Creating a Diverse STEM Workforce by Leveraging Federal CHIPS Funding

2023 Ideas Challenge Entry

To directly address the gender, social, and racial gaps in STEM education and careers, Oregon Representative Janelle Bynum advocated for two new grant programs focused on leveraging federal CHIPS funding to build a diverse workforce for the future. The first grant ($1.2 million) went to Portland non-profit Self Enhancement Inc. to build a pipeline of diverse students who will be ready to gain employment in Oregon’s expanding semiconductor industry. The second grant ($2 million) went to Building Blocks 2 Success, which will create a semiconductor workforce pipeline by offering summer programming and college preparation for students intending to major in STEM fields at Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCU).

These grants, in addition to over $200 million from the Oregon CHIPS act, go above and beyond what other states are doing and will work to ensure that the lucrative semiconductor careers of the future are more equitably distributed and incorporate individuals who are often left out of economic development. Especially considering the Supreme Court’s recent decision on affirmative action, investing in students who will attend HBCUs is more important than ever to address the STEM education and career gap.

Impact

In the short term, Oregon will evaluate the success of these investments by seeing how much federal CHIPS funding comes to our state. This effort will help create a state economy hospitable for future generations to succeed and will help new cohorts of STEM professionals attain the economic and social securities that will bring diverse families and communities to new levels of prosperity and opportunity.

 

E-3 Re-entry Program

2023 Ideas Challenge Entry

Chester County, PA Commissioner Josh Maxwell used federal American Rescue Plan Act funds to launch the county’s E3 (Exit, Enter, Employ) Re-entry Program, a free 12-week program that provides individuals exiting the justice system with a direct pathway to enter the manufacturing industry. This ”outside the box” initiative led by the Chester County Intermediate Unit (CCIU) helps to meet the workforce needs of the regions companies, particularly manufacturing employers, looking to find skilled people, and it trains those who can develop the skills, supporting them as they re-enter the community, and the workforce (annual need for 1,700 jobs). The county. 

 The CCIU developed the comprehensive skills training program, found interested employers to participate in the placement of graduates of the program, and provided participants with training in social skills, positive self-change, and problem-solving. The program consists of 45 hours of manufacturing training, cognitive behavioral therapy, and job readiness training. Upon completion of the program, students participate in a job fair where they meet and interview with local companies supporting the E3 program. Graduates are offered one year of follow-up support.

 

Impact:

 The Chester County Intermediate Unit (CCIU) has successfully completed 2 E3 Post Release program cohorts to date. Between the two cohorts, 9 participants successfully graduated, with the first cohort graduating 100% of those enrolled. Of the nine post-release graduates, five have successfully secured full-time employment-4 in manufacturing, one part-time employment, two graduates are currently interviewing with companies (from cohort 2 that graduated June 16), and two have not responded to efforts to maintain contact with our office following graduation.

Requirement for Employers to Post Minimum and Maximum Salary Information

2023 Ideas Challenge Entry

New York City Councilmember Nantasha Williams’s bill would revise local salary disclosure laws to clarify that the law that requires employers to include the minimum and maximum salary ranges that apply to both employees who are paid hourly and those who receive an annual salary. A person would not be able to bring a lawsuit against an employer based on this law unless that individual is a current employee who is bringing an action against their employer for advertising a job, promotion, or transfer without posting a minimum and maximum hourly wage or annual salary. This bill would also clarify that the penalty for the first violation of this law would be zero, and employers would have 30 days to correct the violation. This bill would also move the effective date of Local Law 32 of 2022 to November 1, 2022.

 

Impact:

The Committee on Civil & Human Rights (CCHR), which Williams Chairs, has started receiving complaints about employers failing to comply with the transparency law. Williams plans to enact legislation to study the overall pay equity of the city after a few years of the full implementation of the law to see its impact.

Work To Break the Cycle

 2023 Ideas Challenge Entry

Shelby County, TN Mayor Lee Harris’s “Work to Break the Cycle” is a job website featuring updated Shelby County Government positions for individuals with arrest or conviction records. It complements the 2020 Ban the Box Ordinance, which removed questions about criminal history from job applications. This initiative has facilitated numerous opportunities for previously incarcerated individuals to join the county government workforce, with over 100 employment offers extended. By offering tailored jobs, Harris aims to reduce recidivism rates, as employment cuts reoffending chances by 20%. This dedicated job site enhances application confidence, promotes local economic engagement, and reduces incarceration expenses, aligning with the goal of reintegrating justice-impacted individuals into the community.

 

Impact:

Harris believes each hire is a marker of success. Since launching in May 2023, the program has resulted in employment offers to over 100 individuals so far, with plans to partner with the local Chamber of Commerce to provide more job opportunities. These jobs not only change their situation, but it has a ripple impact for their families and the Shelby County Community as a whole.

