The Mayor’s Workforce Development Board (MWDB) is directly responsible and accountable to the State of Michigan, Labor and Economic Development, Workforce Development (LEO/WD) for the planning and oversight of talent development programs in the City of Detroit. Designated by the MWDB, Detroit Employment Solutions Corporation (DESC) serves as the fiscal and administrative entity and Michigan Works! Agency that provides workforce services to job seekers and employers, using a range of federal, state, local and private funds. DESC oversees nine (9) Detroit Michigan Works! One-Stop Service Centers and contracts with qualified entities to provide workforce development services to job seekers and employers. Locally, the Michigan Works! One-Stop Service Centers are branded as Detroit at Work Career Centers. DESC is also a proud member of the American Job Center network.
In July 2019, the MWDB and DESC, known collectively as Detroit at Work, launched a re-designed public workforce system. This included expanding from 3 to 9 Career Centers; doubling the number of youth service locations; physical co-location of federally funded programs with a common intake process; a centralized call center that serves as a single point of entry to our system; expansion of technology-enabled and web-based services; and integration of on-site financial coaching services. In addition, one of the most critical components of the new system has been reorienting program delivery through a trauma-informed and Human-Centered design lens that puts the customers’ needs at the center of service delivery.
Building on the transformative impact of the new system, Detroit at Work launched the People Plan in December of 2020 to raise philanthropic and private funds to support and expand its impact. The People Plan is a focused, scalable strategy by Detroit at Work to ensure all Detroiters – especially Black and Brown Detroiters – have a pathway to the middle class. The People Plan helps residents build skills and access comprehensive supports through evidence-based signature initiatives. The Career Centers and youth service locations serve as the foundation for the People Plan.
DESC seeks proposals from qualified applicants to provide FAE&T Plus (SNAP 50/50) services. Under FAE&T Plus, workforce development services provided with non-federal funds to eligible food assistance recipients can be partially reimbursed by the United States Department of Agriculture’s Food and Nutrition Service, as described later in this RFP.
DESC plans to award multiple contracts for requested services as detailed in this RFP.
