The Economic and Workforce Development Committee met on May 4, 2026, at 10 a.m. The committee approved the previous meeting's minutes, interviewed and recommended two applicants for the San Antonio Ready to Work Advisory Board, and received briefings on the Supply SA small business procurement initiative and the Second Chance Workforce Initiative.
The committee interviewed six shortlisted candidates for two board seats: one for trade/labor and one for an organization serving persons with high barriers to employment. The ad hoc committee (comprising Councilmembers from Districts 5 and 8) reviewed 12 eligible applications from 15 received and selected six for interviews.
Staff presented updates on Supply SA, a partnership of 14 public agencies aimed at building local procurement partnerships for small, local, and veteran-owned businesses. Key highlights:
Staff presented a briefing on the initiative, stemming from a Council Consideration Request by Councilmember Castillo. The initiative aims to reduce employment barriers for justice-involved individuals through an interlocal agreement with Bexar County, federal incentives, and city practices.
The time is now 10 a.m. on May 4th, 2026, and the meeting of the Economic and Workforce Development Committee is now called to order. Madam Clerk, can you call the roll? Yes. Councilmember Castillo? Councilmember Galban? Councilmember Mesa Gonzalez. Councilmember Spears. Chair Via Gran. Here. Chair, we have quorum. Great. I'll be allowing the member speakers two rounds of comments per item with three minutes the first round and three minutes the second round. If y'all want to take your six minutes just straight because you have only that many questions, you can if you'd like to hear from the other members, we can do that too. Uh item number one first item on the agenda is approval of the minutes. Are there any corrections to the minutes? Can I get a motion and a second to approve the minutes? There's a motion and a second to approve the minutes. All in favor say aye. Aye. All opposed say no. Motion carries. Madam Clerk, are there any members of the public signed up to speak? No, Chair. All right. With that, um, we'll move on to item two. Item two is a consideration of applicants to the ready to work advisory board. Can we get a staff presentation? Good morning. I'm Jamie Nietzel, Assistant City Clerk. I'll be presenting background information about the San Antonio Ready to Work Board and our overall process. The Ready to Work Advisory Board advises the workforce development office on an in-demand occupations, training, and local employer needs, allotment of workforce programs from year to year, and client support. The board is composed of 13 members representing local employers, city workforce program participants, trade labor organizations, community organizations, training providers, and higher education institutions, and two liaisons appointed by the mayor. Each member serves a four-year term. On December 11th, 2025, City Council approved an ordinance establishing a new board seat designating to represent an organization serving individuals with high bearers. For an organization serving individuals with high bears. The communications and engagement department released a web and social media posting on July 29th and September 16th for the trade and labor seat and on February 24th for the organization serving individuals with high bearer seat. By closing date of April 2nd, 2026, we had received a total of 15 applications. The city attorney's office vetted 15 applications, and 12 were eligible. An ad hoc committee was formed by the chair, and that included district 5 and district 8 council members. The ad hoc committee reviewed all 12 applications and saw list shortlisted to six applications. The committee will interview those applicants today and make a recommendation to the full city council. City council will vote on the full board appointments during an A session. After the vote, the city clerk will notify the appointed individuals and ask them to complete the proper forms. Administering the oath of office and inviting them to complete the municipal leadership institute training. Once these steps are completed, they can be seated on the board. On this slide, you will find the list of individuals that have been placed on the short list for the different categories. Marty Garza is not here today and did not provide a written statement. The process today will begin with each applicant providing a two-minute opening statement. All candidates will be sequestered during the interviews and will not be able to listen to each other's answers to the questions.