSINYS grant in the first three months of the grant posting, was not positive. Companies found the application process very time-consuming and most were unsuccessful in securing funds. RochesterWorks!, on behalf of the LWIB, needed to do more then simply advertise the opportunity to our business community; we would need to educate and support companies through this process. A WIB staff person dedicated to the role of Business Services Manager, whose primary responsibility is to assist companies with their training needs, was charged with this responsibility.
The LWIB’s goal was to assist businesses, especially those critical to our local economy in obtaining at least $1 M in state-level funds in the first year of the grant posting (July 2002 through June 2003). Industry clusters found to be critical based on employment share and /or potential job growth include optics and imaging, precision manufacturing, telecommunications, IT/MIS business services, biomedical/pharmaceutical, and medical research. We also wanted to analyze the data acquired through the application process to project the skill needs of various industry sectors and occupations and support the development and implementation of career ladders within industry sectors.
A two-page grant summary with web links and contact information that could be reviewed quickly and was business-friendly was prepared and broadcast through several vehicles including a bi-monthly HTML RochesterWorks! newsletter that included business case studies of awardees, their training initiatives, and how the training was helping them to stay competitive. Additionally, thousands of business owners and managers driving to work were broadcast the opportunity via Monday morning drive-time radio segments called “RochesterWorks! Reports”. The RochesterWorks! Report is a weekly 60-second spot on Rochester’s number one rate business and news radio station that runs four times every Monday during peak drive time hours (6-10 a.m.). Essential employment and training services benefiting businesses through RochesterWorks!, in addition to the grant, are highlighted by the Executive Director of RochesterWorks! Content is updated weekly.
A two-hour grant workshop was developed to provide information to companies about training funds and the services and programs available through the local system known as RochesterWorks!, including the BUSINYS grant. These workshops are free and are offered monthly. Information is provided regarding grant criteria, application forms, review and award process, and contract and reimbursement process. In addition, companies are offered the option of a preliminary LWIB review of their application. The Business Services Manager, through a qualitative preliminary review process, helps ensure that the application is complete and coherent; that there is a case of need and the type of training activities are fundable; and that costs are reasonable and appropriate training providers are identified.
All submitted BUSINYS applications were tracked by the LWIB Business Services Manager to monitor outcomes and reviewed by a college graduate student for data input and analysis regarding industry sectors, target population, types of training, service providers, etc. Approximately 65 Monroe County companies submitted BUSINYS applications between July 2002 and June 2003 requesting $3.6M in training funds. In this timeframe, 47 of these companies were awarded over $2.4M in funds to upgrade the skills of approximately 2,500 incumbent workers. Manufacturing companies (including biotechnology, optics/imaging, and precision manufacturers) accounted for more then 57% of funds awarded with the service sector (including telecommunications and IT/MIS business services) accounting for 43% of training funds awarded. More than 52% of employees targeted for skills upgrading had a 2-year, 4-year, or advanced degree. Process and quality improvement training constituted 34% of funded training projects. General Business training accounted for 20% of funded training initiatives including business writing, time management, team building, marketing, financial management, and project management. “Management & Professional” top the list of occupational categories for which funding was provided. “Skilled Trade” and “Service” also rank high. Companies are turning to private training providers to deliver most of the expertise to upgrade the skills of their workers. Approximately 75% of companies awarded funds were new RochesterWorks! business customers; 25% had received previous training grants through RochsterWorks!