In Attendance
· Wolf Ametsbichler, Missoula Job Service
· Michelle Dorsey, Missoula Job Service
· Jeannine Lovell, Homeword
· Wendy Mair, REO
· Jude Monson, Summit ILC
· Jim Morton, Human Resource Council Dist. XI
· Michelle Parks, Child Care Resources
· Mary Drew Powers, Missoula Public Library
· Adam Ragsdale, Missoula Housing Authority
· Jodi Rasmussen, Lifelong Learning Center
· Vida Wilkinson, Missoula College UM
· Shannon Willhite, Vocational Rehabilitation
Agenda/Updates
Missoula College UM – Vida
Funding for the new Missoula College campus has not passed yet but remains part of HB 5, “Long-range building appropriations.” Funding is now in cash, so only a simple majority of 50 percent is needed to pass the bill, not a super majority of two-thirds. There may be further attempts to strip the funding for Missoula College from the bill.
Yesterday’s Missoulian ran a story about the projected $16 million budget shortfall next academic year, but how that will affect Missoula College is unknown.
Missoula College will apply again for the Trade Adjustment Assistance Community College and Career Training (TAACCCT) Grant Program. Great Falls is writing the grant and Flathead is vetting. The timeframe is 90 days.
A health an information technology grant that provides an online certificate is in the works. The Big Sky Pathways grant is also progressing.
Two CNA courses are starting soon; one at the end of May and one at the end of July. Ten students can be accommodated in each course. A CDL class will also start at the end of May and has 10 spaces. The CDL class features plenty of individual instruction with the teacher.
Lifelong Learning Center – Jodi
Adult Basic Education funding faces a 5 percent cut July 1 due to the federal sequester. Numbers are down slightly.
Montana has decided to switch from the GED, a high school equivalency test provided by Pearson VUE, to High Set. The High Set test will be formatted as the GED is currently formatted, offering a paper and pencil option and even accepting scores from the GED test, at least for now. High Set plans to move to a system more like the revamped GED at a later date. Montana is the fourth state to drop the GED in favor of another high school equivalency test. The test will cost around $80 for test takers.
Lifelong Learning Center’s registration software will be moving entirely online. Catalogs will be published six times a year instead of quarterly. The same number of classes will be offered. The new system will hopefully allow more flexibility with scheduling deadlines. The website may be refreshed soon.
Rural Employment Opportunities (REO) – Wendy
The match savings program is very busy this time of year. Though it is unavailable in Missoula County, Wendy serves other western Montana counties, where match savings is available. REO will be busy as the program year ends June 30 and all requests must be submitted by June 1 for processing.
REO does provide training and employment assistance in Missoula County. Nationwide, REO has an 89 percent success rate and it appears funding will stay level.
Homeword – Jeannine
Home buyer classes and financial aid classes are very popular at the moment. Increased outreach and workshop collaborations may be the cause.
The sequester is having an impact on funding. The HUD housing counseling grant is not currently reimbursing courses until the grant level is decided. Retroactive payments will happen once funding levels are determined.
Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) funding was cut by 5 percent.
Child Care Resources – Michelle
Due to a 5 percent funding cut, one of the smaller offices around the state may be absorbed. Child Care Resources has expanded their funding sources using foundations so they can assist customers who do not qualify for assistance under current program guidelines. Michelle will be traveling to Washington, D.C. to meet with Senator Max Baucus and Representative Steve Daines and advocate for early childhood education.
Provider rates are still frozen at 2009 levels, though a one-time 2 percent payout is possible. CCR hopes to have provider rates increased somewhat, though probably not to current levels. The Headstart bill did not pass.
Missoula Public Library – Mary
MakerSpaces
MakerSpaces are spaces where people can work and learn on many different projects or skills. Educators teach people how to use the technology available in the MakerSpace, and mentors stay in the area to assist as needed. Missoula Public Library is converting its small meeting room into a MakerSpace to open this summer.
The Library’s MakerSpace will initially feature a 3D printer, sewing machine, Cricut machine and Arduino, with expansion later. Access to the MakerSpace will be free, though there may be a cost for materials. Replik8tor is an example of a commercial MakerSpace in Missoula.
