HomeMy WebLinkAboutRES 035 Draft 01 2020-2022
A RESOLUTION URGING THE COUNTY OF HAWAI‘I TO ESTABLISH A JOBS CORPS PROGRAM FOR HAWAI‘I ISLAND TO HELP ADDRESS UNEMPLOYMENT IMPACTS OF THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC AND TO SUPPORT ECONOMIC DIVERSIFICATION.
WHEREAS, the Jobs Corps program is administered by the United States Department of Labor and part of its mission is to help provide career training; and
WHEREAS, prior to COVID-19, Hawai‘i had one of the lowest unemployment rates in the country but the pandemic has put tens of thousands of residents out of work, and now Hawai‘i is among
the highest rated in unemployment, emphasizing a need for localized and diverse workforce development initiatives; and
WHEREAS, as the largest industry in Hawai‘i, tourism, and its workforce, have come to a near standstill due to the pandemic, representing a unique opportunity to build a more resilient,
equitable, and diversified economy; and
WHEREAS, the federal Civilian Conservation Corps was a work relief program created in 1933 after the Great Depression to help employ Americans in conservation projects, alleviate economic
distress, and support the protection and responsible development of natural resources, including for local agriculture use; and
WHEREAS, the Hawai‘i County Council adopted Resolution 322-19, declaring a climate emergency and calling for immediate regional collaboration towards restoring a safe climate; and
WHEREAS, the State of Hawai‘i is mandated to be powered by 100% renewable energy and to sequester more carbon than we emit by 2045, and to transition all cesspools to septic systems
by 2050; and
WHEREAS, in order to support a comprehensive, economic recovery for the County and State to grow and thrive, we must invest in our community and emerging economic sectors so that residents
have educational and training opportunities to succeed; and
WHEREAS, the creation of a Jobs Corps program for Hawai‘i Island would provide residents of all ages who are economically impacted by the pandemic with opportunities to upskill and be
viable for employment within resiliency and green sectors, such as local agriculture, conservation, climate adaptation, renewable energy, cesspool conversions, and technology; and
WHEREAS, work by Aloha Connects Innovation and KUPU ʻĀina Corps, two workforce development initiatives launched by the State of Hawai‘i with Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security
Act funds, are potential examples to integrate and build upon in establishing a Jobs Corps program; and
WHEREAS, “From Today to Tomorrow: A Talent Roadmap to Support Economic Recovery in Hawai‘i” (Appendix A), by the Hawai‘i Executive Collaborative, provides an aligned framework to establish
a Jobs Corps program by outlining a talent development strategy through expanding work-based learning, retraining, credentialing programs, industry-driven solutions, and partnerships;
now, therefore,
BE IT RESOLVED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE COUNTY OF HAWAI‘I that it urges the Department of Research and Development and Office of Housing and Community Development to work together to establish
a Jobs Corps program for Hawai‘i Island that supports economic diversification.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Hawai‘i County Workforce Development Board advise in the effort to establish a Jobs Corps program.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that lands acquired through the Public Access, Open Space, and Natural Resources Preservation Commission be considered as properties to manage and steward through
workforce development initiatives, similar to the KUPU ʻĀina Corps program.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Department of Research and Development identify public-private partnerships and outline components of a Jobs Corps program that focuses on resiliency
and green sector jobs and provide a recommendation to Council on funding sources and program structure by March 31, 2021.
BE IT FINALLY RESOLVED that the County Clerk shall transmit a copy of this resolution to the Honorable David Y. Ige, Governor of the State of Hawai‘i; Anna E. Perreira-Eustaquio, Director,
State of Hawai‘i Department of Labor and Industrial Relations; the Honorable Mitchell D. Roth, Mayor; Lee E. Lord, Managing Director; Douglass S. Adams, Director, Department of Research
and Development; Susan Kunz, Housing Administrator; the Chairperson of the Hawai‘i County Workforce Development Board; Deanna Sako, Director, Department of Finance; and Hamana Ventura,
Property Manager.
Dated at _____________, Hawai‘i, this ______ day of ___________________, 20___.
INTRODUCED BY:
_______________________________________
COUNCIL MEMBER, COUNTY OF HAWAI‘I
COUNTY COUNCIL
County of Hawai‘i
Hilo, Hawai‘i
ROLL CALL VOTE
AYES
NOES
ABS
EX
CHUNG
DAVID
I hereby certify that the foregoing RESOLUTION was by the vote indicated to the right hereof adopted by the COUNCIL of the County of Hawai‘i on _____________________________________.
INABA
KĀNEALI‘I-KLEINFELDER
KIERKIEWICZ
KIMBALL
ATTEST:
LEE LOY
RICHARDS
VILLEGAS
Reference:
COUNTY CLERK CHAIRPERSON & PRESIDING OFFICER
RESOLUTION NO.