L.A. Area Chamber Helps Put More Than 1,500 Local Youth To Work In Private Sector Jobs Through HIRE LA's Youth Campaign
July 27, 2009 9:00 am
LOS ANGELES, CA – The Los Angeles Area Chamber of Commerce announced today it has achieved its 2008-09 goal of putting 1,500 local youth to work in private sector jobs through the HIRE LA’s Youth campaign, a partnership with Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa, the City of Los Angeles Workforce Investment Board, the Los Angeles Community Development Department and other community organizations. Receiving an infusion of $20.3 million from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, this year’s overall program aims to place 16,500 youth in private-sector and public-sector, and community jobs and internships.
"The L.A. Area Chamber is proud to be a partner in HIRE LA's Youth," said Gary Toebben, President & CEO, Los Angeles Area Chamber of Commerce. "We thank the many businesses who worked with the Chamber to provide youth jobs, particularly during these very difficult economic times for employers.”
The L.A. Area Chamber has made a new commitment for the 2009-10 campaign to connect 2,500 youth to private-sector jobs, and encourages employers to join the ranks of Vons, HMS Host, Wells Fargo, Kaiser Permanente and the other businesses that are providing needed jobs for local youth across Los Angeles.
As a key partner in the HIRE LA’s Youth Campaign and a trustee of the L.A. region, the L.A. Area Chamber has embarked on a focused and robust effort to ensure a future workforce capable of meeting the needs of the 21st century global economy. Through its L.A. Youth at Work initiative, the L.A. Area Chamber offers Work Readiness Certification, a key component of the HIRE LA’s Youth campaign providing young job seekers with a portable credential certifying that they possess the basic skills necessary to obtain and retain employment. The L.A. Area Chamber also hosts Jobs Skills Workshops to teach youth about interviewing techniques, resume writing and workplace ethics. More information on the Chamber’s Workforce Development initiatives is available at: www.lachamber.com/workforce.
HIRE LA’s Youth is made possible in part through the support of sponsors including: Vons; Majestic Realty Co.; and Ralphs. The newest job pledges for youth have come from: Vons, Sempra, Kaiser Permanente, Warehouse Shoe Sale and the Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority (Metro).
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The Los Angeles Area Chamber of Commerce represents the interests of business in L.A. County. Founded in 1888, the Chamber promotes a prosperous economy and quality of life in the Los Angeles region. For more information, visit www.lachamber.com.