ETP staff used the May 30 meeting to review two alternative funding initiatives and the agency’s annual report and strategic plan.

Workforce literacy pilot: Ilya Launitz, lead for the literacy pilot, told the panel the program has 28 active contracts (10 single‑employer and 18 multiple‑employer) totaling roughly $8.16 million in awards. As reported, contractors have logged about 91,124 training hours and enrolled 1,884 trainees; 424 reported placements; staff noted reported performance averaged 31 percent against contracted targets but cautioned that some contractors had not yet reported all activity and that the actual performance is higher once late reports are included. Staff said they will hold another roundtable for literacy contractors in June to share best practices and help lagging projects succeed.

Health Care Workforce Advancement Fund (HWAF): Staff reported ETP approved $19.7 million in HWAF contracts across 36 active projects (24 single‑employer, 12 multiple‑employer). The panel heard that the program is roughly 56% into contract terms, with average performance near 49 percent and several projects already at or near full performance. Staff said they plan a literacy‑style roundtable for HWAF contractors as well to share effective administrative and program practices.

Annual report and strategic plan: Nancy Tran (data analytics) presented the ETP 2023–24 annual report highlights: a year where trainees saw an average wage increase of $2.62 after training and the panel approved 307 contracts for approximately $99 million in awards in that fiscal year. The report also shows continued focus on priority industries (construction, manufacturing, health care) and on small‑business recipients (79% of funded applicants are small businesses). Staff then summarized the ETP 2024–27 strategic plan goals — strengthening career pathways to higher‑wage jobs, supporting small employers and priority industries, bolstering communications and innovation, and partnering with workforce and economic development agencies.

Panel direction and next steps
Panel members encouraged staff to use peer learning and roundtables to accelerate underperforming projects, to require clearer curriculum lists that match project descriptions, and to get contractors to document fringe benefit and wage‑progression data in writing as proposals move to final contract. Staff committed to scheduling follow‑up roundtables and to working with applicants on curriculum and reporting clarifications.

Attribution: Presentation material and numeric figures were reported in the meeting packet and summarized on the record by Launitz and Nancy Tran.