Obama’s Stimulus Funds Used For Job Training in Los Angeles
Amanda Herman | 2-18-2010 | Comments | Bookmark and Share | Print this Page

Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa announced that the city of Los Angeles was awarded $7 million in stimulus funding for job training programs. Two thousand Angelinos will be trained in high growth and high wage industries. The job opportunity funding comes from nearly $600 million of stimulus funds awarded to Los Angeles after President Obama singed the Recovery Act about a year ago. Amanda Herman filed this report for Annenberg Radio News.







With smiles and applause, Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa and Los Angeles workers listened to a success story from Mike Mack, a Metro bus driver, at a press conference earlier today. Mack is one of two thousand workers who are benefiting from the city’s job training programs.

“I’m just here, employed, and I’m grateful,” Mack said.

Villaraigosa says $7 million will go toward training workers in high growth and high wage industries including: construction, transportation, utilities, financial services, healthcare, green jobs, and green technology.

“You have a smile on your face when you look in the mirror, in no small part is it because you have a job,” Villaraigosa asserted. “When you take away a job from a father whose got a family, that’s not something we should take lightly.”

Los Angeles received $600 million in federal stimulus funds over the past year. The Workforce Investment Board oversees job training funds for the city. The board’s Chair, Charlie Woo, explained that although the $7 million announced is just a small part of the overall stimulus money, every little bit makes a huge difference.

“Here in Los Angeles, the money is now out the door, on the streets, and serving the residents,” Woo said.

The following program providers were awarded money from Villaraigosa:

Managed Career Solutions, Inc. (Heathcare)
UAW-LETC (Healthcare)
Worker Education and Resource Center (Health)
PACE (Green retrofit)
South Bay Center for Counseling (Energy pathway)
UAW-LETC (Advanced Utilities/Green lighting/solar)
Community Career Development (Clean Manufacturing)
UAW-LETC (Urban/Clean Manufacturing)
EPDB (Logistics/Transportation)
Community Career Development (Security)
Jewish Vocational Services (Bank works)
West LA College (hospitality)

In the midst of layoffs, the mayor says job training programs are one way to keep Angelinos from unemployment. Those looking for jobs can get more information about free job training and education by calling 311 or visiting www.wib.lacity.org.
 

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