During this week’s Board meeting, our Board of Commissioners took action on the following items:

• COLA: The Board approved a 1.50% Cost of Living Adjustment (COLA). The adjustment will go into effect March 28, 2010.

• Community Services: The Board approved an agreement between our Agency’s Community Services program and the County of Fresno to assist with the establishment and management of a farmers market at Courthouse Park. It also approved the submission of an applications to the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), Risk Management Agency (RMA) to expand and retain current farmers markets and Wallace Center Winrock International to support initiatives to develop farmers market programs.

• LCC: The Board approved the renewal of a one-year Memorandum of Understanding with YouthBuild Charter School of California to serve as the academic provider for Local Conservation Corps participants. This year, there are 120 students enrolled in our YouthBuild Charter School; 60 of who are expected to graduate later this year. Our YouthBuild Charter School serves LCC participants’ ages 18 to 24 years while our School of Unlimited Learning (SOUL) serves at-risk youth in 9 th through 12 th grade (typically 14 to 18 years of age).

• Employment and Training: The Board approved the acceptance of funds awarded by the Fresno Regional Workforce Investment Board (FRWIB) in order to begin start-up plans for the 2010 Summer YouthJobs Program. Five temporary Summer Youth Jobs Program staff will be hired to focus solely on upfront worksite recruitment and development.

Also, three individuals were recognized:

• Reverend E. Swillis for 28 years of service as a Board Commissioner

• TLC participant Daniella Valencia for being selected by California Coalition for Youth (CCY) as the recipient of its annual Youth Leadership Award. She was also recently awarded the OutstandingCollege Volunteer of the Year Award by HandsOn Central California.
  
  
• “Grandma” Emma Curtis, Foster Grandparent volunteer, for being honored with the 2010 California Senior Community Leader Award and The California Wellness Foundation’s Lifetime Achievement Award. Grandma Curtis has served as a Foster Grandparent for 24 years and has volunteered over 27,000 hours to mentoring and helping at-risk youth.