The Gaston County Workforce Development Board is requesting proposals for the delivery of Youth Program Servicer Services through the federal Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) during Program Periods of July 2023 through June 2024, with the option to extend. Proposals must be in compliance with the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) which can be found at https://www.doleta.gov/wioa/eta_default.cfm(Note: Internet Explorer will not open link – use alternate source – ex: Google Chrome) in addition to any applicable program changes relating to WIOA (formerly known as WIA) for fiscal year 2023-2024.
Proposals for Youth Program Services will be accepted from public, private for-profit, private non-profit agencies, labor groups and governmental entities, which have the ability to receive, disburse, and account for funds in accordance with generally accepted accounting practices; are licensed or otherwise authorized to do business in the State of North Carolina; demonstrate the ability to provide the program services as specified in the RFP; are not debarred or suspended for participation in state or county contracts, fidelity bonded; and demonstrate the ability to comply with WIOA requirements.
Proposals must also be submitted in accordance with specifications and requirements contained in the RFP – Proposal Package.
Proposal Packages will be available for download by Monday, March 6, 2023, from the Gaston County Workforce Development Board website at https://gastongovworks.com. For issues downloading the Proposal Package(s) or to request a hard copy, contact Merissa Mitchell at merissa.mitchell@gastongov.com or Kaleigh Crawford at kaleigh.crawford@gastongov.com
The deadline for ALL Proposal Submission(s) is Tuesday, April 11th, 2023, at 11 am and should be emailed to: Merissa Mitchell at merissa.mitchell@gastongov.com or Kaleigh Crawford at kaleigh.crawford@gastongov.com If drop-off is necessary, contact Merissa Mitchell at merissa.mitchell@gastongov.com for prior arrangements. Drop-off location: 330 Dr Martin Luther King Jr Way, Gastonia, NC.
**Late proposals will not be considered**
A Virtual Proposer’s Conference is scheduled for Monday, March 20, 2023, at 1:30 pm.
To participate in this conference: Email your contact name, associated company or agency’s name (if applicable), email address, mailing address, and phone number- along with your request for the virtual meeting link & password to: Merissa Mitchell at merissa.mitchell@gastongov.com by 9 am on Monday, March 20, 2023 to receive this information and be added to the potential proposers list. The meeting link will open at 1:15 to allow authorized attendees to be signed in & answer virtual roll call at 1:30 pm.
Note: It is the responsibility of all proposers to check the GCWDB website for any final Proposal Questions & Answers, related to this Request for Proposal(s), prior to final submission of their proposal.
Question Deadline for a guaranteed response: March 29, 2023-5:00 pm.
Maximum contractor (proposer) funding allocations are finalized, and actual contract budgets negotiated, after the confirmation of funding allocations is received by the GCWDB from the NC Department of Commerce – Division of Workforce Solutions for the applicable program year period. Contract funding is also contingent upon approval of appropriations and the FY2023-2024 County Budget by the Gaston County Board of Commissioners. WIOA funds are 100% Federal dollars in the estimated amount of $306,856.
You will then reach the ‘Account Creation’ page. Here you will:
Create a user name.
Enter your email address twice.
Create a pin number.
Enter your contact phone number.
Create a password.
Select ‘Create Account.’
After your new account is created, an email will be
sent to the email address you provided during your account creation. Select the
link in the email to activate the account. The link is only valid for one hour.
You can now Sign Into the
website using your user name and password.
If you need personal
assistance, contact the Customer Call Center at 888-737-0259
Monday through Friday, from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
During the COVID-19
pandemic, when call volumes are high: Simple unemployment application questions can be
answered by calling your local NCWorks Career Center – Gaston at (704)
853-5328.
Note: During
times of career center closure to the public, due to COVID-19, some career
center services may be provided virtually.
The fastest and most efficient way to file a new
claim is to create an online
account and file online at des.nc.gov.
If you’re
temporarily out of work or your working hours have been reduced due to
COVID-19, choose ‘coronavirus’ as your
reason for separation when filing your claim.
Remember, you must complete
a Weekly Certification each week to receive benefits
for that week. Sign into your online account to complete your Weekly
Certification. (see page 3 Q&A for additional details)
Eligibility, the exact amount
of benefits, and the duration period of those benefits cannot be determined
until after you file your claim.
After you file your claim, your last employer is given, by law, 10 days
to respond to DES about your claim. No payment will be released until after
this 10-day period.
If there are no issues
with a claim, individuals typically receive
payment within about 14
days of filing their initial claim.
Unemployment Insurance Changes Due
to COVID-19 (Coronavirus)
The North Carolina Employment Security Division is
publishing instructions and guidance on the following webpage: https://des.nc.gov/need-help/covid-19-information to help you understand new
changes to the state’s unemployment system, due to the current impacts of the
COVID-19 coronavirus in North Carolina.
These changes were ordered by Governor Cooper on
Tuesday, March 17, 2020, as outlined in his Executive Order 118.
We are working to ensure that necessary
unemployment insurance benefits will be available to eligible North Carolinians
affected by job loss due to the COVID-19 coronavirus disease in our state.
On this page, you will find answers and
instructions:
For people seeking to apply for unemployment insurance benefits, due to
the COVID-19 situation
For employers seeking guidance for how to navigate the new changes to the unemployment insurance system
This page
will be updated frequently with new information as it becomes available, as we
continue to monitor all available data and evaluate its impact on both workers
and employers.
For people facing job loss due to the COVID-19
coronavirus situation, Governor Cooper’s Executive Order specifically
addresses:
Individuals who are separated from employment;
Individuals who have had their work hours reduced,
Individuals who are prevented from working due to a medical condition
or under direct quarantine orders as
a result of COVID-19.
