ARRA Funding at Burbank Adult School

With the recent American Reinvestment and Recovery Act (ARRA) funding that was released to Workforce Investment Boards across the nation, a number of adult schools are finally becoming direct beneficiaries of the federal government’s economic stimulus.

For some this has happened easily, but others have not been included in the conversation. Earlier this year, Burbank Adult School applied for and received ARRA funding. Here’s how:

The Verdugo Workforce Investment Board (WIB), which represents the cities of Burbank, Glendale, and LaCanada Flintridge, received nearly $1 million from the U.S. Department of Labor through the state Employment Development Department to provide job training for local residents. This funding was part of the $787 billion economic stimulus package developed by the Obama Administration and Congress to generate employment quickly for jobseekers across the country. Based on this funding, the Verdugo WIB created an RFP for applicants ready to meet the challenge of training jobseekers in the industries of entertainment, healthcare, and green jobs. Burbank Adult School was ready.

In late spring 2009, Burbank Adult School was notified that it would be one of eight applicants interviewing for a total of close to $3 million in funding requests. Following the interviews, Burbank was notified that it was one of four local training contractors funded for a total of close to $800,000. The school had submitted an application requesting funds for training programs in each of the three industry areas for a total of $208,700, but in the end, it would receive funding for two of the three industry areas in the amount of $120,936. Workforce investment boards were established in 2000 by the federal Workforce Investment Act to develop local workforce policies for their region and to oversee federal and state allocations of workforce funds. The WIBs also oversee one-stop centers that provide employment and training services to the community.

Burbank Adult School and the Verdugo WIB were not strangers to each other, but the school had not received local contractor training funds from the Verdugo WIB since 2002, due to past funding disagreements between the school and the Verdugo WIB. Over the last four years, the relationship between Burbank Adult School and the WIB and Verdugo Job Centers (VJC) has changed from one of contention to one of collaboration. The school took a variety of strategic actions including:

• Meeting with the VJC manager on a regular basis
• Joining the VJC Management Collaborative
• Asking for agendas and meeting dates for the WIB and following their outcomes
• Inviting the manager of the VJC to serve on the Burbank Adult School Community Advisory Committee and later to chair it
• Partnering on pilot projects with the VJC, such as the CASAS One-Stop Assessment and Referral Pilot
• Providing training for VJC clients
• Investing staff time to regularly participate in VJC new client orientations
• Inviting the VJC to have guest speakers at the adult school (i.e. during career week, etc.)
• Creating and providing easy-to- use Burbank Adult School flyers for the VJC
• Participating in rapid response sessions at the request of VJC
• Getting to know key players at the VJC and WIB through participating in community events
• Looking for opportunities to partner on funding request with the WIB
• Getting classes listed on the I-Train (Public Provider Training List)

These activities reestablished a needed partnership that increased access to services for the agencies’ shared client base. The efforts have cultivated and strengthened the relationship between the school and the Verdugo WIB. They have also increased trust between the agencies. As a result, when the ARRA funding made it to the local level, it was a natural progression that Burbank Adult School would be invited to compete for the funds.

Since the funding decisions were announced, relationships have improved even more. Not only is the WIB providing funding to Burbank Adult School, but it also is working closely with school staff to identify and recruit qualified students who will benefit from this free job training opportunity. With the receipt of ARRA funds, the school’s already strong job training programs have been expanded and enhanced, and now even more students can be trained. During the course of the year, Burbank will provide job training for 46 students in either the Cable Installation Technician or Pharmacy Technician training programs. The ARRA funding provides funds for instructional expenses for these programs as well as new staffing for the expanded career center.

“ARRA funding has given our school a new opportunity to show that we are highly qualified to provide the job training needed to prepare students to work in today’s economy,” says Cherise G. Moore, director, Burbank Adult School. “It’s nice to be back at the table.” Ms. Moore is confident that the stimulus funding invested will address the employment needs of the local community. And in the process, the school has learned something about the values of persistence and relationships. The current contract training period ends in June 2010, but Burbank Adult School is certain that this contract has laid the foundation for future funding opportunities through the Verdugo WIB.