Title
Phoenix Business and Workforce Development Board Certification - Citywide
Description
Request to authorize the City Manager, or designee, to submit the required Workforce Board Certification materials to the Office of Economic Opportunity on behalf of the Phoenix Business and Workforce Development Board (Board). This certification is a federally required process under the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) and ensures the continued operation and oversight of workforce services in Phoenix. No additional funding is required, and no structural changes are being proposed.
Report
Summary
The Board is federally required under the WIOA to undergo recertification every two years. This process ensures the Board remains compliant with federal, state, and local governance policies and continues to oversee workforce services for businesses and job seekers in Phoenix. Certification is required for Phoenix to maintain access to federal workforce funding and continue its leadership in workforce development efforts.
As part of this process, the City of Phoenix must submit documentation demonstrating compliance, including governance agreements.
Recertification requirements include submission of:
- Board Membership Roster - Ensures compliance with WIOA-mandated Board composition.
- List of Standing Board Committees - Demonstrates governance structure and oversight capacity.
- Bylaws - Outlines how the Board operates in alignment with federal law.
- Shared Governance Agreement - Outlines the shared responsibilities between the Phoenix City Council and the Board for the oversight of the local workforce system, ensuring compliance with WIOA regulations.
- Service Provider Agreements and Contracts - Shows the Board’s oversight of contracted workforce services. The Board currently has an agreement with the Human Services Department, Business and Workforce Division to provide Adult and Dislocated Worker services. Additionally, the Board has contracts with four community-based organizations to provide Youth workforce services in the community.
- Local Workforce Development Plan - A four-year plan guiding the operation of the ARIZONA@WORK City of Phoenix workforce development system, ensuring alignment with regional economic conditions, workforce needs, and stakeholder input. The Phoenix City Council approved the current Local Plan on October 30, 2024.
- One-Stop Operator Procurement - Demonstrates compliance with competitive procurement requirements under WIOA. The Board currently contracts with one vendor to provide One-Stop Coordination services. This contract is set to expire on June 30, 2025, and the Board plans to procure these services for the next fiscal year through a competitive bidding process.
- Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) and Infrastructure Funding Agreement (IFA) - Ensures partner contributions for shared workforce services.
- Fiscal Oversight and Policy Development - Establishes accountability in budgeting and service delivery.
- Local Workforce Development Board Oversight - Outlines how the Board conducts oversight of the ARIZONA@WORK City of Phoenix services provided in the City of Phoenix Local Workforce Development Area.
- Sunshine Provision and Arizona Open Meeting Law Requirements - Establishes how the Board conducts meetings in accordance with Open Meeting Law and provides copies of governing documents.
Contract Term
The Local Workforce Development Board (LWDB) certification is required every two years under WIOA to ensure compliance with federal, state, and local workforce governance policies. The current certification period will cover July 1, 2025, through June 30, 2027. This recertification process is not a new contract but a federally mandated requirement to maintain workforce development funding and operations in Phoenix.
Financial Impact
There is no impact to the General Fund.
Concurrence/Previous Council Action
- December 1, 2019, the Phoenix City Council and the Board entered into a Shared Local Governance Agreement (Contract 151481).
- October 30, 2024, the Phoenix City Council approved the current Local Plan (Ordinance S-51356).
- February 19, 2025, the Phoenix City Council approved the revised Shared Governance Agreement, further solidifying the Board’s role in overseeing workforce development initiatives in Phoenix.
Department
Responsible Department
This item is submitted by Deputy City Manager John Chan and the Community and Economic Development Department.