Item 09 - Biennial Modification to the PY 2021-24 Regional and Local Workforce Plan

Home Browse Search

Orange RPU 2023 Biennial Modification to PY 2021-24 Regional Plan 2 elements of the regional plan by describing how the workforce system partners collaborate to develop and implement services that meet the unique needs of job seekers and businesses in the region. Other required regional plan content, some unique to California, includes regional indicators of success, job quality, and strategies promoting equity. Development of the Regional Plan and Its 2023 Modification After the implementation of WIOA, an initial four-year plan was developed for the region, which covered PY 2017-20. It was updated in 2019 in accordance with statutory requirements. In response to guidance published by state officials in September 2020, Orange RPU representatives began to prepare a new plan for PY 2021-24. However, the context for this planning was unprecedented, as the COVID-19 pandemic was still in its early stages before the widespread availability of vaccines and the reopening of businesses and communities. The PY 21-24 Orange RPU Regional Plan reflects the circumstances under which it was developed, highlighting the immediate and severe impacts and limitations resulting from the pandemic, along with various uncertainties regarding the economy, labor market, and workforce participation. The 2023 Biennial Modification to the PY 21-24 Regional Plan has been developed under far different circumstances than the original version. As such, RPU leadership has been able to address regional approaches and initiatives from a clearer vantage point, where reopening and recovery characterize the regional economic and community landscape. The original PY 21-24 Regional Plan and this 2023 Modification have benefitted from the intensive review of regional collaboration among the three local boards and input by workforce system partners and other stakeholders. Community input during the 2020/21 process used to develop the Plan led to discussions about the differences between the North and South Orange County communities. For some, the perception of South Orange County is one of affluence with great beaches, schools, and upscale amenities. While affluent areas exist in South Orange County, some vulnerable communities and families live below the federal poverty line. Also noted during these discussions, South County residents have access to fewer community resources and service providers than central and north county areas. As described below, ten of the eleven cities with disadvantaged census tracts are in North Orange County. Impact of the Pandemic on Businesses and Workers Orange County experienced several years of job growth and economic vitality, resulting in record-low unemployment rates before the COVID-19 pandemic struck in early 2020. The pandemic derailed this long growth streak. The long-term social and economic impacts of this stall in economic growth remained to be seen when the Regional Plan was being developed in December 2020 and early 2021. As the region has recovered and transitioned to the endemic phase of the coronavirus, the economy is again characterized by many pre-pandemic conditions, including full employment and growth in key sectors. However, many community members and businesses still feel the social and economic EXHIBIT 1