HomeMy WebLinkAboutCRA-R-13-0065 BackupSUPPORTING
DOCUMENTATION
250 NW 941 Street Miami, Florida 33136 305-444-1944 www,dfsmianii:org
CRA Grants Division
1490 NW 3rd Avenue Ste 105
Miami, Florida 33136
To whom it may concern:
August 27, 2013
Suited For Success, Inc. is requesting a grant in the amount of $80,000 from the CRA so that we may
continue to provide low-income and disadvantaged clients with our vital employment skills training,
professional business clothing and career development services. Of the $80,000 we will use $50,000
to continue the employment skills training program for adults and youth and $30,000 for the opening
of a new fashion "boutique" at the comer of NW 8th St and 3rd Ave, as part of the new development
project with Mt. Zion Development Co. The boutique will provide fashionable, affordable clothing
and accessories for sale to all the residents of the Overtown community.
Since starting operations in 1994, Suited for Success has provided services to over 40,000 low-
income men, women and youth in Miami -Dade County. At SFS we have instilled a level of
confidence, dignity and empowerment among our at -risk populations in Miami and have seen great
success stories these past few years. There is a great demand and needfor our services especially
given the recent economic downturn and last year alone we provided services to over 1300 adults and
youth seeking employment of which more than 400 came from the SEOPW/CRA community. As a
non-profit organization we rely on government assistance by means of grants to keep our organization
going.
As we enter our 4th year in the SEOPW/CRA neighborhood here are some of the accomplishments
we have had over the past year:
We reached out and established relationships with the following local agencies/businesses:
Overtown Youth Center, YWCA, Camillus House, Urgent Inc., The Overtown NET Office, Mt. Zion
Development Co., MDC Hospitality Training Institute, U. Of Miami Business School Hyperion Club,
Booker T. Washington Senior High School, the Bethal AME (GAME) Development Corporation of
South Florida, Miami Rescue Mission, Community Action Agency, and the newly formed Overtown
Youth Coalition. These are only a partial list of the 125 agencies that refer clients to our office.
We established free haircuts, color and cuts for all SFS clients with another Beauty Salon in Miami;
established an ongoing relationship with Walmart for the 3rd year who has become a sponsor and
joined our board of directors; brought new corporate partners to visit us at Dorsey House and become
involved in our employment skills training programs such as Dell, UnitedHealthcare, Carnival Cruise
Lines, Airbus and Baptist Health.
I would like to request that we be placed on the September agenda of the CRA Commission meeting
so that we can avoid any interruption of services to the community as our current contract ends
November 1, 2013. We look forward to another successful year of providing the much needed
services to our Local residents.
Thank you for your considera
Sincerely,
acobson
Sonia Jacobson/Founder & Executive Director
250 NW 9 Street
Miami, Florida 33136
305-444-1944
Proposed Budget-2014
August 27, 2013
Percilla Kelsey
Community Redevelopment Agency
1490 NW 3ra Ave #105
Miami, Fl. 33136
Proposed Budget for Employment Skills Training and Fashion Boutique
Budgeted Items Description Proposed
Budget
Rent Dorsey House $5000
Telephone/
Communications
$2400
Project Staff Trainer $40,000
Marketing/Development/Outreach 0
Liability/Property Insurance 0
Copy Machine $1200
Printing $1000
Office Supplies/Software $ 400
Rent Fashion Boutique $8,000
Telephone/Communications Fashion Boutique $2,000
Manager Fashion Boutique $15,000
Sales Associate Fashion Boutique $ 5,000
Total: $80,000
SUITED FOR SUCCESS, INC.
SCOPE OF WORK
Program Period — November 1, 2013 through October 31, 2014
I. Program
Suited for Success, Inc. ("Grantee") shall provide, manage and operate an employability skills training
and occupational development program benefitting at -risk and economically disadvantaged women, men
and youth. Grantee shall implement this scope of work within the boundaries of the Southeast
OvertownlPark West Community Redevelopment Area ("Program Area") through two distinct
programming initiatives; one that targets adults; the other targeting youths. Prior to commencement of
this scope of work, Grantee shall provide the CRA with a concise curriculum and schedule of activities.
The CRA will then issue a Notice to Proceed to Grantee to commence the scope of work.
Suited For Success Program
The Suited for Success Program ("Adult Program") is designed to accommodate individuals from the
Program Area who are 20 years of age or older ("Adult Participants"). Grantee shall conduct sufficient
group training sessions to accommodate at a minimum, 300 Adult Participants. Training sessions shall
cover subject matters that include: job interviewing skills, resume writing, self-esteem building and basic
technology skills, business etiquette and dress code, office protocol, and ethics. Grantee shall coordinate
with industry professionals, employers and social service providers to establish a streamlined referral
service process benefitting the Adult Participants and shall provide those Adult Participants who have
completed the Adult Program with free professional attire in preparation for subsequent job interviews
and for the workplace. The duration of each group training session shall, at a minimum, be for three (3)
hours. Training and related activities associated with the Adult Program shall take place in the facility at
250 NW 9th Street ("Dorsey House") or at any such other suitable location within the Program Area.
Eligible Participants: Eligible participants shall include residents within the target age group living
within the Program Area. In addition, registered participants of any CRA approved job training institute
initiative located within the Program Area are also eligible to participate.
