Youth Summer Employment Program 2009

EMPLOYER PROGRAM OVERVIEW

Workforce Solution Alamo (WSA) is receiving $5 million in federal funds to implement an extensive, community-wide workforce development program aimed at employing youth between the ages of 16 and 24 from May 1 to September 30, 2009.

Workforce Solutions Alamo is partnering with local businesses to provide meaningful workplace experience to young people in our 12-County region. The funds will underwrite the wages of 2000 jobs across the 12-county region served by Workforce Solutions Alamo (1540 jobs in Bexar County, 460 in other regional counties).

With this program, Workforce Solutions Alamo seeks to provide at-risk youth with multiple barriers to employment with job skills and quality experience they can use to further their education or obtain future employment in demand occupations and green jobs that show the greatest potential for growth in San Antonio. The program will not provide a replacement workforce for businesses having recently laid off or scaled down their workforce due to current economic conditions.

The program aligns with Workforce Solutions Alamo’s commitment to build a premier workforce by providing employers and residents with the opportunities, resources and services needed to develop and gain a competitive edge in the global economy.

Young adults will also include veterans recently discharged and eligible spouses.

BUSINESS PARTNERSHIPS
Workforce Solutions Alamo is partnering with the Alliance of Greater Chambers as part of the Chamber’s goal of getting young people in San Antonio exposed to professional work environments. In working with the Alliance of Chambers of Commerce, Workforce Solutions Alamo hopes to find nearly 500 employers in key industries and small businesses willing to participate in this community-wide workforce development program.

Workforce Solutions Alamo has identified key industry clusters that have potential to raise the region’s wages and number of quality jobs. Each of these industries is outpacing the national average and growing quite healthily within the Alamo region.

• Advanced Manufacturing

• Aerospace

• Bioscience and Healthcare

• Construction

• Financial Services

• Internet/IT & Telecommunications

Additionally, Workforce Solutions Alamo identifies occupations demonstrating strong regional growth potential and providing the best employment opportunities for local job seekers. For a complete list of demand occupations, please visit http://workforcesolutionsalamo.org/lmi/targeted_occupations.asp

BUSINESS ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS

Businesses participating in the program are expected to provide:

• Meaningful work experience

• Up to 25-hour work week for 16-18 year olds in school

• Up to 35-hour work week to 17-18 year olds out of school

• Up to 40-hour work week to 19-24 year olds out of school

• Safe work environment

• Adherence to child labor laws

• Age-appropriate activity

• Comparable entry level wage information/minimum wage information

• Supervision

• NO dislocation of current workforce/future workforce

WORKFORCE SOLUTIONS ALAMO SUPPORT
As an extension of Workforce Solutions Alamo’s year-round youth employment program, businesses will receive hands-on support from case workers through the organization’s contract partners: the Good Samaritan Center, George Gervin Center and SER Jobs for Progress. Support will include:

• All payroll functions for the youth

• Youth supervision through case manager

• Spot checks and regular employee evaluations

• Time sheet summaries

CONTACT INFORMATION FOR YOUTH 16-18 YEARS

BEXAR COUNTY WEST
Good Samaritan Center
Clarissa Tejeda
(210) 424-1546

BEXAR COUNTY EAST
George Gervin Community Center
Leticia Jasso-Lara
(210) 804-1786

CONTACT INFORMATION FOR YOUNG ADULTS 19-24 YEARS

Bexar County
SER Jobs for Progress
Workforce Solutions Alamo Business Services Unit
John Pearce
(210) 438-0586

Surrounding Counties
Outside of Bexar County, please contact your local rural Career Center.