Sponsor: Workforce Solutions
Title
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2026 Unified Local Youth Plan for the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act and Minnesota Youth Program
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Recommendation
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1. Approve the 2026 Unified Local Youth Plan for the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act Youth and Minnesota Youth Program for the period of April 1, 2026, through March 31, 2027.
2. Authorize the Chair and Chief Clerk to execute the Youth Plan.
3. Authorize the County Manager to enter into agreements and execute amendments to agreements in accordance with the county's procurement policies and procedures, provided the amounts are within the approved Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act Youth and Minnesota Youth Program budgets.
4. Authorize the County Manager to enter into expenditure grant agreements and execute amendments to agreements in a form approved by the County Attorney’s Office and Finance, provided the amounts are within the limits of the approved program budgets.
5. Authorize the County Manager to apply for and accept additional Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act Youth and Minnesota Youth Program grant funds as they become available under the Grant Agreement.
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Background and Rationale
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Ramsey County Workforce Solutions (WFS) provides employment services to low-income and at-risk youth ages 14-24 through state and federal funding. WFS is required to submit an annual Unified Local Youth Plan (Plan) to the Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development (DEED). The Ramsey County Board of Commissioners and the Workforce Innovation Board of Ramsey County (WIB) must approve the Plan.
The Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) and Minnesota Youth Program (MYP) support career pathway development, employer engagement, and strategies that improve service delivery and participant outcomes. WFS implements these programs through a collaborative service delivery model that partners with community-based organizations, education providers, and employers to reduce disparities and increase access to employment and training opportunities.
WFS delivers Youth and Young Adult Employment Services through agreements with ten organizations - of which the following seven currently receive WIOA and MYP funding: Hired, Face to Face, Goodwill Easter-Seals of MN, Change Inc., Hmong American Partnership, Tree Trust, and Urban Boat Builders. These agreements will remain in place through June 30, 2027. WFS will amend contracts on an annual basis to allocate new DEED-distributed funds.
The Unified Local Youth Plan for the Program Year 2026 (April 1, 2026, to March 31, 2027) and the State Fiscal Year 2027 (July 1, 2026, to June 30, 2027) is due to DEED on April 17, 2025. The Plan reflects recommendations and updates approved by the WIB Youth Committee on March 19, 2026, and the full WIB on April 2, 2026.
At the time of submission, final WIOA Youth funds for the 2026 program year have not yet been determined due to delays of information from the U.S. Department of Labor and DEED. Because allocations are delayed, DEED requires submission of the Plan without budget forms. WFS will submit budget information to DEED once allocations are finalized and will return to the county board if additional approvals are required.
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County Goals (Check those advanced by Action)
☒ Well-being ☒ Prosperity ☒ Opportunity ☐ Accountability
Racial Equity Impact
The Plan advances racial equity by increasing access to employment, education, and training opportunities for young people in Ramsey County, particularly those from communities of color and those experiencing barriers to employment.
In the previous program year, the majority of participants identified as people of color, and all participants faced at least one barrier to employment. Labor market data continues to show disproportionate impacts on opportunity youth, including educational disruption and systemic barriers to employment.
WFS uses this data to inform service strategies, provider partnerships, and resource allocation. The Plan emphasizes equitable access to career pathways, barrier reduction, and a coordinated “no wrong door” approach to services. These strategies align with the county’s Economic Competitiveness and Inclusion Plan and support efforts to reduce racial disparities in employment and income.
Community Participation Level and Impact
The Plan was developed with input from WFS staff, WIB Youth Committee members, WIB members, community partners, and young people engaged through the Young Adult Career Academy (YACA). The WIB Youth and Executive Committees review the Plan and the full WIB approves it prior to submission to the County Board.
WFS incorporates community input through ongoing engagement with providers, employers, and system partners, as well as direct feedback from youth participants. Previous youth engagement efforts informed the current service delivery model, and recent participant surveys and Youth Advisory Council input continue to guide program improvements.
☒ Inform ☒ Consult ☒ Involve ☒ Collaborate ☒ Empower
Fiscal Impact
DEED allocations covered in the Plan are both federal and state funded employment and training grants. WIOA Youth funds for the 2026 Program Year have not yet been determined. But, based on trends of a 10% statewide funding decline each year over the last three years, it is likely that Ramsey County’s annual WIOA allocation will decrease in Program Year 2026, from the Program Year 2025 allocation of $523,490.
MYP allocations for the current State Fiscal Year (2026) and next (2027) are known. Amid broader statewide budget cutbacks, MYP funding levels reverted from the stimulus-supplemented State Fiscal Years 2024 and 2025 ($962,974) back towards levels seen in Fiscal Year 2023 ($472,082) and prior. State Fiscal Year 26 and 27 allocations to Ramsey County were set by DEED at $457,864 per year.
Due to the delay in determining WIOA Youth allocations, WFS will submit the Plan without budget documentation, as required by DEED, and will submit budget information once available. Programs will be maintained within allocated grants with no net fiscal impact to WFS.
Last Previous Action
On April 8, 2025, the Ramsey County Board of Commissioners approved the Program Year 2025 Unified Local Youth Plan (Resolution 2025-076).
Attachments
1. Unified Local Youth Plan PY2026 WIOA Youth Formula Funds SFY2027 Minnesota Youth Programs