COUNTY OF SAN MATEO

Inter-Departmental Correspondence

Human Services Agency

 

DATE:

 

BOARD MEETING DATE:

March 25, 2003

 

TO:

Honorable Board of Supervisors

FROM:

Maureen D. Borland, Director, Human Services Agency

 

Glen H. Brooks, Jr., Director, Central Region

SUBJECT:

Acceptance of a grant from the California Department of Fish and Game and the Employment Development Department

 

Recommendation

Adopt a Resolution authorizing:

 

1.

The acceptance of a grant in the amount of $48,000 from the California Department of Fish and Game and the Employment Development Department for job training and other support services for dislocated workers in the fish trade industry. The grant letter from the Employment Development Department is attached hereto and incorporated by reference herein; and

 

2.

The Human Services Agency Director to execute documents related to the grant.

 

Background

The ground fish industry has suffered in recent years due mainly to increasingly restrictive fishing regulations aimed at rebuilding certain rockfish stocks, which have fared poorly in recent decades due to persistent warm oceanic conditions and over fishing. This has resulted in displaced industry workers who had relied on income from the fish trade industry.

 

Discussion

The Secretary of Commerce has declared a disaster in the West Coast ground fish industry and has appropriated $2.5 million in federal and state funds to provide retraining stipends to dislocated workers in the fish trade industry in California. Coastal counties throughout California have received funds in response to the ground fish disaster.

 

The San Mateo County Workforce Investment Board has been awarded $48,000 from the joint efforts of the California Department of Fish and Game and the Employment Development Department.

 

San Mateo County will perform outreach activities in the fishing community for eligible individuals to be retrained in a non-ground fish field. A stipend for living expenses while in training will also be provided for a maximum of one year.

 

Vision Alignment

These retraining services keep the commitment of: Creating opportunities for every household to participate in our prosperity and goal number 17: All households experience real gain in income. These efforts contribute to this commitment and goal by providing job retraining and a stipend for living expenses to dislocated workers in the fish trade industry.

 

Fiscal Impact

The total project cost is $48,000 and will have no impact on the General Fund.