https://www.americancityandcounty.com/wp-content/themes/acc_child/assets/images/logo/footer-logo.png
  • Home
  • Co-op Solutions
  • Hybrid Work
  • Commentaries
  • News
  • In-Depth
  • Multimedia
    • Back
    • Podcast
    • Latest videos
    • Product Guides
  • Resources & Events
    • Back
    • Resources
    • Webinars
    • White Papers
    • IWCE 2022
    • How to Contribute
    • Municipal Cost Index – Archive
    • Equipment Watch Page
    • American City & County Awards
  • About Us
    • Back
    • About Us
    • Contact Us
    • Advertise
    • Cookie Policy
    • Privacy Statement
    • Terms of Service
American City and County
  • NEWSLETTER
  • Home
  • Co-op Solutions
  • Hybrid Work
  • Commentaries
  • News
  • In-Depth
  • Multimedia
    • Back
    • Podcasts
    • Latest videos
    • Product Guides
  • Resources/Events
    • Back
    • Webinars
    • White Papers/eBooks
    • IWCE Expo
    • Calendar of Events
    • How to Contribute
    • American City & County Awards
    • Municipal Cost Index
    • Equipment Watch Page
  • About Us
    • Back
    • About Us
    • Contact Us
    • Advertise
    • Cookie Policy
    • Privacy Stament
    • Terms of Service
  • newsletter
  • Administration
  • Economy & Finance
  • Procurement
  • Public Safety
  • Public Works & Utilities
  • Smart Cities & Technology
  • Magazine
acc.com

Economy


Article

Cities use employment programs to help residents recover

Cities use employment programs to help residents recover

Cities are setting up employment and job training programs to help un- or underemployed residents find meaningful work and achieve self-sufficiency.
  • Written by Derek Prall
  • 15th January 2014

To combat discouraging employment rates, some municipalities are working to bolster economic recovery by getting residents back into the workforce.

December saw disappointing employment numbers. Although the unemployment rate fell to 6.8 percent, the lowest it’s been since October 2008, The Washington Post reports the figure doesn’t signify a success. The rate fell mainly because 347,000 people dropped out of the workforce. The nation only added 74,000 jobs in December – well under the 205,000 monthly average of the three months prior. 

But some cities are looking to strengthen local economies and empower residents by helping the unemployed find work. The Santa Clarita, Calif., WorkSource Center, a free resource for job seekers and employers in the L.A. County area, hosted a free recruitment event Jan. 3 where more than 200 employment opportunities in a variety of fields were provided for job seekers, according to local TV news source SCVTV.  

On top of job placement events, the Santa Clarita WorkSource Center offers job seekers a variety or services to help find employment, according to the program’s website. A job board lists immediate openings with local employers; workshops can help individuals with job-hunting and resume-writing skills; and one-on-one interview training can help a job seeker prepare for the first meeting with a prospective employer. All services are offered free of charge.

New York City, too, has employment in mind. In mid Oct., then-Mayor Michael Bloomberg announced the city will make a $24 million dollar investment, spread over the next three years, to expand the NYC Center for Economic Opportunity’s Jobs Plus initiative, a federal program that connects public housing residents with employment, education and financial empowerment resources, according to materials released by the mayor’s office. Hopes are to find employment for more than 4,4000 public housing residents by 2016.

San Antonio, Texas, will also be initiating a Jobs Plus program. The San Antonio Express-News reports San Antonio is the second city (New York being the first) to receive federal funding for a Jobs Plus program. The city’s Housing Authority plans to use the $2.5 million, provided by the federal Social Innovation Fund – a public-private partnership championed by President Barak Obama – to place more than 1,000 disadvantaged San Antonio residents in new or better jobs.

Housing officials will use the money to build a new office complex in April, according to The San Antonio Express-News, as well as hire five staff members to provide un- or underemployed residents with one-on-one personal finance and job-acquisition skills.

 San Antonio Housing Authority President and CEO Lourdes Casto Ramirez told The San Antonio Express-News, “Everything will be aimed at helping a person not only get a job, but keep a job.”

