CED Committee
July 14, 2026
TO:
AGENDA REPORT
SUBJECT:
City Administrator Approval
Betsy Lake (Jul 3, 2026 11:34:51 PDT)
Date: Jul 3, 2026
RECOMMENDATION
Staff Recommends That The City Council Adopt A Resolution Authorizing The Following Actions In Fiscal Year 2026-2027: (1) Accept And Appropriate Workforce Innovation And Opportunity (WIOA) Title I Formula Funds For Adult, Dislocated Worker, Youth, And Rapid Response Services In An Amount Up To Four Million Eight Hundred Twenty-Seven Thousand Five Hundred Eighty-Seven Dollars ($4,827,587); (2) Accept And Appropriate California Volunteers Youth Service Corps Funding In An Amount Not To Exceed One Millon Nine Hundred Ninety-Three Thousand Nine Hundred Fourteen Dollars ($1,993,914) From California Volunteers Youth Service Corps Program For The Oakland Forward Initiative Through December 31, 2027; (3) Authorize The City Administrator To Execute Grant Agreements, Amendments, And Related Documents Necessary To Implement The Programs; And (4) Authorize The City Administrator To Apply For, Accept, And Appropriate Grants And Contributions For Workforce Development Services Beyond The WIOA Title I Formula Funding And Other Budgeted Funding Sources Up To Two Hundred Fifty Thousand Dollars ($250,000) Per Instance With The Approval Of The Oakland Workforce Development Board
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
Staff is requesting that City Council adopt the following proposed resolution to accept and appropriate approximately $6.8 million in federal and state workforce development funding for Fiscal Year 2026–2027 to support employment, training, youth workforce development, Rapid Response activities, and public service career pathway programs for Oakland residents.
On June 2, 2026, the City Council approved workforce service provider agreements for Fiscal Years 2026–2029 to deliver Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) services through Oakland's workforce development system. This resolution does not establish new workforce programs or partners. Rather, it accepts an estimated $6,821,504 in annual federal and state grant funding to implement workforce services via the already-approved WIOA service providers.
Elizabeth Lake FR OM: Ashleigh Kanat
Acting City Administrator Director, Economic &
Workforce Development
Department
Acceptance & Appropriation of DA
Workforce Development Funds for FY
2026-27
TE: June 26, 2026
Elizabeth Lake, Acting City Administrator
Subject: Acceptance & Appropriation of Workforce Development Funds for FY 2026-27 Date: June 26, 2026 Page 2
CED Committee
July 14, 2026
Funding includes $4,396,875 in WIOA Adult, Dislocated Worker, and Youth formula funding for Program Year 2026-2027. Rapid Response funding is estimated to be $430,712 with the final allocation to be issued by the State of California, and 1,993,914 is from California Volunteers Youth Service Corps funding for Oakland Forward.
Collectively, these resources will support workforce system operations, employment and training services, career counseling, paid work experience, youth employment opportunities, supportive services, employer engagement, and Rapid Response assistance for workers affected by layoffs. Oakland Forward will provide youth and young adults with paid public service work experience, workforce training, and career pathways while supporting community-serving projects throughout Oakland.
Approval of this proposed resolution will allow the City to continue providing workforce services and employment opportunities that help Oakland residents gain skills to secure employment, increase earnings and connect to career pathways that support long-term economic mobility while ensuring the City fully utilizes available federal and state workforce development resources.
BACKGROUND / LEGISLATIVE HISTORY
The Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) is currently the primary federal workforce development funding supporting employment, training and workforce services for Oakland job seekers and youth. WIOA funding is allocated annually by the State of California to Local Workforce Development Areas, including Oakland, based on federally established formulas.
The Oakland Workforce Development Board (OWDB) serves as Oakland's Local Workforce Development Board under WIOA and is responsible for oversight of workforce development programs and funding administered by the City of Oakland. The Workforce Development Division of the Economic and Workforce Development Department serves as staff to the OWDB and administers workforce programs and contracts on behalf of the City.
For Program Year 2026-2027, the State of California allocated WIOA formula funding to the City for Adult, Dislocated Worker and Youth workforce development activities. In addition, the City expects to receive Rapid Response funding to support services for workers affected by layoffs and business closures. At this time of this writing, the California Employment Development Department (EDD) has not released its Rapid Response funding estimates. Last year, the City received $430,712 of Rapid Response funding.
