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PROPOSAL NARRATIVE
<br />A. EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
<br />The Santa Ana WORK Center (SAWC) in partnership with Rancho Santiago Community College District
<br />(RSCCD) are seeking $200,812 to provide training for 20 youth 17-21 year, old irk, areas of customer
<br />service and STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Math) careers.
<br />The SAWC, as a comprehensive One-Stop Center, has over 30 years experience in administering various
<br />Federal and State funded youth and adult programs. We are a state recognized, award-winning entity with
<br />a proven record in leadership, workforce innovation, service integration and, quality services. As a One-
<br />Stop Center, we are versatile in our service delivery and are capable of addressing the needs of diverse
<br />populations resulting in the awarding of multiple funding streams. We have the ability to effectively
<br />leverage resources across an extensive network of partner agencies and community organizations and
<br />have demonstrated fiscal stability and program sustainability over the past 30 years. The SAWC has an
<br />exceptional track record in successfully implementing the following programs: WIA Adult, Dislocated
<br />Worker, Youth Formula Grants, Rapid Response, National Emergency Grants, Governor's Discretionary
<br />Grants, Department of Labor Welfare-to-Work Grant, Faith-based Initiative Grants, Housing and Urban
<br />Development Grants, Department of Labor - Earmark Grants, the Department of Justice - Weed and Seed
<br />Program, and American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) programs.
<br />Our commitment to the community is to stay abreast of what businesses are looking for, so that we can
<br />better prepare our youth and young adults for career and workforce opportunities. The demand for skilled
<br />workers in science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) is closely linked to global
<br />competitiveness. In the 21st century, scientific and technological innovations have become increasingly
<br />important as we face the benefits and challenges of both globalization and a knowledge-based economy.
<br />To succeed in this new information-based and highly technological society, young people need to develop
<br />their capabilities in STEM. The Department of Labor's 10-year employment projections by shows that of
<br />the 20 fastest growing occupations projected for 2014, 15 of them are STEM related. Some of the obvious
<br />STEM industries are in advanced manufacturing, biotechnology, chemical engineering, energy, actuarial
<br />science and health care all of which rely on high-level skills and education in the STEM fields in their
<br />workforce. Other industries may seem less obvious for their reliance on STEM knowledge and skills,
<br />such as construction, retail, transportation, and hospitality. But changing technology and expectations of
<br />the workforce in these industries make STEM career knowledge important even in these industries. This
<br />program will focus on educating youth on STEM careers including providing support to achieve program
<br />outcomes.
<br />The program will serve 15 in-school and 5 out-of school youth between the ages of 17-21 years old
<br />interested in pursuing a STEM career. This program will provide four through ten of the 10 WIA
<br />elements. A central strategy will be to provide paid work experience to program participants in order to
<br />expose them to careers with STEM employers. Occupational skills training in Customer Service will be
<br />provided through Rancho Santiago Community College Corporate Training Institute where they will
<br />receive certification in 10 components attached to their Customer Service Academy. Youth will also
<br />receive "The National Professional Certification in Customer Service" (NPCCS) from the National Retail
<br />Federation Foundation, a research and education arm of the National Retail Federation (NRF), the world's
<br />largest retail trade association. In addition, youth will receive work readiness skills that include
<br />workshops on labor laws, labor market information, resume writing, interviewing skills, and financial
<br />literacy. Staff will provide leadership development opportunities through peer centered activities
<br />encouraging responsibility in teams or individually to present and educate their peers on what they have
<br />learned about STEM careers, work experience and more specifically their chosen STEM occupation.
<br />During the course of the program, youth will receive guidance, support and mentoring from SAWC staff,
<br />Exhibit A
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