WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT BOARD (WDB)

Of Genesee and Shiawassee Counties

Meeting Minutes

Broome Center

4119 N. Saginaw Street

Flint, MI 48505

Friday, September 23, 2005

8:00 a.m.

PRESENT: Michael Zelley, Jimmy King, Larry Ford, Sue Howell, Kevin Keane, Erik Eastman, Edith Prunty-Spencer, Ivan Love, Lewis Driskell, Margaret Gulick, David Miller, Marlene Nicol, Khalil Saab, William Fred Delcamp, Benjie Williams, Nancy Reinke

ABSENT: Cheryl Gifford (excused), Tom Gilbertson (excused), Robert Hardy (excused), Cheryl Peterson (excused), Robert Roth (excused), Mary Sumpter (excused), Katie Wolf (excused), Willie Middlebrooks, George Wingfield

STAFF PRESENT: QB Pittman, Sharon Bowen, Craig Coney, Nichole Taylor, Lila Lipscomb, Peggy Kendrick, Bill Hetchler, Debbie Rose, Candice Miller, Irena Vanderkarr, Kelly Fry, Audra Moore, Michelle Buckner, Helen Brown, Kim Etheridge, Tammie Wren, John Howell, Nancy Osipo-Peera, Edythe Brown, Prudence Eskridge

OTHERS PRESENT: Peter Goodstein and Gary Tower

I. Meeting called to order at 8:08 a.m.

II. PUBLIC COMMENT: None

III. ACTION ITEMS:

A. Approval of WDB Minutes of June 17, 2005: A motion to approve the minutes of April 22, 2005, was made by Mr. Kevin Keane and supported by Mr. David Miller.

MOTION PASSED

B. Recommendations for Work First Funding for Program Year 2005-2006: Mr. Harry Blecker gave an overview of staff recommendations for Work First Funding for the Program Year 2005-2006. A motion was made by Mr. Blecker and supported by Mr. Ivan Love.

MOTION PASSED

C. Recommendations for Food Employment and Training Funding for Program Year 2005-2006: Mr. Blecker gave an overview of staff recommendations for Food Employment and Training Funding for the Program Year 2005-2006. A motion was made by Mr. Blecker and supported by Mr. Jimmy King.

MOTION PASSED

D. Recommendations for Mentors (Project Zero) Funding for Program Year 2005-2006. Mr. Blecker gave an overview of staff recommendations for Mentors (Project Zero) Funding for the Program Year 2005-2006. A motion was made by Mr. Blecker and supported by Mr. King.

MOTION PASSED

IV. PRESENTATION:

A. Genesee Health Plan – Commissioner Archie H. Bailey of Genesee County Board of Commissioners, presented two programs that are currently available for people residing in Genesee County with no health insurance at no cost.

V. SUBCOMMITTEE UPDATES:

A. Shiawassee Subcommittee – Ms. Sharon Bowen stated at the subcommittee meeting there were updates from CAI, MDLEG Rehabilitation Services and service provider updates. She reported on the success of the summer youth programs from Baker and Shiawassee RESD.

B. EAG Update - Mr. Gary Tower announced an EAG meeting on Monday, September 26, 2005, at GISD. He stated that the EAG was able to secure the Entrepreneur Plan. He mentioned there was a successful summer youth program for students with disabilities.

C. MDLEG Rehabilitation Services Update – Ms. Sue Howell announced that their Fiscal year end is September 30^th. Renovations at CAI are continuing to move ahead. She stated that they are working closely with the Michigan Prisoner Re-entry Program. They are looking to expand the School to Work Program components at GISD. The Mentoring Program is a good collaborative effort and the Brokering Program was successful as


well. She thanked CAI staff and the WDB for assisting them in a successful year.

D. Department of Human Services Update – No update.

VI. PRESIDENT’S UPDATE – Mr. QB Pittman announced that Ms. Loving was at a Leadership Training in Chicago and that our annual luncheon is set for November 22^nd. He asked that everyone RSVP by November 11^th. The summer program held at the Broome Center was successful. He stated that the topic for the MI Works Conference was Hurricane Katrina and how we have to adjust to welcome and serve the dislocated in Shiawassee County as well as Genesee County. He announced there will be a meeting with the service providers to restructure policies so that we are working with uniform policies. CAI will be featured in Great Lake Michigan magazine. ODEP made a group presentation at the Michigan Works Conference.

VII. CHAIR’S UPDATE – Mr. Zelley stated that Governor Granholm wants to do a regional workforce board and a meeting will be held in Flint on October 6^th at Mott Regional Technical Center. A sign up sheet will be passed around for attendance. He asked that a survey from the Michigan Works! Association be completed and the CAI staff will be following up. He discussed the Governor’s Mi Opp Partners Initiative. The USDOL and Employment and Training offered a $1 million a year grant to the State of Michigan to develop a navigator position; the focal point for inclusion for people with disabilities training for the service provider network. At the Michigan Works conference, Customized Works gave a presentation. He stated that the Work First funding was not cut. He discussed the impact of possible consolidation of funding streams.

Mr. Larry Ford discussed the possible consolidation of Focus Council, Flint Genesee Economic Growth Alliance, Metro Chamber and Flint Area Chamber of Commerce and the issues relating to that. He stated that currently Flint Genesee Economic Growth Alliance and the Flint Area Chamber of Commerce are cohabitating in the same area. This new association will be known as The Genesee Regional Chamber of Commerce and Tim Herman will be the new CEO. He announced that the Chamber will be celebrating its 100^th year anniversary and a huge celebration in June 2006.

Mr. Zelley encouraged everyone to celebrate the 150 years of Flint. He announced that Mass Transportation Authority is investing in hybrid technology which qualifies for government funding.

VIII. NEXT MEETING DATE – October 28, 2005

IX. ADJOURNMENT – Meeting was adjourned at 9:12 a.m.

Signed

_________________________________

Ms. Katie Wolf

Secretary, Workforce Development Board

11/5/2005

Date: ____________________