Mississippi Administrative Code › Title 28 - Ports and Airports › Part 309 - Mississippi State Port Authority's Section 3 Plan Port Restoration › MSPA Section 3 Outreach & Training Activities

Current through June 25, 2024
To further facilitate the Port Authority's commitment to the
				achievement of the numerical goals for itself and its Contractors and
				Subcontractors, the Port Authority supports broad outreach, education and
				training relative to Section 3. The cornerstone of the Port Authority's
				outreach and training effort is the establishment of the Pathways to the Port
				Program.
MSPA, in conjunction with the Mississippi Development Authority
				(the "MDA"), has partnered with the Mississippi Department of Employment
				Security ("MDES") to recruit and refer eligible applicants, and to provide
				employers with a one-stop resource for job posting and qualified workers. MDES
				operates a network of WIN Job Centers which have traditionally been the link
				between employers and the workforce. The Centers provide applicants with
				assessment, job search and placement assistance, as well as access to computers
				and job readiness training. Applicants in need of additional training will be
				screened and referred to training providers.
MDES has developed the Workforce Investment Global Services or
				"WINGS", an integrated web solution that can be used by employers to post jobs,
				find qualified applicants and manage job applications posted in the system. The
				process is as follows:
* Pathways Program will require all the Program Participants
				to submit job postings through WINGS for all newly created or replacement
				positions.
* The WIN Job Center will provide a list of qualified job
				seekers with preference to low-and very low- income persons.
* MDES will provide the Program participant with the list of
				qualified job seekers from the WIN Job Center.
* The Pathways to the Port participant will then interview the
				candidates qualified for the open position and may choose to hire from the list
				provided if possible. Once the program participant has made a hiring decision
				regarding the position, the participant shall inform MDES of its
				decision.
* When a candidate is chosen from the list or another source,
				the Program participant will complete the Job Applicant Survey Form
				(substantially in the form set forth in Appendix I) and submit it to the
				Compliance Officer or its designee for recordkeeping and reporting. .
The Pathways Program will be a focused and accountable model
				initiative. Applicants will be tracked in the State's performance management
				system to measure and report on hiring and other outcomes.
Program Outreach:
MSPA jobs outreach program in order to quantify the direct and
				indirect jobs of contractors and subcontractors resulting from the Port
				Authority's Section 3 Covered Projects and to make them available to all
				sections of the community, including low- to very low- income residents.
The entire community in the vicinity of the Port at Gulfport
				will be targeted. The community shall consist of the
				MSA.1 However, particular attention will be paid to
				low- and very low-income persons. The outreach campaign will include purchasing
				authorities, community-based organizations, WIN Job Centers, libraries, and
				media resources (e.g., The Sun Herald, WLOX, posting and distributing flyers, a
				website).
Workforce Training
The State of Mississippi has successfully developed a workforce
				training system utilizing the resources of the State's network of community
				colleges, senior colleges, State and local economic development agencies, and
				related business entities. This system has successfully provided hundreds of
				citizens, many of whom are low- and very low income- persons, with the job
				training and related education to find employment with the major manufacturing
				industries and businesses of the State, including Nissan and Toyota. This
				system has been nationally recognized for its innovation and abilities to
				provide a highly skilled workforce for these industries. The Pathways Program
				will partner this approach with existing state workforce system, to plan,
				implement and oversee training, recruitment, and hiring needs for the Port and
				the Program Participants. The Pathways Program will identify the
				fundamental/core skills needed in order to equip unskilled and under-skilled
				workers to fill entry-level demand jobs.
The Pathways Program will work with businesses, community
				colleges, and other training providers as necessary to meet job training needs.
				Training will be easily accessible, flexible and will be provided at very low
				or no cost to eligible applicants.
Three key training providers have been identified: (1) the
				Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College, which has three campuses and has
				offered the use of its West Harrison Center located in Harrison County to be
				used exclusively for the Pathways Program training; (2) Pearl River Community
				College, which has campuses in Hancock and Pearl River County; and (3) the Ship
				Building Academy located in Jackson County.
Existing curriculum will be customized to meet training needs.
				Training will lead to portable industry recognized credentials. Existing
				training includes, logistics, diesel equipment and office system technologies;
				heavy equipment operations; construction skills; OSHA; crane simulation;
				commercial truck driving and career readiness certificates.
The Compliance Officer will also evaluate Section 3 eligibility
				based on the data submitted by contractors. The Compliance Officer shall review
				and have oversight over all certifications.
1
http://www.mississippi.org/assets/docs/maps/msas.pdf