Project Grant 23A60WD000006

PROGRAM PURPOSE AWARD PURPOSE: THE PURPOSE OF THIS DEMONSTRATION PROGRAM IS TO SUPPORT TRANSFORMATIVE EFFORTS TO IMPROVE JOB QUALITY AND AVAILABILITY OF GOOD JOBS, PARTICULARLY FOR THE BENEFIT OF HISTORICALLY MARGINALIZED POPULATIONS AND COMMUNITIES THAT HAVE EXPERIENCED BARRIERS TO EMPLOYMENT IN GOOD JOBS. THE PRIMARY FOCUS OF THESE DEMONSTRATION GRANTS IS EXPANDING JOB QUALITY IN THE CARE, CLIMATE RESILIENCY, AND HOSPITALITY SECTORS. THIS IS A TIER 2 IMPLEMENTATION GRANT TO IMPLEMENT SPECIFIC WORKER-CENTERED SECTOR STRATEGIES THAT WILL IMPROVE JOB QUALITY WITHIN THE CARE, CLIMATE RESILIENCY, AND HOSPITALITY SECTORS.ACTIVITIES TO BE PERFORMED: SERVE MKE WILL FOCUS ON PROVIDING SUPPORTIVE SERVICES AND UPSKILLING OPPORTUNITIES IN THE HOSPITALITY SECTOR BECAUSE IT IS THE HIGHEST GROWING INDUSTRY IN MILWAUKEE COUNTY WITH IMMENSE ECONOMIC BENEFITS AND JOB OPPORTUNITIES. SERVE MKE AND PARTNERS WILL WORK TO ENHANCE JOB QUALITY FOR ALL HOSPITALITY WORKERS, WITH A FOCUS ON KEY OCCUPATIONS TO INCREASE RETENTION AND JOB PROSPECTS FOR THE HISTORICALLY MARGINALIZED POPULATIONS THAT LIVE AND WORK IN MILWAUKEE. SERVE MKE IS LED BY HOSPITALITY WORKER AND INDUSTRY VOICES THAT MAKE UP THE SERVE MKE COUNCIL AND WILL IMPLEMENT WORKER-CENTERED SECTOR STRATEGIES THROUGH DIVERSE PARTNERSHIPS TO ALLOW HISTORICALLY MARGINALIZED POPULATIONS TO OBTAIN GAINFUL, QUALITY EMPLOYMENT IN HIGH-DEMAND HOSPITALITY OCCUPATIONS THAT CENTER THE GOOD JOBS PRINCIPLES OF BENEFITS DIVERSITY, EQUITY, INCLUSION AND ACCESSIBILITY (DEIA) AND SKILLS AND CAREER ADVANCEMENT. SERVE MKE WILL OFFER SKILLS TRAINING AND ADVANCEMENT OPPORTUNITIES FOR WORKERS TO OBTAIN LIVABLE WAGES WITH ASSISTANCE FROM SERVE MKE EMPLOYER PARTNERS WHO WILL ASSESS AND ENGAGE NEW HIRES AND INCUMBENT WORKERS FOR SUPPORTIVE SERVICES. DELIVERABLES EXPECTED OUTCOMES: 400 PLANNED PARTICIPANTSINTENDED BENEFICIARIES: UNEMPLOYED, UNDEREMPLOYED AND INCUMBENT WORKERS WHO ARE MILWAUKEE COUNTY RESIDENTS FROM A HISTORICALLY MARGINALIZED POPULATION INCLUDING WOMEN, PEOPLE OF COLOR, VETERANS, ECONOMICALLY DISADVANTAGED, INDIVIDUALS WITH DISABILITIES, AND JUSTICE-INVOLVED INDIVIDUALS, WITH A FOCUS ON POPULATIONS AND COMMUNITIES RESIDING NEAR MILWAUKEES GREATER DOWNTOWN AREA.SUBRECIPIENT ACTIVITIES: SUBRECIPIENT ACTIVITIES ARE ALLOWABLE UNDER THIS AWARD TO CARRYOUT PROJECT ACTIVITIES.