The Houston-Galveston Area Council Board of Directors on Tuesday voted unanimously to negotiate a number of contracts recommended by the Gulf Coast Workforce Board.
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Rodney Bradshaw explained that the first document, a second-year contract, would not exceed $45.6 million.
“The first recommendations have to do with the operation of the basic system,” Bradshaw said. “That’s the operation of our 29 career offices and our employer services.”
He said the second set of contracts would provide for “early education quality” and "training for jobs”, at amounts not to exceed $7,193,000 and $8,291,292 respectively.
“H-GAC received 12 proposals requesting $12 million to help improve early education quality in the region,” said the staff report. “H-GAC received 20 proposals requesting about $20 million to train workers for good jobs in the region.”
Not all proposals are slated for contracts.
The board voted to establish the H-GAC EPA SmartWay Loan Committee to oversee bridge loans as part of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act. Document
"The loan committee will include representatives from lending institutions, and the small business/trucking association community," said the staff report.
Initial appointees are John Esparza of the Texas Motor Transportation Association, Steve Clark of Arup, David Coffey of International Trucks of Houston, Mary Lou Rocha of Truck Nation and Alex Borror of Navistar. Other appointments will follow.
All other agenda items were approved. All votes were unanimous. Agenda
Conroe City Council Member Toby Powell, Deer Park City Council Member Thane Harrison, Houston City Council Member James Rodriguez, La Porte City Council Member Chuck Engelken, Jr., Lake Jackson Mayor Bob Sipple, League City Mayor Toni Randall, Pasadena City Council Member Darrell Morrison, Texas City City Commissioner, J.W. “Scooter Wilson, Jr. and Louis Tucker, representing the independent school districts, were absent.
Following the brief board meeting, the H-GAC Board met in an informal budget review session.