On June 2, 2026, the Oakland City Council adopted Resolution No. 91201 C.M.S., authorizing WIOA service provider agreements for Fiscal Years 2026-2029 to deliver Adult and Dislocated Worker Career Services, Youth Services, One-Stop Operator services and Business Engagement services through Oakland's workforce development system. The provider agreements approved by City Council established the service delivery framework for Program Year 2026-2027 and subsequent renewal periods, subject to the availability of funds.
Separately, California Volunteers awarded the City of Oakland $1,993,914 through the Youth Service Corps Program to implement Oakland Forward through December 31, 2027. Oakland Forward is a paid public service employment initiative that will provide workforce development Elizabeth Lake, Acting City Administrator
Subject: Acceptance & Appropriation of Workforce Development Funds for FY 2026-27 Date: June 26, 2026 Page 3
CED Committee
July 14, 2026
opportunities for youth and young adults while supporting community-serving projects and public service career pathways throughout Oakland.
ANALYSIS AND POLICY ALTERNATIVES
WIOA funding serves as the primary federal funding source supporting Oakland's workforce development system and implementation of Adult, Dislocated Worker, Youth, Business Engagement and Rapid Response, and One-Stop Operator services previously approved by the City Council. These services provide employment and training opportunities for Oakland residents. During Program Year 2026–2027, WIOA-funded programs are expected to serve approximately 900 Oakland residents, including approximately 350 Adult and Dislocated Worker participants and 550 Youth participants.
California Volunteers Youth Service Corps funding will provide workforce development opportunities for approximately 45 youth and young adults ages 16 through 30. Through a partnership with Oakland Public Works and other City departments, participants will receive paid work experience while contributing to community improvement, environmental stewardship, and neighborhood beautification activities throughout Oakland. Funding will support participant wages and benefits, supportive services, workforce development activities, and the program administration, fiscal oversight, and compliance activities necessary to implement the grant.
This recommended action advances the City's workforce development and equity goals by expanding access to employment, training, and paid work experience opportunities for populations facing barriers to employment, including low-income residents, opportunity youth, justice-involved individuals, and other underserved communities. Program performance will be monitored through federal and state performance measures, grant reporting requirements, participant outcomes, and contract performance reviews.
Policy alternatives could include, City Council declining to accept and appropriate the proposed federal and state workforce development funding. Staff does not recommend this alternative because approximately $6.8 million in workforce development funding would no longer be available to support employment, training, youth workforce development activities for Oakland residents.
RELATED PLANNING EFFORTS
This recommendation supports multiple local and regional workforce and economic development planning efforts and are aligned with the OWDB Local Plan, the East Bay Regional Workforce Plan and OWDB’s strategic priorities. These plans collectively guide Oakland’s workforce system design, including service delivery strategies, priority populations, sector focus, and performance outcomes. Acceptance and appropriation of these funds will support implementation of these priorities by strengthening coordination across workforce partners and expanding access to services in historically underserved communities.
In addition, this recommendation aligns with Goal 3 of the City of Oakland’s Economic Development Action Plan by investing in workforce development programs that connect Elizabeth Lake, Acting City Administrator
Subject: Acceptance & Appropriation of Workforce Development Funds for FY 2026-27 Date: June 26, 2026 Page 4
CED Committee
July 14, 2026
Oakland residents to quality jobs, career pathways, and training opportunities that meet the needs of local employers and targeted industry sectors.
FISCAL IMPACT
Approval of this resolution will provide approximately $6.8 million to support workforce development services, youth employment activities, public service career pathways, and related workforce initiatives.
Funding includes $4,396,875 in Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) Adult, Dislocated Worker, and Youth formula funding for Program Year 2026-2027. Rapid Response funding is estimated to be $430,712 with the final allocation to be issued by the State of California, State funding in the amount of $1,993,914 is from California Volunteers Youth Service Corps funding for Oakland Forward.
This funding will be accepted into and appropriated within the Workforce Development Organization (85311). California Volunteers funding will be appropriated in State of California Other Fund (2159), Oakland Forward Project (1006529). WIOA funding will be appropriated in Workforce Investment Act Fund (2195) and allocated among the Adult, Dislocated Worker, Youth, and Rapid Response programs.
The proposed legislation further authorizes the City Administrator to apply for, accept, and appropriate grants and contributions for workforce development services beyond the WIOA Title I Formula Funding and other budgeted funding sources of up to Two Hundred Fifty Thousand Dollars ($250,000) per instance with the approval of the Oakland Workforce Development Board.
