State Workforce Investment Board Meeting
Thursday, September 06, 2001
The Desmond
Albany, NY

  1. Welcome and Introduction of New Board Member
    • Michael Hoffman, president of the Turf Inn Hotels was introduced as the newest business member

  2. Role of the SWIB in providing Guidance and Policy Direction to Local WIBs.
    • By supporting incumbent worker needs through state discretionary funds, the SWIB has been able to increase the number of businesses on the local level that have been able to retool/retrain current workers. The SWIB is pleased that so many of the LWIBs were responsive to the Hi Tech and Manufacturing RFPs and coordinated many of the business needs within their local areas.

    • As a follow up to the previous actions of the Board, the Chair asked the Commissioners of Labor and Education to share any steps that have been taken as a result of the letter that was sent by the Board to SED, OCFS and DOL outlining some of the challenges identified through the Local Board Liaison Subcommittee.

      • Commissioner Mills gave an overview and discussed some of the protocols within SED that will begin to make it clear to the local areas who will be responsible for local issues/coordination.

      • Commissioner Angello gave an update of her activities/meetings with the Local Boards/partners to access the issues that are impacting local implementation. The general concerns are: funding issues and the impact of funding cuts/rescissions; the resources that will be available at the local level to deliver services; more direction/guidance needed at the State level; autonomy of local staff. The Commissioner has stated that she is working internally to try to accomplish these issues while assuring the local area that the SWIB will be offering some additional guidance where appropriate.

      • SWIB members that sit on local boards gave an overview of their local efforts. Common local issues: role of the SWIB; funding etc.

    • Update provided on status of Local Board's Skills Assessment project and plans to enter into a Phase II to this project was approved by the Board. In addition, the SWIB voted to reissue, to the 6 local areas that did not participate in Phase I, the Request for Application for Phase I funds for the additional opportunity for board strategic planning. Local Boards that have participated and are continuing their efforts report the value of compiling local data to set priorities etc.

      • Board discussed the options for Phase II of the Local Skills Assessment piece. (Since these are concept papers they cannot be published/distributed in order to maintain the integrity of the procurement process.) These funds would allow local areas to implement one of the priorities that were identified during Phase I.

      • The Board would also like to review the results of Phase I to identify statewide skills shortages/needs.

  3. Discussion of the draft, sample Resource Funding Template: To be utilized as a tool to the locals in identifying the resources that support their workforce and development efforts. Recommendation was made that the local matrix will be sent out to all the LWIB members; additionally, the LWIB chairs will be invited to the next SWIB meeting to discuss the information and the uses on the local level. LWIB should be filling in the gaps of information on the template with their partner program members. This information can shape the local discussions on what resources are available to meet the local priorities.

  4. Discussion of draft concept paper to identify and promote local promising practices. (Concept paper cannot be published to maintain the integrity of the procurement process.) This will be used as an incentive to locals to benchmark their accomplishments so that other local areas can replicate, if appropriate. Recommendation: to modify the drafts to reflect some of the Boards concerns; release prior to the next meeting.

    • Certification of Local One-Stop Centers and Systems (presentation by HLA, the marketing firm retained by NYS to design the statewide logo and promotional material) Laurie Libertore gave a presentation on the marketing of the One Stop System and the need for a statewide identity and the state credentialing process.

  5. Emerging Worker Subcommittee Report Out

    • Lessons learned from the July videoconference: what assistance can the State Board provide to Youth Councils: Co-Chairs Mills and Pierce reported on the progress of the subcommittee. Minutes will be available from this subcommittee.

  6. Federal Funding Update

    • Congressional rescissions and their impact on New York's WIA allocation:Rescissions will affect the current Dislocated Worker Funds. Estimate of NYS cut will be approximately $22 million. In addition it is anticipated that next year's funds will be cut further. Recommendation: Continue funding discussion at the next meeting.

  7. Next meeting will be changed to accommodate several of the members. We will set a new date and notify members and will publish on website. Meeting will take place in Syracuse.