The PY 09 Youth Incentive Award funding will be spent in three different ways. The first is to hold a Work Site Supervisor Recognition Dinner, which would be held in conjunction with a Youth Council meeting. This event would recognize up to six worksite supervisors who have been identified by Youth Staff as providing quality work experience(s) for youth in the Northwest Workforce Service Area. Total estimated budget is $600.00.

Work Site Supervisors play a significant role in the WIA Youth Program as both supervisors and mentors to the youth. Recognizing and rewarding those Supervisors who provide participants with quality work experiences is a way to build upon key relationships and encourage continued support and involvement in our programs. The award dinner communicates to Work Site Supervisors that the work they do is a vital part of the Northwest Workforce Area's Youth Employment and Training program. This also lets them know that the Workforce Investment Board and the Youth Council greatly appreciates their efforts.

The second part of the Youth Incentive Award funding would be allocated towards attendance at the 2010 Youth Development Symposium in Chicago. It was the final decision of the NWPIC Youth Council to have three staff and one youth participant attend this Symposium. Total estimated budget is $6,094.00. (Airfare - $1800.00, Meals - $785.00, Conference Registration - $1500.00, Hotel - $1014.00, Youth Stipend - $250.00, Transportation/Misc. Expenses - $745.00).

The 2010 Youth Development Symposium is a great opportunity for Professional Development. Youth Staff will obtain training and learn about programs and services that are being offered in other areas of the nation. This knowledge can be brought back to the Northwest Workforce Service area and used to improve current programming and to implement future projects. For youth attending this event, it is an excellent opportunity to participate in a professional event and learn more about the programs in which they are enrolled. Youth would also get to travel outside of the Northwest Workforce Service area and get to experience and interact in a large city. Past youth participants have commented on the tremendous learning opportunity that this experience has provided them.

The 2010 Youth Development Symposium was attended by Betty Halvorson, ICCC Director of Youth Employment and Training, Kimberley Johnson, ICCC Youth Employment and Training Specialist, Jenny Person, ICCC Youth Employment and Training Specilaist and Megan Verbout, Youth Participant. Megan appreciated the opportunity to attend this symposium, and for the first time in her life, Megan flew and left the state of Minnesota. The session titled "Are you a Leader, They will Follow" was the session that stood out the most to her. She understands how importing treating different youth, with different needs, different wants and different standards, is. The importance of Service Learning, was also emphasized.

The remaining amount of the PY 09 Youth Incentive funding will be used to fund the activities of the Youth Council for Program Year 2010. Costs would include meeting space fees, meals, mileage, and stipend for Youth Council members. Total estimated budget is $2918.00.

Any funds that are not spent on the Work Site Supervisor Recognition Banquet and the 2010 Youth Development Symposium would be added to the amount used for Youth Council activities.

The use of the incentive award to fund the Youth Council will allow the Northwest Workforce Service area to continue holding bi-monthly meetings. This will allow greater continuity in the initiatives that are currently being worked on. The WIB strongly supports the work of the Youth Council and wants to see the Youth Council continue as a viable broker of youth activities within the Workforce Service Area.

This is the fifth year in a row that the Northwest Private Industry Council applied for, and received, a $10,000 grant from DEED's Office of Youth Development. The Outreach to Schools grant is a partnership between the Workforce Service Area / Local Workforce Investment Board (LWIB), the Youth Council of the Northwest Private Industry Council and local educational agencies. Combined these agencies will address a major unmet need: a strategy for delivering effective career counseling and labor market information to the region’s youth and families.

Outreach to Schools will raise local youth and parent customer awareness and usage of Minnesota’s workforce development system and engage local workforce and economic development partners. This will build on the work the Local Workforce Investment Board’s in identifying strategic industries and high-growth, in demand occupations.

The NWPIC has contracted with Inter-County Community Council, to coordinate and work with local school districts through the Outreach to Schools grant. A presentation that includes information on topics such as career pathways, goals, surveys, a listing of the requirements prior to graduation, information about grants/loans and other ways of funding post-secondary education, a summary list of occupations in demand in Northwest Minnesota and a listing of informational websites.

In addition to the following school districts, the Crookston Area Learning Center is participating in this program. Schools districts that participated in this partnership are:

• Badger
• Climax
• Crookston
• Fertile/Beltrami
• Fisher
• Fosston
• Goodridge
• Greenbush-Middle River
• Grygla
• Kittson County Central
• Norman County East
• Norman County West
• Red Lake Falls
• Stephen/Argyle

Copies of the presentation, and copies of the 2011 MnCareers Supplement may be available by contacting Suzan Gagner at sgagner@nwpic.net or contact (218) 683-5460, for additional information.