Table 1: Proposed Funding Sources
Fund Source Organization Account Project Amount
Fund 2159 – State of
California Other
85311 – Workforce
Development
TBD 1006529 –
Oakland Forward
$1,993,914
Fund 2195 –
Workforce Investment
Act
85311 – Workforce
Development
TBD 1000243 – WIA
Program Adult
$1,324,619
Fund 2195 –
Workforce Investment
Act
85311 – Workforce
Development
TBD 1000024 – WIA
Program
Dislocated Worker
$1,810,036
Fund 2195 –
Workforce Investment
Act
85311 – Workforce
Development
TBD 1000033 – WIA
Program Youth
$1,262,220
SUBTOTAL $4,396,875
Fund 2195 –
Workforce Investment
Act
85311 – Workforce
Development
TBD 1000031 – WIA
Program Rapid
Response
$430,712 (est.)
Pending final
allocation
TOTAL Approx $6.8M
pending final
RR allocation
Elizabeth Lake, Acting City Administrator
Subject: Acceptance & Appropriation of Workforce Development Funds for FY 2026-27 Date: June 26, 2026 Page 5
CED Committee
July 14, 2026
PUBLIC OUTREACH / INTEREST
The workforce development activities supported through this action are informed by ongoing engagement with workforce system stakeholders, including the OWDB, community-based organizations, educational institutions, employers, labor representatives, workforce service providers and public agency partners. Funding priorities and service delivery strategies reflected in this recommendation are consistent with the OWDB Local Plan, East Bay Regional Plan, and WIOA competitive procurement process previously reviewed through public meetings and board approval processes. The OWDB will review and consider adopting the FY 2026-2027 budget at its next full board meeting.
Development of Oakland Forward included coordination with California Volunteers, Oakland Public Works and workforce system partners to identify opportunities to expand paid work experience, public service pathways and workforce development opportunities for youth and young adults.
COORDINATION
Development of this report and the proposed funding recommendations involved coordination among the Economic and Workforce Development Department, Oakland Workforce Development Board, Oakland Public Works, Budget Bureau, State of California Employment Development Department and California Volunteers. This report and legislation have been reviewed by the Office of the City Attorney and the Budget Bureau.
RACE AND EQUITY
Workforce development programs supported by these funds are designed to expand access to employment, training, supportive services and career pathways for populations that experience disproportionate barriers to employment and economic opportunity.
Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) and Oakland Forward services prioritize outreach and service delivery to low-income residents, opportunity youth, justice-involved individuals, and residents from historically underserved communities. Acceptance and appropriation of these funds will support workforce development activities that increase access to paid work experience, employment opportunities, skills training and supportive services intended to improve economic mobility and reduce disparities in workforce outcomes. Program impacts will be monitored through participant demographic data, enrollment and completion outcomes, employment placement rates, earnings outcomes and other federal and state performance measures.
Elizabeth Lake, Acting City Administrator
Subject: Acceptance & Appropriation of Workforce Development Funds for FY 2026-27 Date: June 26, 2026 Page 6
CED Committee
July 14, 2026
ACTION REQUESTED OF THE CITY COUNCIL
Staff Recommends That The City Council Adopt A Resolution Authorizing The Following Actions In Fiscal Year 2026-2027: (1) Accept And Appropriate Workforce Innovation And Opportunity (WIOA) Title I Formula Funds For Adult, Dislocated Worker, Youth, And Rapid Response Services In An Amount Up To Four Million Eight Hundred Twenty-Seven Thousand Five Hundred Eighty-Seven Dollars ($4,827,587); (2) Accept And Appropriate California Volunteers Youth Service Corps Funding In An Amount Not To Exceed One Millon Nine Hundred Ninety-Three Thousand Nine Hundred Fourteen Dollars ($1,993,914) From California Volunteers Youth Service Corps Program For The Oakland Forward Initiative Through December 31, 2027; (3) Authorize The City Administrator To Execute Grant Agreements, Amendments, And Related Documents Necessary To Implement The Programs; And (4) Authorize The City Administrator To Apply For, Accept, And Appropriate Grants And Contributions For Workforce Development Services Beyond The WIOA Title I Formula Funding And Other Budgeted Funding Sources Up To Two Hundred Fifty Thousand Dollars ($250,000) Per Instance With The Approval Of The Oakland Workforce Development Board
For questions regarding this report, please contact Honorata Lindsay, Administrative Services Manager II, at 510-238-3383.
Respectfully submitted,
Ashleigh Kanat (Jun 30, 2026 19:15:59 PDT)
ASHLEIGH KANAT
Director, Economic and Workforce
Development
Prepared by:
Honorata Lindsay, ASM II
Workforce Development Division