Cincinnati Union Cooperative Initiative

PROGRAM PURPOSE AWARD PURPOSE: THE PURPOSE OF THIS DEMONSTRATION PROGRAM IS TO SUPPORT TRANSFORMATIVE EFFORTS TO IMPROVE JOB QUALITY AND AVAILABILITY OF GOOD JOBS, PARTICULARLY FOR THE BENEFIT OF HISTORICALLY MARGINALIZED POPULATIONS AND COMMUNITIES THAT HAVE EXPERIENCED BARRIERS TO EMPLOYMENT IN GOOD JOBS. THE PRIMARY FOCUS OF THESE DEMONSTRATION GRANTS IS EXPANDING JOB QUALITY IN THE CARE, CLIMATE RESILIENCY, AND HOSPITALITY SECTORS. THIS IS A TIER 1 PLANNING GRANT TO SUPPORT THE FORMATION OF WORKER-CENTERED SECTOR PARTNERSHIPS IN LOCAL OR REGIONAL ECONOMIC AREAS TO DESIGN WORKFORCE STRATEGIES TO ENHANCE EQUITY AND JOB QUALITY WITHIN THE CARE, CLIMATE RESILIENCY, AND HOSPITALITY SECTORS.ACTIVITIES TO BE PERFORMED: AS PART OF THIS PROJECT, THE GRANTEE WILL FORM A COALITION THAT CONDUCTS A COMPREHENSIVE WORKFORCE STUDY TO ASSESS THE STATE OF JOB QUALITY WHILE GATHERING INPUT FROM A RANGE OF INDUSTRY AND COMMUNITY PARTNERS ABOUT CHALLENGES, NEEDS AND OPPORTUNITIES FOR EFFECTIVE SOLUTIONS. THEY WILL IDENTIFY KEY STRATEGIES TO (A) HELP COMPANIES RECRUIT DIVERSE WORKERS IN PARTNERSHIP WITH COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS SERVING THESE WORKERS, SUCH AS THROUGH PRE-APPRENTICESHIPS, APPRENTICESHIPS, AND SCHOOL PROGRAMS (B) IMPROVE JOB QUALITY THROUGH BROADLY DEVELOPED INDUSTRY-WIDE LABOR STANDARDS REGARDING PAY, BENEFITS, AND JOB SECURITY, AS WELL AS THROUGH STRATEGIES TO AUGMENT WORKER VOICE, INCLUDING PARTICIPATORY MANAGEMENT SYSTEMS, PROFIT SHARING, UNIONIZATION, AND WORKER-OWNERSHIP (C) ENABLE BUSINESSES TO ADOPT GOOD JOBS PRACTICES BY SUPPORTING THEM THROUGH TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE, SHARED SERVICES, SUCCESSION PLANNING, AND THE IMPLEMENTATION OF PARTICIPATORY MANAGEMENT AND WORKER-OWNERSHIP SYSTEMS (D) DETERMINE KEY PUBLIC PROJECTS THAT CAN INCENTIVIZE COMPANIES TO ADOPT GOOD JOBS PRACTICES (E) ENSURE THESE POLICIES AND INITIATIVES LAST LONG TERM, SUCH AS THROUGH A WORKER-OWNERSHIP CERTIFICATION AND ENFORCEMENT BY LABOR ORGANIZATIONS AND OTHERS. SUSTAINERGY, WHICH IS IMMIGRANT-LED, WORKER-OWNED, AND UNIONIZED, OFFERS RESIDENTIAL ENERGY EFFICIENCY SERVICES IN GREATER CINCINNATI, REDUCING THE CARBON FOOTPRINT OF RESIDENTS WHILE CREATING A MORE SUSTAINABLE URBAN AREA, AND IT RECENTLY ADDED SOLAR POWER SERVICES. THEY WILL SERVE AS A KEY INDUSTRY AND WORKER PARTNER IN THIS PROJECT AND INFORM EFFORTS TO IMPROVE JOB QUALITY IN THE CLEAN ENERGY AND SUSTAINABLE CONSTRUCTION SECTORS.DELIVERABLES EXPECTED OUTCOMES: APPLICANTS IDENTIFY THE KEY JOB QUALITY MEASURES THAT WILL BE USED TO TRACK GRANT PROGRESS IN MEETING MILESTONES.INTENDED BENEFICIARIES: THE TARGET POPULATION WILL BE INDIVIDUALS FROM HISTORICALLY MARGINALIZED COMMUNITIES IN GREATER CINCINNATI, PARTICULARLY WOMEN, PEOPLE OF COLOR, AND BLUE-COLLAR WORKERS. FORTY PERCENT OF THE TARGET POPULATION IN THE REGION ARE OF APPALACHIAN DESCENT.SUBRECIPIENT ACTIVITIES: SUBRECIPIENT ACTIVITIES ARE ALLOWABLE UNDER THIS AWARD TO CARRYOUT PROJECT ACTIVITIES.

BUILDING RESILIENCE IN THE REFUGEE COMMUNITY OF CINCINNATI THROUGH COOPERATIVE AGRICULTURE AND ENTREPRENEURSHIP