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HomeMy WebLinkAboutIR 7715 ��F�OR�MA�LR�E�PO�RT�TO�C CITY �OU�NC�IL MEMBERS � No. Tt15 To the Mayor and Members of the City Council May 4, 1993 Subject: The Worldng Connection Defense Conversion Adjustment (DCA) Project -- Carswell Air Force Base In July 1992, the City of Fort Worth was awarded a $1.8 million grant for The Working Connection to assist civilian workers that would be impacted by the closure of Carswell Air Force Base. The project was designed to assist 650 of the projected 1,200 civilians that would be impacted by the base closure. Layoffs were scheduled to begin in August 1992 and continue through September 1993. However, due to several initiatives under consideration to reuse the base, anticipated layoffs have not happened as originally projected and enrollments in the DCA project have been much lower than expected. Today only 25 individuals have enrolled seeking post employment assistance. In view of low participation, The Working Connection staff in cooperation with the Carswell Civilian Transition Committee developed and implemented a comprehensive recruitment in mid-December. This effort included: 1) eighteen presentations involving 800 military and civilian personnel;2)mail-out of newsletters to 700 civilian personnel;3)mail-out of invitation letters to 180 employees who have already received Reduction In Force, (RIF) notices; 4) distribution of more than 200 program flyers at various base facilities and personnel offices; 5)development of media releases,including a display on the gate marquee to access Channel 000" 2, and advertisement in the March 1993 Base Bulletin. Following this recruitment effort, a recount of eligible civilian workers was conducted. Staff met with all military, base managers, and personnel officers to discuss the number and composition of their current civilian workforces,and changes that have occurred over the past year, or that may occur in the near future. After a recount was conducted by base officials, it is now projected that there will be an estimated 600 to 650 individuals impacted by future lay-offs, and of this number approximately 300 may seek assistance from the DCA project. These figures differ significantly from projections used to develop the DCA/Dislocated Workers project in the spring of 1992. It has been determined that the low enrollment is due in part to several factors that did not exist or were not taken into consideration by The Working Connection staff and the Carswell Civilian Transition Committee when project plans were finalized in late April 1992. Factors that have contributed to low participation are: 1. Approximately 150 workers are spouses or dependents of active duty military personnel and, therefore, will relocate (or have already relocated) with them to another military installation, OFFIC an 2. Approximately 140 workers have voluntarily resigned due to their ha n Ly cc ejconu ikl another position, or opted for early retirement, I cia ITY ECWTARY 3. At least 360 workers will be needed to support the 301st Tactical Fight r g4uw"' M. 'MM""ttm�'U and a large number of these are likely to be current employees. Origina were that only 276 would be retained, however, the current estimates indicated that the need will be 84 to 100 higher than originally anticipated. This factor is having another unexpected impact on program enrollments: many of the workers who were slated to take these positions have voluntarily resigned and relocated,thereby making others slated for layoff eligible to fill these vacancies, ISSUED BY THE CITY MANAGER FORT WORTH,TEXAS INFORMAL REPORT TO CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS No. 7715 ANV&- T May 4.IM "p-0 To the Mayor and Members of the City Council Page 2 of 2 AO% Subject: The Worldng Connection Defense Conversion Adjustment (DCA) Project — Carswell Air Force Base 4. Approximately 125 workers will be retained as support staff for the Exchange/Commissary which will remain open for a minimum one year after September 1993, and 5. Approximately 80 workers have been transferred to other Federal agencies or military installations through the Priority Placement Program. In addition, on February 18, 1993,a mandatory registration occurred with the remaining appropriated/general fund employees. The continued success of this program is expected to place many other individuals and further reduce participant numbers. In summary, enrollment in the project is much lower than planned because: (1) Many of the eligible workers relocated or have transferred to other (civilian) jobs at Carswell and therefore are not in need of retraining and placement assistance and (2) there is uncertainty among employees about positions that will be available after September 1993 to support the 301st Fighter Squadron, the Base Exchange/Commissary operation, and the hospital. In addition, recent published reports in the Fort Worth Star-Telegram addressed the possibility of Carswell receiving an additional 589 civilian personnel and the base may AN be utilized for a major reserve training center for as many as 1,657 military personnel. It is fairly evident that Carswell will be a big "gainer" should present plans receive needed congressional approval. All of this means that the present DCA grant agreement/contract for the Carswell project can be amended to reflect a more realistic service level and that excess funds can be de-obligated and made available for projects in other communities that may be experiencing a fund shortage. The project is being modified to reduce the service and funding levels by 500. The Texas Department of Commerce, the Carswell Civilian Transition Committee, and the Fort Worth Private Industry Council all concur with this course of action. �z- b Te U C C 10 141aimager ISSUED BY THE CITY MANAGER FORT WORTH,TEXAS