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On June 16, 2022, the Future Workforce Alliance (FWA), which serves as the Local Workforce Board for Snohomish County, adopted the Program Year (PY) 2022 budget of $8.5 million that takes effect on July 1, 2022. The budget reflects the strategic priorities of the FWA to focus Federal Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) funds on underserved areas and communities across Snohomish County.
The PY22 budget includes key investments to support the FWA’s strategic priorities. These include:
- Piloting a north Snohomish County workforce connection site for employers and career seekers in this rapidly growing region;
- Funding community engagement staff to deliver workforce services to underserved communities;
- Developing an in-school youth strategy to serve students and provide them with opportunities for meaningful career throughout Snohomish County; and
- Establishing a $1.3 million strategic reserve to mitigate anticipated decline in Federal workforce funding.
“By building a gold-standard workforce system in Snohomish County, we will be able to make it easier for workers and businesses to adapt to ever-changing circumstances,” said Snohomish County Executive Dave Somers. “By focusing on communities across Snohomish County, particularly those that are underserved, as well as businesses and talent in the advanced manufacturing cluster, the adopted budget sets us on a clear path toward full recovery from the pandemic. The members of our Future Workforce Alliance deserve our thanks for working to make this plan a reality.”
The adopted budget supports FWA’s strategic priorities and provides funding to advance key initiatives that:
- Build a culture of collaboration among all workforce system stakeholders;
- Grow and diversify jobs; and
- Develop talent through increased skill development.
“Over the past year-and-a-half the FWA has undertaken an intentional and thoughtful strategic planning process with our workforce and community partners to develop our strategic priorities,” said Amy Drewel, FWA Board Chair. “The adopted budget allows us to implement a number of key strategic initiatives that will help create a gold-standard workforce system centered on equity and inclusion, broad-based coordination, and data-driven decision making.”
Workforce Snohomish, through a designation agreement with Snohomish County and the FWA, will serve as the key implementing partner for the Federal workforce funds and will work with contractors such as Career Path Services to reach underserved communities and areas of the county.
“The adopted budget to support FWA’s strategic priorities will continue the process of workforce system transformation and assist employers with acquiring new and upskilling current talent,” said Joy Emory, CEO of Workforce Snohomish. “Moreover, the budget will allow us to better reach underserved communities with workforce services that will support an equitable recovery across the county.”
The FWA’s mission is to catalyze equitable, inclusive, and responsible economic growth through public-private collaborative strategies that build upon a foundation of lifelong learning, creation of quality jobs, innovation, and adaptability. The FWA ensures that employers have consistent access to the skilled talent they need, and that youth and adults are supported in attaining rewarding careers.
For more information about the FWA, please visit the website at: https://snohomishcountywa.gov/5610/Future-Workforce-Alliance. For information about workforce services in Snohomish County, please contact Workforce Snohomish at 425-921-3423.
 The Evergreen State Fair is hosting its annual Fair Food Drive early this year on Saturday, July 16, 2022 from 12:00-5:00 pm in the west parking lot at the Evergreen Fair Park in Monroe. With support from Lee Johnson Auto Family, drop-off options are also available July 1-15, 2022 at various Lee Johnson Auto Family locations around the region. By donating five or more non-perishable and unexpired items at the drop-off locations or at the drive-through event, the donor will receive one ticket for weekday admission to the 2022 Evergreen State Fair. Limit one ticket per person and five tickets per car. Cash donations do not count towards tickets. Donations will go to the Snohomish County Food Bank Coalition.
In 2021, the drive-through food drive was a success which brought in 13,655 pounds of food and $2,847 in donations which benefitted the Volunteers of America Western Washington and the Snohomish County Food Bank Coalition.
Having the food drive early instead of on opening day of Fair, which has been a tradition in the past, will disperse the usual crowds on Special Admission Days and eliminate the pressure of having to come to the Fair on a certain day to save money on admission. Once participants get their ticket, they can then choose which weekday to enjoy the fair.
Suggested non-perishable and unexpired donations include:
- Diapers
- Baby wipes
- Hygiene items/toiletries
- Canned vegetables, fruits, beans, meats
- Pasta
- Peanut butter
- Rice
- Shelf stable milk
- Jellies and jams
- Kitchen staples (spices, flour, sugar, cooking oil, salt)
Drop off locations available July 1-15, 2022:
Lee Johnson Chevrolet
Lee Johnson Mazda
Lee Johnson Kia
11845 NE 85th St Kirkland, WA 98033
Lee Johnson Nissan of Kirkland
11930 124th Ave NE Kirkland, WA 98033
Eastside Auto Licensing
8244 122th AVE NE Suite 2 Kirkland, WA 98033
Speedway Chevrolet
Speedway RV
16957 W Main St. Monroe, WA 98272
Lee Johnson Hyundai of Everett
Genesis of Everett
7800 Evergreen Way, Everett, WA 98203
Autoright Motors Bothell
17318 Bothell Way NE Bothell, WA 98011
Autoright Motors Lake Stevens
2022 87th Ave SE Lake Stevens, WA 98258
Mazda of Seattle
4522 Roosevelt Way NE, Seattle WA 98105
More information can be found at: https://www.evergreenfair.org/279/Fair-Food-Drive
Snohomish County is seeking public input for the county’s future throughout the month of July through in-person public outreach in the community. County staff will be in libraries, parks, farmers markets, and more locations across the county to spread awareness of the Comprehensive Plan and to answer the public’s questions. The input we receive will guide the 2024 Comprehensive Plan Update, which impacts growth, preservation, and development in Snohomish County.
Snohomish County is planning for a resilient, vibrant, and inclusive future. One of the main ways the county can plan for this future is through periodic updates to its Comprehensive Plan.
The Comprehensive Plan is a document that guides Snohomish County decisions on a wide range of topics and services over a 20-year time period. The Plan acts as the blueprint for development in the county. It will impact neighborhoods, businesses, traffic, the environment, and you. The Plan is also meant to reflect the vision and priorities of Snohomish County communities and residents, while meeting requirements of state and federal law. See the current plan here: https://snohomishcountywa.gov/2139/Comprehensive-Plan.
- What: 2024 Comprehensive Plan Update Public Outreach
- When: July 2022
- Where: various locations throughout the county
- Schedule: Online at https://snohomishcountywa.gov/5597/2024-Update
To learn more about the 2024 Comprehensive Plan Update, visit the project page at https://snohomishcountywa.gov/5597/2024-Update, watch https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IAK1RoMg72A for a high-level overview of the update.
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