Purpose

This bill would provide a one-time funding action to support youth workforce development. Specifically, it would appropriate $500,000 in fiscal year 2027 from the workforce development fund to the commissioner of employment and economic development to award a grant to The Cookie Cart. The grant is intended to fund earn-and-learn workforce training for youth aged 14 to 18, offering life leadership and employment skills through both on-the-job and classroom experiences at this nonprofit bakery.

Main Provisions

• Appropriates $500,000 in fiscal year 2027.
• Source: workforce development fund.
• Recipient: The Cookie Cart.
• Purpose: earn and learn workforce training for youth ages 14 to 18.
• Program design: combines on-the-job experiences with classroom instruction to develop life leadership and employment skills.
• Implementing authority: grant administered by the commissioner of employment and economic development.
• Status: one-time appropriation (not described as an ongoing program).

Fiscal and Program Implications

• The bill provides a single, non-recurring infusion of resources for a youth training initiative.
• The funding is targeted to a specific nonprofit bakery (The Cookie Cart) rather than establishing a broad, ongoing program.

Significance and Relationship to Current Law

• Creates a targeted, one-time grant rather than expanding existing workforce development programs on an ongoing basis.
• No broad statutory changes are described; it reassigns funds and sets up a grant to a specific organization for a defined purpose.

Implementation Considerations

• Oversight and accountability would likely involve the commissioner of employment and economic development administering the grant to The Cookie Cart.
• Evaluation could focus on participant outcomes (life leadership, employment readiness, job skills) for youth ages 14 to 18.

Relevant Terms - The Cookie Cart - workforce development fund - commissioner of employment and economic development - grant - earn and learn - youth ages 14 to 18 - on-the-job experiences - classroom experiences - nonprofit bakery - fiscal year 2027 - one-time appropriation - $500,000