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June 16, 2010(draft)

NH STATE WORKFORCE INVESTMENT BOARD QUARTERLY MEETING - DRAFT MINUTES

June 16, 2010

Meeting Location: Dept. of Resources and Economic Development, 172 Pembroke Rd., Concord, NH

Members/Proxies Present: Dick Anagnost (Chair), George Bald, Kevin Cash, David Cioffi, George Copadis, Dwight Davis, Betsi DeVries, Roy Duddy, Debra Grabowski, Richard Gustafson, Dave Juvet, Linda Kangur, Elizabeth Leadbeater, Tara Reardon, Alan Reische, Terry Smith

Others Present: Liz Gray, Jackie Heuser, Cynthia Hunzelman, Pam Oliwa, Michael Power, Amanda Shaffer, Russ Thibeault (Applied Economics Research), Cathy Yeager

Members Not Present: Denise Benson, Dick Dunfey, Ruth Griffin, Gale Hennessy, Bill Hatch, Jay Kahn, Paul Leather, Carl Lindblade, Deborah Reynolds, Steven Schubert, Steven Shulman, James Wagner

Handouts: Meeting Binder

Call to Order: The meeting was called to order by Chair Anagnost at 2:05pm.

Consent Agenda: Item 1 and Item 2: March 17, 2010 Board Meeting Minutes and Committee Meeting Minutes- Dwight Davis noted that, in the 03/17/10 minutes, page 3, 3rd paragraph "AARA" should be "ARRA." David Cioffi noted in the 03/17/10 minutes, page 1, under Eligible Training Provider Waiver, a typo in "waiver" in two places. Also, on page 3, under the Local Economic Dynamics (LED) Update, "statues" should be "statutes." The Chair duly noted each correction. Richard Gustafson moved to accept the March 17, 2010 minutes as amended and committee minutes as presented. Terry Smith seconded. The motion passed.

New Hampshire's Economy - Presentation by Russ Thibeault: Mr. Thibeault conducted a Power Point presentation on labor issues. Highlights of his presentation included a discussion on how the US economy is slowly getting better and went on to presents facts on NH's economy (NH experienced a downturn but has begun to show improvement with an unemployment rate of 6.4%; NH has changed from a fast-growing, rather affluent state with a good economy and friendly business climate to slow growth and less affluence. He said the recession is not entirely to blame.

Focusing on NH, he talked about a "new normal" (weaker) economy, the state's longstanding slow population growth, easing of job losses but no real growth, job quantity and quality, communities improved but persistent high unemployment rate, and the economic tide shifting away from the state.

Deficit spending for social services and consumption is worrisome. There are benefits from deficit spending investing in the future. Imposing austerity over an already weak economy leads to deflation. Training and workforce development in NH is likely to be challenging for the next decade.

Mr. Thibeault concluded that NH will have a new norm of slower growth and less affluence because of the loss of manufacturing jobs. Typically NH downturns last about two years and full recovery takes five to six years. The current situation is not (yet) as bad as the early 1990s but is worse than earlier in the decade.

Item 3: In Demand Occupations List- Chair Anagnost called attention to the list in the binder and invited questions. There being no discussion, he asked for a motion to approve the list. Dwight Davis moved to approve the WIA In Demand Occupations List PY 2010. Terry Smith seconded. The motion passed unanimously.

Other Business Not Itemized on the Agenda: ARRA National Emergency Grant for OJT- Jackie Heuser reported that the Office of Workforce Opportunity submitted an NEG application for $3 million funding for OJT for the long-term unemployed statewide. She hopes to hear application results by the end of June.

State WIA Formula Funding PY2010- NH received a notice of obligation from USDOL for adult funding identical to last year. Dislocated worker funding increased about 32%. Youth funding remained level. The new program year will be financed by about $7.6 million.

Summer Youth Programs- Jackie Heuser was hoping that she would have some good news about funding for summer youth programs, but she has not heard anything. Late funding will put a strain on service providers, but they are ready to move quickly in the event funding comes through.

Job Corp- Dick Anagnost reported that Job Corp is still inching forward. The Project Labor Agreement attached to the original bid continues to be a major issue. He explained the PLA challenge by a local contractor and USDOL's withdrawal of the bid last November. Once DOL receives an Opinion Letter from the Justice Department, the project would go back out for re-bid. The OL has been rendered but did not provide any clarity. The congressional delegation has not been able to assist in the struggle with USDOL around PLA criteria.

On a brighter note, NHDOL has acquired private contracts with the gas company, Key Span, with Manchester for expansion of water and sewer lines to the site, pump station construction, and re-construction of a road. Manchester accepted all USDOL contract changes and they have gone back to Washington.

USDOL Review and Audits- Heuser reported that, thus far, reviews and audits have gone well. In July there will be another OWO and DRED review by state auditors. Copies of the monitoring and audit reports (listed on the consent agenda) are available for any board member interested in more details.

RFPs for Major Contracts- Jackie Heuser reminded attendees that, at the next meeting, a subgroup of board members needs to be selected to serve on the RFP review committee. RFPs for all of OWO major contracts shall be issued this fall. Recap: CAP currently holds the contract for WIA adult and dislocated worker programs, Belknap/Merrimack CAP for SCSEP, and NHDOE for WIA youth programs. RFPs should be issued in December and providers identified by spring for the contract year (07/01/11-06/30/12). The proposed contract period for selected providers will be for 2-years, renewable for the 2nd 2-year period.

Golf Tournament- Dwight Davis encouraged everyone to send golfers to the 5th Annual Golf Tournament to benefit New Heights. It will be held on Thursday, September 23rd at the Portsmouth Country Club.

Adjourn: The meeting was adjourned at 3:20pm.