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Council approves Measure HH contract extensions and $366,418 in additional funding for workforce pilot
Summary
After presentations from three contractors and a third‑party evaluator, the council approved an additional $366,418 in Measure HH funding and separate contract amendments for JobTrain, StreetCode Academy and Live in Peace to extend training and support services for East Palo Alto residents.
Housing and economic development manager Karen Camacho presented a progress update on the Measure HH pilot workforce development program and recommended additional funding and contract modifications so remaining students may finish training. She described the pilot's goals — supporting living‑wage pathways in STEM and building trades — and said the city allocated $775,000 initially for an 18‑month pilot. Camacho asked council to authorize an additional allocation of Measure HH funds totaling $366,418 "for 10 additional students per program" and to permit modified payment schedules to better align disbursements with program delivery.
Representatives from the three partner organizations (StreetCode Academy, Live in Peace and JobTrain) presented program outcomes, completion and placement data and operational challenges including language barriers, childcare, housing instability and technology needs. JobTrain reported that, as of that afternoon, 17 students had reported placements and that the program planned re‑engagement efforts for students who dropped out early. StreetCode and Live in Peace described completion rates, pathways into certifications and the need for wraparound supports.
Informing Change, the third‑party evaluator, outlined an evaluation scope: produce an evaluation plan by the end of October, complete research by February 2025 and deliver a final report in spring/summer 2025 with recommendations on outcomes and wage‑criteria. Councilmembers probed the evaluator and staff on how success will be defined (longitudinal wage gains, retention, equity for women and immigrants), requested the council be shown the evaluation plan before widespread data collection, and emphasized benchmarking and employer engagement to create career ladders into high‑tech jobs.
Several public commenters urged the council to track job satisfaction, mental health and long‑term mobility for participants; graduates and participants also described how exposure visits to employers shaped career aspirations. After discussion, the council voted to appropriate $366,418 in Measure HH funds and approved separate contract amendments and extensions for the partner organizations (motions and roll calls recorded). Staff and the evaluator will return with the finalized evaluation plan and further reporting.