_____________

To get connected and stay up-to-date with similar content from American City & County:
Like us on Facebook

Follow us on Twitter
Watch us on Youtube

Tags: Economy Article

Most Recent


  • Advocacy organizations call for congressional action ahead of looming federal shutdown
    The political spat that’s frozen congressional action on the budget, potentially leading to a government shutdown if an agreement isn’t reached by midnight Saturday, could create ripple effects felt far beyond the jurisdictional lines of the United States Capitol. If a shutdown happens, ‘nonessential’ federal government functions would hault. Federal employees wouldn’t receive paychecks. Benefits […]
  • HUD awards 28 multifamily subsidized properties $18 million for green energy retrofits, modernization
    The challenges of retrofitting legacy properties to modern standards can’t be understated—both practically and fiscally. The latest investment of $18 million in funding through the Green and Resilient Retrofit Program announced last week by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) is intended to help property owners participating in assistant multifamily housing programs […]
  • NYC is relaxing zoning to incentivize commercial-residential building conversions; industry experts say it's a complicated process
    With the commercial vacancy rate cresting 17% nationally this summer, cities and counties across the United States are scrambling to find sustainable strategies to reverse the trend. Converting empty commercial spaces into residential housing is one oft-talked about solution that many communities are considering. Following an “up to 75%” tax break initiative in Boston announced […]
  • NLC economic mobility grant program to support 8 American cities with more than $100K
    Eight American cities are the recipients of more than $100,000 for economic mobility initiatives from the National League of Cities. The competitive application program, called the Advancing Economic Mobility Rapid Grant program, provides the funding to help communities launch or expand initiatives in one of three key areas: for employment opportunities, small business support, and […]

Leave a comment Cancel reply

-or-

Log in with your American City and County account

Alternatively, post a comment by completing the form below:

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Related Content

  • Prioritizing rapid restore leads to stronger ransomware attack recovery
  • Rethinking the ways cities can invest in vital neighborhoods
  • How to innovate and invest on a budget in state and local IT services
  • Treasury Department launches Coronavirus State and Local Fiscal Recovery Funds to deliver $350 billion in funding

White papers


7 Resources to Level-up Your Federal Grants Administration and Compliance

5th September 2023

Elevator Phone Line Replacement Strategy | A Guide to Reliable, Code-Compliant Solutions

29th August 2023

2023 State of Public Sourcing Report: The Bright Future of Public Procurement

23rd August 2023
view all

Webinars


Grant Preparedness: Unlocking Funding Opportunities for Your Success

10th August 2023

2023 State of Public Sourcing: Taking Local Governments into a Bright Future

1st August 2023

Stop Playing with Fire: How to Manage Infrastructure Asset Risk So You Know You’re Covered

20th June 2023
view all

PODCAST


Young Leaders Episode 4 – Cyril Jefferson – City Councilman, High Point, North Carolina

13th October 2020

Young Leaders Episode 3 – Shannon Hardin – City Council President, Columbus, Ohio

27th July 2020

Young Leaders Episode 2 – Christian Williams – Development Services Planner, Goodyear, Ariz.

1st July 2020
view all

GALLERIES


10 Safest Cities from Natural Disasters

29th September 2023

Gallery: Hottest temperatures recorded in American cities during July

12th September 2023

The top 10 Asthma Capitals for 2023

7th September 2023
view all

Twitter


Newsletters

Sign up for American City & County’s newsletters to receive regular news and information updates about local governments.

Resale Insights Dashboard

The Resale Insights Dashboard provides model-level data for the entire used equipment market to help you save time and money.

Municipal Cost Index

Updated monthly since 1978, our exclusive Municipal Cost Index shows the effects of inflation on the cost of providing municipal services

Media Kit and Advertising

Want to reach our digital audience? Learn more here.

DISCOVER MORE FROM INFORMA TECH

  • IWCE’s Urgent Communications
  • IWCE Expo

WORKING WITH US

  • About Us
  • Contact Us

FOLLOW American City and County ON SOCIAL

  • Privacy
  • CCPA: “Do Not Sell My Data”
  • Cookie Policy
  • Terms
Copyright © 2023 Informa PLC. Informa PLC is registered in England and Wales with company number 8860726 whose registered and Head office is 5 Howick Place, London, SW1P 1WG.