If you’re temporarily out of
work OR your working hours have been reduced due to COVID-19, file a claim for unemployment benefits online and choose one of those two separation reasons on
the screen where you’ll enter and submit your claim information.
As an individual, your eligibility, exact amount of benefits, and duration
period of those benefits cannot be determined until after you file and submit
your claim.
Unemployment Benefits –
Questions & Answers For Individuals:
Q.
What if I am temporarily laid off work because business has slowed down as a
result of COVID-19?
A. If you are laid off work
temporarily or if your hours are reduced due to a business slowdown or a lack
of demand as a result of COVID-19, you may be able to receive unemployment
benefits. In order to determine eligibility, you must first apply for
unemployment. If you’re temporarily out of work or working reduced hours due to
COVID-19, select one of those two separation reasons when filing your claim.
Q. What if my
employer goes out of business as a result of COVID-19?
A. You may be eligible for
unemployment benefits if you’re laid off. If you’re out of work due to
COVID-19, indicate that while filing your claim.
Q. My employer has shut down operations
temporarily because an employee is sick, and we have been directed to be
isolated or in quarantine as a result of COVID-19. Am I eligible for
unemployment benefits?
A. If you are not receiving
payment from your employer, such as paid sick leave or paid time off, you may
be eligible for unemployment benefits during this time. If you are laid off
work temporarily or if your hours are reduced due to a business slowdown or a
lack of demand as a result of COVID-19, you may be able to receive unemployment
benefits. In order to determine eligibility, you must first apply for
unemployment. If you’re temporarily out of work or working reduced hours due to
COVID-19, select one of those two separation reasons when filing your claim.
Q. What if I need to take time off work because I
contract COVID-19?
A. The first and best option for
employees who need to miss work due to illness is to use their employer-paid
time off.
Q. What if I am directed by a medical professional
or public health official to quarantine as a result of COVID-19, but I am not
sick?
A. If your employer is not
offering paid time off, you should apply for unemployment insurance. If you are
laid off work temporarily or if your hours are reduced due to a business slowdown
or a lack of demand as a result of COVID-19, you may be able to receive
unemployment benefits. In order to determine eligibility, you must first apply
for unemployment. If you’re temporarily out of work or working reduced hours
due to COVID-19, please select one of those two separation reasons when filing
your claim.
Q.
I am a part-time employee. Am I eligible for unemployment?
A. Anyone can file for
unemployment insurance. In order to determine eligibility, you must first apply
for unemployment. If you’re temporarily out of work or working reduced hours
due to COVID-19, please select one of those two separation reasons when filing
your claim.
Q. Do I qualify for unemployment benefits if I
become seriously ill and I am forced to quit my job as a result of COVID-19?
A. When filing for unemployment
insurance, an employee must provide information about their decision to leave
the job. In order to determine eligibility, you must first apply for
unemployment.
Q. How am I supposed to meet requirements related
to my existing unemployment claim if I am in isolation or quarantine as a
result of COVID-19?
A. Individuals currently filing
for unemployment insurance benefits who have to quarantine due to COVID-19 will
be considered able and available to work as long as the individual has not
removed themselves from the labor market.
Q.
Must I still attend a previously scheduled in-person appointment?
A. No, please contact the unit
who scheduled the appointment or our Customer Call Center for other options to
complete your appointment.
Q. Do I have to
search for work while filing for unemployment?
A. If you are out of work as a result of COVID-19, you do not have to conduct a work search while filing for unemployment.
Congratulations to the Gaston Workforce Development Board and NCWorks Career Center- Gaston for receiving their NCWorks Career Center Certification given by state NCWorks Commission at their meeting in Winston Salem, NC on 02/12/2020!
Pictured (left to right) : Jessica Englehart- Assistant Secretary, Sally Heglar- Gaston Co WDB WIOA Coordinator, Claudette Argabrite- Career Center Manager, Christen Robinson- WIOA Adult Program Manager, Ronne Grantham- Regional Operations Director, Tom Rabon- NCWorks Commission Chairman, Larry Garland- Gaston Co WDB Chairman.
The Gaston Workforce Development Board would like to thank all employers, demonstrators, providers and other supporters of the 2018 Construction Career Awareness Day & Hiring Event that was held on April 11th, 2018 from 9:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. at Sims Legion Park. This event welcomed over 800+ Gaston County students and 26 Employers/Providers!
Highlights included:
Hands-on construction activities and demonstrations for Vocational High School and Middle School Students Competitive construction trade challenges Construction Career Booths sponsored by employers. Summer Internship opportunities for “Top-Notch” Students Hiring Event “Open to the Public” from 2:30pm -5pm for Company recruitments Lunch provided by the Gaston County Workforce Development Board from Will’s Doggn’ It.
The Gaston Workforce Development Board would like to recognize the following supporters for their extra efforts in making this special event such a success!
City of Gastonia
Beam’s Construction
Dellinger Electric
Gastonia Plumbing & Heating
Carolinas AGC
Stanley Black & Decker
E.S Wagner
Wayne Brothers
Gaston Natural Resources
John E. Jenkins Construction
Gaston County Building Inspections
Recore Electric
Sundop – Choice USA
Pepsi
Sam’s Club
Charlotte Paint
Morgan’s Bootery
EF Lambardi
Bill Wade Associates
Tamlite
Light Source
Cutler & Hammer – Eaton
Satco Lighting
Falcone Crawl Space & Structural Repair
NC Department of Transportation
Viking Steel Services
Gaston County Emergency Medical Services
Gaston County Schools
Also, the Gaston County Workforce Development Board will recognize “Top Notch” construction students by supplying them with “tools of their trade”.