 

Peake Early Childhood Center / Virginia Peninsula Community College Center of Excellence

2023 Ideas Challenge Entry

Newport News Mayor Phillip Jones led the Council adoption of  the city’s 2020-2025 Strategic Plan with the objective of ensuring that children enter school ready to learn and be successful. A strategy to support this objective is to increase the availability of and strengthen early education in pre-kindergarten programs, particularly for low-income children. To fulfill this strategy, the city is partnering with the Peake Childhood Center to develop and operate a fully accredited and licensed early childhood center. The joint facility in partnership with PEAKE and Virginia Peninsula Community College (VPCC), will provide a sliding scale tuition for up to 200 youth, from infant to 4 years old. Additionally, VPCC will train the next generation of childcare professionals through its onsite training program.

Newport News also allocated over 20% of their ARPA funding to establish a new Early Childhood Education Center. This center will ensure that pre-Kindergarten programs are universally available — particularly for low-income families — increasing options for our working families who need safe places for their children to learn and grow and empowering parents to become actively involved in their child’s learning and also remain in the workforce.

 

Impact:

The Peake Early Childhood Center will ensure that families, who struggle financially, have access to a center that addresses the early educational needs of their children and supports the needs of the family. Data reveals how important high quality and affordable early learning and childcare is for the economy. The availability of early education programs attracts home buyers and increases property values by $13 dollars for every dollar invested. Also, a lack of childcare costs businesses $4.4 billion annually because parents/guardians must be absent from work to take care of their children.

National Service & Volunteer Accelerator

Problem

High youth unemployment rates signify the risk that a great majority of our young students are not prepared to contribute to the economy. Meanwhile, national and community service programs offer great opportunities to address pressing social issues while giving young adults experience that can help them learn how to participate.

Solution

Mayor Walling has created a new position of Chief Service Officer in his office to direct national service AmeriCorps, VISTA and community volunteers towards City priorities including safety, blight and education. The Flint National Service Accelerator is a multi-sector partnership that leverages Federal, State and local funds to provide more money for nonprofits to host service positions. The goal is to scale up service in Flint to create opportunities for youth and students that will give them a pathway to employment and higher education while at the same time bettering the community.”

Workforce Innovation Training Grant

Problem

In order to attract new jobs in the changing economy, workers need to have skills that match what businesses are looking for.

Solution

Franklin County’s WIT-G program incentivizes businesses to train additional new employees, allowing them to invest elsewhere while providing workers with quality jobs and the skills they need to work in expanding and evolving industries. Rather than training workers in general skills, the program works directly with companies to teach skills that are tailored to currently available jobs and carefully coordinates with city and state levels of government to avoid duplication with other initiatives”

Investing for Re-entry Not Recidivism

Problem

The growing rise of recidivism poses a threat to our society’s ability to prepare individuals to become contributing adults. Among the leading cause of recidivism is the lack of employment opportunities and limited educational opportunities for ex-offenders.

Solution

In order to reduce recidivism and improve ex-offender reintegration, prison systems should partner with private industry to develop Career and Technical Education (CTE) programs for prisoners. By placing a greater emphasis on providing marketable skills we improve the odds that they will successfully reintegrate in society.”

Denver Peak Performance

Problem

Government often relies on outside experts and hiring consultants to improve city systems and advise city employees on how to do their jobs better. By focusing only on this outsider, top-down approach, government is spending more money on solving its problems and not inspiring a culture of innovation and trust in government amongst city employees.

Solution

Denver Mayor Michael Hancock launched Peak Performance to invest in Denver’s employees by giving them the tools to solve city problems. Peak offers classes to city employees to help them identify areas for improvement and embrace a new culture of innovation to provide the best service possible. By empowering city employees to find their own straightforward reforms, Mayor Hancock has restored public trust in government, while making city projects run more efficiently and save money.

Skills That Matter

Problem

With rising tuition costs and high levels of unemployment amongst graduates, college is no longer a guaranteed pathway for everyone to secure a job. Technological advancements and the overwhelming number of unfilled high-skill jobs calls for a revision in how we train future employees to meet the needs of the the 21st century workforce. 

Solution

County Commissioner Bridget Gainer has proposed innovative ways to encourage the development of apprenticeship programs that more accurately meet the needs of the 21st century workforce. In Cook County, she has created the first earned credit for employers who create and run a Department of Labor registered apprenticeship program. Having local government collaborate with business leaders, Commissioner Gainer also hopes to help create a pathway for employers to build apprenticeships in non-traditional areas (services and tech industries) where there is projected growth over the next 50 years.

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