ADMINISTRATIVE REPORT
MEETING DATE: July 23, 2025 AGENDA CATEGORY: Consent - Agreements TO: Honorable Mayor and City Council
FROM: Jennifer M. Byers, Economic & Community Development Director DATE: July 7, 2025
SUBJECT: Amendment No. 1 to Agreement No. 2024-142 with Open Door Network (increase compensation by $39,400, revised not to exceed $293,076.79) for workforce development.
RECOMMENDATION:
Staff recommend approval of the amendment.
BACKGROUND:
The City of Bakersfield’s adopted Economic Development Strategic Plan (EDSP) focuses economic development and workforce development goals towards enhancing the City’s interface with education/workforce development partners. To support EDSP goals and lasting economic recovery and long-term employment, the city has an opportunity to mitigate barriers to employment that predated— but have been exacerbated by the pandemic – such as occupational training and career pathways. The pandemic has also led many adults to search for employment in new fields.
The City of Bakersfield received a direct allocation of American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funding to address the negative economic impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic. The city desired to use this funding to implement programs to focus on economic recovery and revitalization, particularly within its disadvantaged communities and Qualifying Census Tracts (QCTs).
On January 26, 2024, the Economic and Community Development Department posted a Notice of Funding Availability (NOFA) for Pathways to Innovation: City of Bakersfield’s Workforce Development Program, with an application deadline of February 26, 2024. In response to this NOFA, The Open Door Network submitted a proposal to provide subrecipient Workforce Development services under the ARPA framework and entered into Agreement No. 2024-142 with the City on June 12, 2024, in the amount of $253,676.79.
On July 9, 2025, Council terminated Agreement 2024-140 between the city and another workforce development partner Locked-in Mindset in the amount of $39,400 in ARPA funding. ARPA regulations require reallocated funding to stay within the same scope of work as originally approved in the ARPA framework. Therefore, this $39,400 allocation must be reallocated to another ARPA Workforce Development Program.
With the additional funds provided by the Amendment, Open Door Network Staff will provide supplementary staff training for motivational interviewing and case management, allowing even more specialized services for participants who may not have otherwise elected to participate in these services.
Open Door Network Staff also anticipate an increase in advertising to promote outreach and awareness of the program, as well as participant incentives to enhance engagement and participation in the program.
To date, The Open Door Network has submitted nine months of reports and invoices (totaling $55,992.66). Program outcomes have included identifying and creating workshops and resources to effectively serve program participants in job training, readiness, and other coaching methods and establishing numerous working relationships with local employers to promote collaboration and talent pools. Open Door Network Staff has successfully managed 20 active participants by providing them with individual assistance with resumes, job applications, and interview preparation. Therefore, City Staff recommend approval of the Agreement Amendment.
FISCAL IMPACT:
No fiscal impact; this program is funded through the American Rescue Plan Act.
COUNCIL GOAL:
Economic Opportunity for All
ATTACHMENTS:
Agreement Amendment