Heartland Workforce Investment Board Inc

The joint meeting agenda included setting/amending the agenda, and reviewing consent items, which covered minutes from various committee meetings in October 2025, a request to continue as a Direct Service Provider, a request to transfer Dislocated Worker funding to Adult funding, a request to revise the Employee Handbook regarding leave use and payout, and review of the Education and Industry Consortium Meeting. Executive Board actions involved affirming a mandatory Board membership representative change due to employment transition. The Board of Directors ratified a revised policy (ADM 01-03) and approved contracting with related parties for training services. Presentations included the audit results from James Moore Certified Public Accountants & Consultants and a video presentation from Comcast. Committee reports detailed actions from the Business Enhancement, Youth Council, and Finance & Operations Committees. Finance & Operations reported on financial statements, the Internal Control Questionnaire, and recommended approval for an action item concerning increasing the contract for Sunshine Staffing as Employer of Record. Executive reports covered the President/CEO activities, including awarded grants and updates to board vacancies.

The Joint Board Meeting addressed several key items. The agenda was approved without changes. Consent items approved included minutes from various committee meetings, the Holiday and Office Closure Schedule Revised PY 2025-26, and several action items related to training providers and funding transfers. The Executive Board affirmed the continued membership of specific Board members whose employment status had changed. The Board of Directors ratified Revised Policy ADM 01-03 and approved contracting with related parties for training services up to a total of $300,000. Presentations included an update on the Youth Program, featuring success stories from a former participant who became a business owner. Committee reports covered the Youth Council, Business Enhancement Committee (which vetted the related party contracts), and Finance & Operations Committee. The Finance & Operations Committee reviewed financial reports, the Financial Monitoring report from Florida Commerce (which had no findings), the Internal Control Questionnaire, and credit card expenses. A key action item involved the approval of Annual Performance Incentives for staff, recommended due to meeting or exceeding all PY 2024-25 Performance Indicators. Executive reports noted the restoration of AARP funding leading to a board membership change and the award of new grants totaling $700,000. Economic development updates were provided for DeSoto, Hardee, Highlands, and Okeechobee Counties.

The committee addressed the revision of the Local Workforce Board Conflict of Interest Policy by CareerSource Florida, specifically regarding exemptions for Related Party Training Providers concerning contracts or agreements for WIOA funded occupational/vocational training through Individual Training Accounts (ITA). The committee acknowledged that Indian River State College and South Florida State College are Related Party Training Providers and approved the continuation of issuing customer ITAs to them as appropriate. A review and discussion of the Education and Industry Consortium Meeting held on September 24, 2025, took place, but the committee offered no recommendations for formal action.

The Consortium meeting focused on three key components: analysis of the local labor market based on industry needs and educational offerings, information on priority industry sectors and occupations, and the status of existing talent pipelines. Discussion on the labor market included a review of the August 2025 unemployment rate ranking for CareerSource Heartland (19th in Florida), and industry updates noting a year-over-year decline in open jobs in the area. Specific industry observations included stable employment at Everglades Seasoning, stalling growth in Hardee County's housing market, and continued demand for trucking and electrical construction positions. Regarding talent pipelines, a significant discussion centered on new training opportunities funded by a grant ending June 30, 2026. This grant allows for 100% tuition reimbursement for businesses sending employees to courses focused on in-demand soft skills (foundational skills), basic computer skills, and Artificial Intelligence (AI) implementation. Finally, committee members were reminded that their two-year terms, largely beginning in January 2024, were approaching renewal in January 2026, and outreach would commence to confirm their interest in continuing service.

The Finance & Operations Committee meeting included presentations and discussions on financial reports for the period covering 7/1/2024 through 8/31/2025, and the PY 2024-25 Financial Monitoring Quality Assurance Report, which yielded no findings. The committee also reviewed the 2025-26 Internal Control Questionnaire and Assessment, discussing succession planning challenges for key management positions. Action items involved recommending Board approval for a process regarding Pay Rate Adjustments for employees whose jobs change, effective October 1, 2025, and requesting authorization to transfer up to 100% of PY 2024-25 Dislocated Worker funding for adult activities expenditure. Furthermore, the committee recommended approval for authorizing Annual Performance Incentives for workforce staff based on meeting or exceeding federal performance indicators for PY 2024-25, with a base not to exceed $50,000. The meeting concluded with a review of the President/CEO's travel expenses.