Summary of Specifications:
Washtenaw County is often considered one of the economically stronger counties/regions in Michigan. This continues to be the case but the county has not been immune to the recent economic crisis. Although unemployment in Washtenaw County is the lowest in the state, it is on the rise. In July 2009 unemployment was 10.3% - that is up more than 3 full points since July 2008. Like the rest of the state, the increase in unemployment in Washtenaw County is due in large part to the layoffs and plant closures associated with manufacturing. These workers generally require retraining to gain suitable skills for a new job.
Poverty rates in the County have increased slightly since the beginning of the decade, from 11.1 percent to 12.7 percent. The income disparity across the County is wide, from 4% poverty to nearly 26% poverty. ETCS witnesses evidence of growing poverty everyday as increasing numbers of citizens come to ETCS seeking emergency assistance with utilities, food, and other community action needs.
Washtenaw County ETCS is accepting proposals from vendors to assist ETCS in serving the employment and community service needs of Washtenaw County’s most needy citizens, or for communicating the availability of these services to the public and the service outcomes and results to ETCS stakeholders.
ETCS is particularly interested in innovative programs or initiatives that enhance or supplement existing services to reach the underserved and disadvantaged populations who are served under normal ETCS programming. Proposals that include elements of environmentally espoused (“green”) careers and/or those which enhance existing services that already receive Federal, State, or local funding, will receive special consideration.