START Now Youth Program
The START Now Youth Program ("Youth Program") is designed to accommodate individuals from the
Program Area who are between eight (8) and eighteen (18) years of age ("Youth Participants"). Grantee
shall conduct sufficient group training sessions to accommodate, at a minimum, 100 Youth Participants.
Training sessions shall cover subject matters that include: job interviewing skills, career development and
the job application process, self-esteem building, business etiquette and ethics. The duration of each
group training session shall, at a minimum, be for two (2) hours. All Youth Program activities shall take
place at one or more of the following designated sites ("Youth Program Facilities") located within the
Program Area:
• Booker T. Washington Senior High School - 1200 NW 6th Avenue, Miami, Florida 33136,
• Overtown Youth Center — 450 NW 14 Street, Miami, Florida 33136
• Urgent Inc. —1000 NW 1st Avenue, Miami, Florida 33136
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SUITED FOR SUCCESS SCOPE OF WORK
Ii. Recruitment
Grantee shall utilize all efforts in marketing the Adult Program and Youth Program (collectively, the
"Program") which shall include;
a) Referrals through established network of agencies and social service providers throughout
Miami -Dade County;
b) Direct outreach to community organizations within the Overtown and Park West neighborhoods;
c) Open house events at the Dorsey House;
d) Marketing via Grantee's official website at www.dfsmiami,org and
e) Distribution of press releases and marketing materials, pre -approved by the CRA.
III. Professional Staff
Grantee shall employ professional personnel and trainers to carry out the Program. Grantee shall
designate a Program Representative who will coordinate with the CRA on all matters concerning the
Program and related activities.
IV. Budget
Budgeted Items
Description
CRA Approved Budget
Rent
$5,000
Telephone/Communications
$2,400
Program Trainer(s)
$40,000
Marketing/Development/Outreach
Marketing material to be pre -approved
by the CRA prior to printing and
distribution.
0
Liability/Property Insurance
0
Printing
Printing services
$1,000
Office Expenses/Supplies
Software purchases, copy machine
supplies, general office supplies, etc
$1,600
TOTAL
$50,000
V. Program Evaluation:
Grantee shall conduct an assessment of all Program participants at commencement of the Program and at
certain designated periods following the completion of each Program session, and shall submit on a
monthly basis a summary report of the empirical data to the CRA. These assessment reports will be used
in evaluating the Grantee's performance in carrying out this scope of work,
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SUITED FOR SUCCESS SCOPE OF WORK
VI. Performance Goals
Grantee shall meet specific performance goals set for the Program. To ensure Grantee's compliance with
the prescribed goals, the CRA shall withhold 10% of all approved payment requisitions submitted by
Grantee, to be released when the end of year performance evaluation is conducted on the Program and the
performance goals set forth below have been met.
Adult Program
1. Grantee shall have enrolled no less than 300 qualified Adult Participants.
2. Grantee shall have increased by 50% the number of job interview requests received by each Adult
Participant upon completing the Adult Program.
3. Grantee shall have achieved a job offer/placement rate of 45% of all graduates of the Adult
Program reflecting the Adult Participant's attainment of, or a job offer for, a permanent full-time
or part-time employment position within six (6) months of completing the Adult Program..
Youth Program
1. Grantee shall have enrolled no less than 100 qualified Youth Participants.
2. Grantee, on its three (3) month post survey of Youth Participants, shall have achieved at a
minimum, a response rate of 50% of those surveyed indicating the Youth Program was beneficial
to their career development.
3. Grantee, on its three (3) month post survey of its Youth Program partners, (i.e, Booker T.
Washington Senior High School and Urgent, Inc.), shall have achieved a response rate of 100%
indicating the Youth Program was beneficial to their respective student body that have
participated in the Youth Program.
VH. Payment Requisition:
Proceeds from the grant shall be used to cover eligible expenses associated with the Program. Grantee
shall submit invoices for payment processing on a monthly basis, providing for a total of twelve (12)
payment periods during the terin of the Grant agreement. Payment shall be disbursed on a reimbursement
basis to the Grantee or directly to approved sub -grantees and vendors. All payment requisitions must be
accompanied with satisfactory documentation verifying the receipt of the goods or services procured.
The payment requisition shall be summarized in a report and accompanied by proper documentation,
which, at a minimum, shall consist of:
• Project accounting, including invoices, receipts or other acceptable evidence of payment due to
third party vendors.
• Monthly, and when applicable, quarterly Monitoring Reports.
• Copies of marketing materials and notices during the invoice period.
• Images of Program related activities.
• Attendance records.
Copies of the assessment reports from the Program participants.
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SUITED FOR SUCCESS SCOPE OF WORK
In an effort to streamline the processing of payment requisitions, Grantee is encouraged to submit such
payment requisitions to the CRA office no later than the 5`h day of each month for expenses incurred for
activities completed during the previous month.
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SUITED FOR SUCCESS SCOPE OF WORK