California Recovery Act grant recipients announced

Over $4 million in funds federally designated for job training awarded to nine grantees

07/01/2009 -- The California Recovery Task Force today announced that over $4 million in American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (Recovery Act) funding has been awarded to nine grantees through the Employment Development Department (EDD) Construction Talent Transfer program and California Governor Schwarzenegger’s California Gang Reduction, Intervention and Prevention Initiative (CalGRIP) to help train nearly 600 displaced construction workers and 200 at-risk youths.

Article continues below...

“We are working around the clock to bring Recovery Act funding into the California economy quickly and responsibly,” said California Recovery Task Force Director Cynthia Bryant. “Used for their federally designated purpose, these grants will further stimulate local economies by redirecting residential construction workers into growth industries and providing job training for local at-risk youth.”

By partnering with employers, unions, educators and local communities, the Construction Talent Transfer program grant will fund six local agencies in assisting nearly 600 displaced residential construction workers transition to new jobs. The agencies, located in Los Angeles, Sacramento, Contra Costa, Riverside and Sutter counties, will provide focused job training in areas including commercial concrete, metal stud framing, welding, electrical, drywall and many other construction trades marketable for commercial and public sector projects. Unemployed workers will also receive employment services in the areas of interview techniques, resume writing and job search skills as well as on-the-job training, computer proficiency workshops and labor market information.

As part of the Governor’s CalGRIP Initiative, three local agencies in Stanislaus, Ventura and San Joaquin counties will use Recovery Act funding to provide job training and education programs targeting 200 youths age 14 - 24 that are at risk of joining gangs or seeking to leave them. Job-related training will include skill building development in cutting-edge fields such as solar panel construction, building material recycling and hazardous waste handling. Some programs will also offer paid work experience and job placement. Youth will also receive assistance including mental health services, counseling and courses for high school graduation or GED. The occupational training and support services provided by these grants are part of a comprehensive and coordinated approach to reduce the influence of gangs throughout the state.

“These job training funds will enhance the efforts of cities that have begun to implement the proven anti-violence strategy embraced by California’s Safe Community Partnership,” said Paul Seave, director of the Governor’s Office of Gang and Youth Violence Policy. “Strategic use of multiple funding streams is critical to the success of the Governor’s CalGRIP initiative.”

Recovery Act funding is designated for federally defined purposes. Funding for these grants is drawn from the Recovery Act and the Governor’s 15 percent Discretionary Workforce Investment Act under the administrative authority of EDD, as directed by the Labor and Workforce Development Agency.

Any individual interested in the training programs should contact the local agencies receiving the grants for information.

Source: California Governor