2021 Skilled Worker Grant Program Report — Office of Economic Development & Competitiveness — Report to the Legislature (February 8, 2022)
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Summary
The Skilled Worker Grant Program 2021 annual report to the Legislature pursuant to RCW 43.329.050, issued February 8, 2022 by the Washington State Department of Commerce, Office of Economic Development & Competitiveness. It describes the Skilled Worker Awareness program created by Senate Bill 5713 in 2017, a $300,000 appropriation for the 2017-19 biennium, and the 2:1 cash match required of grant recipients. The report lists grantees for 2018, 2019 and 2020-21, and gives enrollment, completion and employment outcomes for the two 2020-21 grantees, Inland Northwest Associated General Contractors and Whatcom Community College. It describes the 11-member grant review committee and its ranking criteria, states that the committee awarded two grants totaling $50,000 in the 2020-2021 cycle, and states that the program expires July 1, 2022 and that this is its final report.
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“2021 Skilled Worker Grant Program Report — Office of Economic Development & Competitiveness — Report to the Legislature (February 8, 2022).”
Original at app.leg.wa.gov. Archived at Pandemic Darlings, https://pandemicdarlings.com/source-documents/2022-commerce-oedc-2021-skilled-worker-awareness-report-final-a0e9acf7-99ab/
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Skilled Worker Grant
Program
2021 annual report pursuant to RCW 43.329.050
February 8, 2022
OFFICE OF ECONOMIC
DEVELOPMENT &
COMPETITIVENESS Report to the Legislature
Director Lisa Brown
V3.0
Acknowledgm ents
Washington State Department of Commerce
Chris Green, assistant director, Office of Economic
Development & Competitiveness (OEDD)
Skilled Worker Awareness Grant Review Committee
Washington State Department of Commerce
State Board of Community & Technical Colleges Jaclyn Perez
Peter Guzman, Chair jaclyn.perez@commerce.wa.gov
Workforce Training & Education Coordinating Board Office of Economic Development &
Wesley Nguyen Competitiveness (OEDC)
Washington Labor Council 1011 Plum St. SE
Kairie Pierce P.O. Box 42525
Todd Mitchell Olympia, WA 98504-2525
Employment Security Department www.commerce.wa.gov
Jennifer Peppin
For people with disabilities, this report is available on
Department of Enterprise Services request in other formats. To submit a request, please
Kerry Bustetter call 360-725-4000 (TTY 360-586-0772)
Department of Labor and Industries
Jody Robbins
Representing businesses
Nathan Vaughn
Stephanie Caldwell
Brian Moreno - Alternate
Washington Apprenticeship & Training Council
Ronald Storvick
2021 SKILLED WORKER GRANT PROGRAM REPORT
Table of Contents
Introduction ........................................................................................................................................................................... 2
2020-21 grant outcomes ..................................................................................................................................................... 3
Grant administration............................................................................................................................................................. 4
Program expiration ............................................................................................................................................................... 4
2021 SKILLED WORKER GRANT PROGRAM REPORT 1
Introduction
Authorizing legis lation
In 2017, the Washington State Legislature passed Senate Bill 5713, now codified in Chapter 43.329 RCW. This
legislation created the Skilled Worker Outreach, Recruitment and Career Awareness Training Program (Skilled
Worker Awareness, or SWA). The program's intent is to educate and train individuals to perform skills needed in
the workforce and award industry or state-recognized certificates, credentials, associate degrees, professional
licenses or similar evidence of achievement.
RCW 43.329.050 directs the Department of Commerce to establish a grant review committee to review grant
applications and make recommendations on who should receive a matching grant and the amount. Pursuant to
RCW 43.329.070(2), the grant review committee is required to submit an annual report as follows:
(2) By December 1, 2019, and by each December 1st thereafter, the grant review committee shall submit an annual
report to the governor and appropriate committees of the legislature in accordance with the reporting requirements in
RCW 43.01.036. The report must include:
(a) The number of matching grants awarded in the prior year, including the amount, recipient, and duration of each
matching grant;
(b) The number of individuals who enrolled in and completed training programs promoted by each grant recipient;
(c) The number of individuals who obtained employment in a position that uses the skills for which they were trained
through a training program promoted by a grant recipient; and
(d) Other information obtained from grant recipients' reports under subsection (1) of this section.
Background
As businesses, industries and workplaces become increasingly complex, employers need workers with skills and
educations that allow them to adapt and excel in evolving environments. 1
In the 2017-19 biennium, Commerce received a $300,000 appropriation to administer the program and oversee a
grant process to meet program objectives. Eligible applicants include any government or non-government entity,
association or organization that is not a private vocational school. By statute, grant recipients must provide a 2:1
cash match (no in-kind contributions allowed). The Grant Review Committee has awarded grants in three
rounds:
2018 grantees
• Global Business Resources
• Washington Hospitality Association
• Whatcom Community College
2019 grantees
• Whatcom Community College
1
Washington Student Achievement Council, A Skilled and Educated Workforce 2017 Update
2021 SKILLED WORKER GRANT PROGRAM REPORT 2
• Washington Hospitality Association
• Association of General Contractors
2020-21 grantees
• Inland Northwest Associated General Contractors
• Whatcom Community College
The annual reports for past years are listed below:
• 2019 report
• 2020 report
As of this report, the $300,000 legislative appropriation has been fully expended. Per RCW 43.329.900, this
program expires July 1, 2022. This is the final report for this program.
2020-21 grant outcomes
The 2020-21 grantees report the following outcomes:
Inland NW Association of General
Outcomes Whatcom Community College Contractors
Grant amount $30,000 $20,000
Duration May 5, 2020-June 30, 2021 May 5, 2020-December 31, 2021
Enrollment 33 40
Program completion 31 39
Employment (in field
9 26
of study)
Many of students in the six-week classes this year
The majority of students face socio-
experienced barriers (lack of driver’s license, no
economic barriers, resulting in needing
resume, lack of skills, transportation issues and
financial aid and campus supports such
lack of work clothes).
as I-Catch, Opportunity Grant, and Basic
Food, Employment & Training.
Other information Twenty-six students gained employment in an
industry in which they received trained. Employers
These financial supports help students
include the City of Spokane, Association of
with tuition, books, supplies and crisis
General Contractors apprenticeships and local
support.
businesses.
2021 SKILLED WORKER GRANT PROGRAM REPORT 3
Grant adm inis tration
Overview
Commerce convened an 11-member grant review committee consisting of representatives from the following
organizations:
• Department of Labor and Industries
• Employment Security Department
• Department of Enterprise Services
• Workforce Training and Education Coordinating Board
• State Board for Community and Technical Colleges
• Two representatives from business
• Two representatives from labor
• Two representatives from the Washington Apprenticeship and Training Council
The grant review committee established criteria for ranking eligible applicants for matching grants, including:
• Potential to reach a broad audience, including populations with barriers to employment as identified by
the state's Strategic Workforce Plan
• Demonstrated collaboration with and use of Centers of Excellence
• Ability to increase enrollment and completion in skilled worker training programs
• Potential to fill existing needs
• Demonstrated ability to provide monetary contributions and secure an industry partner
The application process opened Jan. 1 and awards were announced by April 1. In the 2020-2021 cycle, the
committee awarded two grants totaling $50,000.
Program expiration
The program expires on July 1, 2022. This is the program's final report. Career Connect Washington, codified
under chapter 28C.30 RCW, began in 2019 and now serves as the state's primary work-based learning initiative.
2021 SKILLED WORKER GRANT PROGRAM REPORT 4
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