Location of Meeting:
Virtual (GoToMeeting): https://transcripts.gotomeeting.com/#/s/21512eab5043a9b3b5359ad61bbee2a65f1a380c67feebb0225aebc51f9d0b10 (recording will be available for one month)
In Attendance:
Board:
Rebecca Compton Dr. Day Care
Joseph Tomchak Boys & Girls Club Newport
Members & Guests:
Andrea Furtado
Marisa
Rebecca Madden
Karin Kavanagh
Zak Kethley, DLT
Monique Rossi
Zachary Handleman
Olivia Byron
Marlene Roberti
Susan
Meeting began at 1:02PM
- Joe went over the grant overview
- Zak Keathley, DLT explained grant more in-depth
- Olivia Byron, Director of Employer Workforce Programs explained the Governor’s Workforce Board Work Immersion program
- You have to be registered with RI Financial Assistance Program (RIFAN) / Ocean State Procurement System to be issued payments
- Encouraged to register today
- Biggest issue with employers is many miss submitting their W9
- Requirements for eligibility:
- Registered with Sec. of State
- Doing business in RI
- Registered and approved in Ocean State Procurement System
- Need to receive 2 emails from the system to be approved – final for approval is from the Division of Purchasing
- Application is on the website
- Individual/candidate needs to live or work in RI
- Can be unemployed, underemployed, or college / HS student
- Cannot be a family member
- Need to be a new hire
- 80 hours minimum – 400 maximum will be reimbursed
- Minimum $15/hour rate
- Reimbursement is based on your company size
- Can have 5 work immersion participants per calendar year
- Pay them as normal, then the business is reimbursed
- Joe – if you are eligible and can get reimbursed, to clarify: can pay employee more than $18/hour and get reimbursed less? Olivia – yes, reimbursed based on business size, they want to see how much is paid and will cap the reimbursement rate.
- Joe – we are saying 2 per site for BOCA grant, but what is the cap? Olivia – can hire up to 5 people
- Olivia – if person does not stay with you for 80 hours, you will not be reimbursed.
- Zachary Handleman – what if someone does not stay, can we then choose a new person to meet the 80 hour minimum? Olivia – you have 28 days before you put someone on the program. Once contract is written/submitted, this person counts as person 1 (of 5). Be mindful of who you are putting on the program.
- Olivia – you do not have to retain them after the completion of the contract.
- Contact Olivia if you have any questions or want to go over anything
- Contact info:
- Olivia Byron
- Director of Employer Workforce Programs
- Governor’s Workforce Board of RI
- 1511 Pontiac Ave., Bldg. 73-1 Cranston, RI 02920
- Cell (401) 256-3423
- Contact info:
- https://gwb.ri.gov/programs-services/work-immersion
- Joe: Tracy Martin (Cadence Academy) has stepped down as BOCA Vice President. If you or anyone you know would be interested in joining the BOCA board (in any capacity) please reach out to one of the Board members.
Meeting adjourned at 133pm
Next meeting:
October 23, 2023
November 27, 2023
(skipping December)
Minutes submitted by Rebecca Compton