Regional Joint Ventures
Overview
The Governor and the Legislature directed 40% of Strong Workforce Funds to regions to build the capacity of colleges to join together and with other stakeholders to address regional workforce development challenges and opportunities. By vote of our member colleges, 12.5% of each year’s Regional Funds (roughly $2.5M) are dedicated to supporting Regional Joint Ventures (RJVs). These funds are to be used to support the start up costs for innovations that can be supported on an ongoing basis by the participating colleges from their Regional SWP funds or other sources.
- Partnerships with industry to develop new CTE programs across multiple colleges
- Formation of communities of practice that facilitate coordination and collaboration within a specific program area
- Provision of technology and services at a regional scale in order to reduce costs and increase services to students
Regional Director
Michele Peregrin
michele.peregrin@baccc.net
Michele provides leadership and general management for high-priority regional initiatives that drive innovation and cross-college collaboration in support of the Bay Region and its 28 colleges.
Frequently Asked Questions
What's an RJV?
A self-organized, collaborative effort by multiple institutions to address a shared challenge or opportunity. The RJV platform provides a way for:
- anyone to propose a Regional Joint Venture
- interested individuals and institutions to indicate their interest in participating in the development of the idea
- placing the idea of the RJV in front of the region for consideration of funding from either the region’s RJV Fund or from contributions from the participating institutions
As of January of 2022, the region has invested roughly $13M from the RJV Fund in approximately 66 RJVs. Many of these have also received funds from colleges’ Regional Direct-to-College funds and there are also many Regional Joint Ventures organized informally that do not seek support from the RJV Fund. All told colleges have expended over $23M on Regional Joint Ventures through December of 2021.
How is an RJV funded?
The Strong Workforce Program funds are divided into two streams: Local (60%) and Regional (40%). The Regional Funds are intended to support efforts to address regional workforce development needs and are required to be allocated by vote of our 28 member colleges. RJVs are primarily funded in two ways from this funding stream. RJVs may also be funded from other sources and need not utilize SWP funds. Charting a pathway to sustainability from other funding sources is an essential element of every RJV as this ensures that the BACCC retains the ability to use this “R&D” fund for future innovation.
Regional Joint Venture Fund
By vote of our member colleges, 12.5% of each year’s Regional Funds (roughly $2.3M) is dedicated to supporting RJVs. These funds are allocated through a competitive process. Those RJVs posted in the RJV Platform that indicate their interest in receiving these funds and that have received the endorsements of at least 4 BACCC college representatives are put forward to the region for consideration. Proposals are reviewed by a committee composed of representatives from each of the subregions. This committee scores the applications against the RJV Rubric and approves a slate of projects for funding.
College Contributions from their Regional Direct-to-College Fund
82.5% of the SWP Regional Funds go directly to colleges. In practice, many RJVs have received more of their funding through investments made by colleges from their Regional Direct-to-College funds than from the RJV Fund. We see a pattern emerging in which the RJV fund is utilized for those expenses that support work that spans multiple institutions, while the Regional Direct-to-College fund is utilized for those expenses that occur only at the college and that are in alignment with the RJV. For example, the RJV Fund might support regionally organized professional development, with each participating college using its Regional Direct-to-College funds to provide reassign time for faculty to participate in the regional workshops and for time to do curriculum development in response to what is learned.
K12 Strong Workforce Program Funds
K12 LEAs that have received K12 SWP grants may wish to consider leveraging their grants by forming RJVs with colleges interested in co-investing in the pathways the LEAs are developing. Colleges and K12 LEAs may also consider proposing RJVs that would be proposed for a combination of funding from Regional SWP funds and the competitive K12 SWP round of grants expected in the fall of 2022.
What is the timeline and process?
RJV proposals are submitted in the RJV application platform and are publicly available for viewing, consideration, and comment by the region. Proposals that have the committed participation of at least 4 colleges are first evaluated by BACCC staff, and then provided to the Regional Priorities Committee (RPC) for review. The RPC is composed of representatives from every subregion and members will consult with their subregion on the proposals before determining the portfolio of projects to be supported.
Can only colleges propose RJVs?
RJVs are intended to be a way of identifying opportunities for collaboration and recruiting multiple workforce development stakeholders to join in that effort; so any one or entity can submit an RJV. If an RJV wishes to obtain SWP funding, that must either come out of the regional share directly allocated to the colleges or be requested from the RJV fund by one of the colleges. By the SWP legislation, the funding can only go to colleges, although a college can then contract for services from anyone.
What costs are allowable and/or unallowable in a RJV project?
RJV funds flow from Strong Workforce Program regional funds and thus have all of the same rules and regulations. Please see Appendix C: Guidelines, Definitions and Allowable Expenditures for a complete overview of allowable expenses. Key points are noted below.
Allowable expenses:
Direct expenses that support the needs of the project, such as salaries and benefits, faculty and staff stipends*, supplies, equipment, travel, contractors (e.g., subject matter experts), and project management support, are allowable.
*A note about stipends: Faculty and staff stipends may require a third party to process payment. If applicable, project budgets should include administrative costs for this service.
Nonallowable expenses:
Indirect costs, such as a percentage-based rate intended to cover project overhead, are not allowable.
Alcohol: RJV funds strictly prohibit the purchase of alcohol. If alcohol is provided at an RJV-sponsored activity via an alternative funding source, an announcement clarifying the funding origin is required.
Supplanting:
Funds cannot be used to replace existing unrestricted or operational funds.
I started an RJV, but had to quit before I finished. Can I pick up where I left off or do I need to start over?
Go to the My RJVs tab, locate the RJV you wish to edit, and click on the RJV Title to view the RJV’s details, scroll to the bottom and click on the Edit RJV button
How do I delete an RJV I started?
Go to the My RJVs tab, locate the RJV you wish to edit, and click on the Delete RJV button
How do I identify myself as the College Rep?
Go to the My Account tab and select Account Settings. Look for the College Rep field in the lower left corner. Select Yes and click Update.