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Committee forwards WIOA funding and $2.1 million budget bill to council to expand workforce programs
Summary
The committee recommended forwarding Resolution 574-24 (authorizing acceptance of Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act funds) and Bill 187 (appropriating $2.1 million to WIOA accounts) to the full council. Staff said program-year timing and allocations mean the county will manage multiple years of WIOA funds (together about $3.8 million across program years per staff comments) and aims to use the funds for adult, dislocated worker and youth training.
The Hawaii County Committee on Finance on Aug. 6 forwarded Resolution 574-24 and companion Bill 187 to the full council, moving federal Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) funds and a budget appropriation into the county's review cycle.
Resolution 574-24, introduced under statutory authority cited in the hearing (Hawaii Revised Statutes section 40-67, per the agenda text), authorizes the mayor to enter into a grant agreement with the State of Hawaii Department of Labor and Industrial Relations to receive WIOA funds intended for the county's workforce programs. Clinton Mercado, executive director of the Hawaii County Workforce Development Board, and Research & Development staff told the committee that the state has identified the county's program-year 2024 allocation and that acting now allows more time to issue RFPs and execute contracts. Staff said program-year funds are managed over multiple years and that the county must spend prior program-year funds before accessing newer allocations.
Bill 187, the companion measure, would amend the county operating budget to appropriate $2,100,000 in federal WIOA revenues to administration and planning ($200,000), adult programs ($800,000), dislocated worker programs ($350,000) and youth programs ($750,000). Committee members said earlier allocations (program year 2023) and the new funding mean the county would have several million dollars available across program years; staff and members referenced a combined availability figure of about $3.8 million across the two program years while clarifying timing and spend-down rules. Members asked for clarity on exact state-provided amounts; staff said they would supply the finalized allocation numbers to the committee and attach corrected figures to the communication prior to council consideration.
The committee voted to forward both the resolution and the budget bill with a favorable recommendation. Staff and board representatives highlighted next steps: issuing RFPs and contracting with eligible training providers (including Hawaii Community College and local nonprofits) to deliver trade and workforce training such as plumbing, electrical and other trades. The committee discussed outreach to districts and job fairs to connect residents with training opportunities and asked staff to coordinate communications.
