The Mojave County Board of Supervisors this week voted in favor of awarding labor-related contracts to Phoenix company Chicanos Por La Causa. However, the company’s political leanings made some members of the county’s governing board uneasy.
In December, county officials sought the services of a “one-stop system operator” under the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act of 2014, in accordance with state law. The operator will work with Mojave County’s efforts to assist local job seekers and ensure all legal requirements are followed under the law.
“This position is like the quarterback of the team for all of our partners,” said Michael Smith, Director of Community Services at Mohave. “They convene meetings, they convene huddles, and when problems arise in one office or in distant offices, they pull it together.”
But Smith said the job isn’t just about holding meetings between partner agencies and the county. This role also includes analyzing performance and streamlining efforts to serve job-seeking county residents.
The one-year contract was finally awarded to Chicanos Por La Causa on Monday and will be paid through federal WIOA funds.
Chicanos was selected from four candidates, including two Kingman agencies and an Atlanta-based firm. Chicanos was rated as having the most experience in providing such services, and he was rated as the second most cost-effective of the four candidates.
But the Phoenix-based company has backed a political trend that may be too liberal for its traditionally conservative oversight board to approve Monday’s decision unanimously.
Supervisor Travis Lingenfelter said, “Their goals seem to indicate that they have a social justice agenda.” I don’t think there is a place for that topic to exist for those of us who are. I am a little against Mojave County participating in any kind of social justice agenda funding…I know people who use this program are not covered by it.I cannot guarantee comparable results . ”
But Smith said the company will honor its contracts with the county regardless of its political views. Low.
“We had an application in front of us and scored based on what was there for past services,” says Smith. “This was voted on by the committee. Together with the procurement department there was consensus that this was the best candidate.”
Smith said it will take a significant amount of time for new companies and applicants, such as Kingman-based Options, to learn how to fulfill their role as a “one-stop operator” for Mojave County. I was.
Supervisor Jan Bishop said, “The contract is only for one year. “Instead of spending that year training someone to learn a job, I was able to see how the company was doing.”
The Mojave County Board of Supervisors approved a proposed community service deal with Phoenix-based Chicanos Por La Causa in a 3-2 vote, with Lingenfelter and supervisor Ron Gould disagreeing.