The Library is looking for educators or mentors willing to get involved in the MakerSpace. Contact the Library at 721-BOOK (2665) if you’re interested!
Updates
The Library is uncertain what effect the sequester will have as the cuts will be felt first by the county. An attempt to increase funding from 10 cents per capita to 40 cents per capita is in the works. The Governor’s budget calls for 30 cent per capita.
The Web on Wheels bus is able to visit a location on request or accommodate anyone who drops by if the bus is at a specific location.
Summit Independent Living Center – Jude
Summit recently visited all the local high schools for disability awareness, pride and culture training. The Assertiveness and Working Well with a Disability courses begin next week.
Summit is collaborating with Missoula Aging Services for retirement work. Projects in the legislature include provider rate increases. Summit anticipates an increased need for Personal Assistants (PA’s) and Certified Nursing Assistants (CNA’s) later in the year as money arrives from the Money Follows the Person grant. A transition coordinator and regional coordinator will be needed for the program.
Vocational Rehabilitation and Blind Services – Shannon
Jane Parsons is the new counselor supervisor. Her counselor position will hopefully be advertised soon.
Tuition and provider rate increases are still in the legislature though a housing rate increase was not approved. VRB will see a 1.5 percent cut that will likely not affect staff budgets. There may be budget decreases in aid for the blind or those at risk of becoming blind.
Two providers have decided to stop working with violent and sexual offenders, no matter what the offense is or how long ago it was. VRB hopes to work with the Job Service and other agencies to continue to assist these people. Any ideas or suggestions are welcome. It is extremely difficult to find housing for sexual offenders. Many are homeless.
Human Resource Council District XI – Jim
The energy assistance program is winding down after serving 4,500 households. Sixty to seventy percent of those households were working.
Impact from the sequester is uncertain due to various end dates for different programs HRC runs. The housing voucher program may see a 20 percent cut. Currently the waitlist is three years long and it may jump to four when the cuts take effect. Nationwide there may be large cuts in operations and administration.
Missoula Housing Authority – Adam
Fifty vouchers will be cut through attrition. The waitlist will increase from the current three to four year wait. Public housing is seeing cuts, though no drastic changes or staff cuts have happened yet.
The annual update will begin soon. Anyone interested in remaining on the waitlist should mail back the confirmation letter. If they have moved recently or do not receive their letter, they should contact MHA to make sure their contact information is accurate.
The Silvertip apartments are still leasing. Some one and two bedroom units are still available.
The Palace rehab project is wrapping up and a grand opening is planned for May 22. A new skybridge to the parking garage will be added soon. The apartments are almost full already.
The first 10 homes of the rural development project will be finished in May or June and building for the next set of 10 will begin immediately. MHA is examining ways to spend money on some new projects related to the 10 Year Plan.
Missoula Job Service – Wolf
The WIA program will see cuts beginning July 1. In the first quarter, only $56,000 will be available statewide. The Dislocated Worker and WIA programs will see 15 – 20 percent cuts for the whole year. Missoula Job Service will focus on serving those currently enrolled and will be unable to enroll new clients for a while. The Employment Security Account (state funding) is down statewide and Wagner-Peyser (federal funding) funding is also down. In response to the cuts, one Program Specialist will be moving upstairs and transitioning to an Employment Specialist position. Essentially a hiring freeze has been enacted for the next three to six months.
The Career Fair will be held April 25 at the Hilton Garden Inn in Missoula. So far 45 employers have signed up. Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve donated $6,000 and the US Chamber donated $2,000 towards the event. Many developers and planning organizations are staffing up with spillover from the Bakken zone. Much of the labor demand is still on the eastern side of the state.
To register for the Career Fair, the organization must be a training provider or planning to hire in the next three to six months. The table fee is $50, which just covers the cost of dinner for two. Next week will be the final push to register employers for the fair. Afterward the focus will shift towards job seekers.
In office the Job Service continues to see fewer people who need more intensive services.
A company called SEI, located in Fargo, North Dakota, is considering opening a branch in the Missoula area due to a shortage of workers. If they do locate here, they would employ 30 – 35 people in their call center.
Next meeting: Thursday, June 6 at 9 a.m.
