Title
Goal #9 Create Low/Mod Income Jobs: 2017 Recommendation
Staff Summary
• Since the target funding amount for Goal #9 (Create Low/Mod Income Jobs) is limited and the likelihood of a robust applicant pool for this new goal was low (due to low stakeholder awareness), the Public Improvements Advisory & Recommendation Committee (ARC) for the first two years (2015 & 2016) of the 2015-19 Consolidated Plan recommended different pilot funding initiatives ranging from manufacturing hiring incentives to small business loans to façade rehabilitation.
• For 2017, the HCDC included Goal #9: Create Low/Mod Income Jobs in the Public Improvements application, but no applications were received. As a result, staff was directed to identify a Job Creation project proposal for HCDC consideration.
• Staff interviewed several non-profit organizations working on job creation and identified only one with a new job creation project ready for funding in 2017: Youth Conservation Corps (YCC). Staff recommends investment of $143,251 of 2017 Goal #9 funds for YCC to develop new full-time adult work crews for its existing housing remodeling and deconstruction work. YCC intends to hire between 6 and 22 (depending on other funding) full-time construction laborers from its youth corps. Additional information is contained in the attached Proposal.