Long Beach has launched a new employment and training initiative to support those affected by the January wildfires.
The initiative, facilitated by the Department of Economic Development and Opportunity, will provide paid career opportunities and financial assistance to job seekers looking to embark on a fresh start in Long Beach, officials said.
“Long Beach is proud to offer support and uplift those rebuilding their lives following the tragic wildfires that impacted Southern California earlier this year,” Mayor Rex Richardson said in a statement. “This initiative is a powerful example of how Long Beach comes together in times of need. By providing impacted residents with paid work experience and access to valuable training, we are creating pathways to good jobs and ensuring that Long Beach continues to thrive as a resilient and inclusive city.”
The initiative will provide 10 eligible participants with up to 300 hours of paid, on-the-job work experience with local Long Beach employers through the Long Beach Workforce Innovation Network.
LBWIN will also offer up to five people training scholarships of as much as $7,500 each to obtain industry-recognized credentials in high-demand fields such as health care, information technology and advanced manufacturing, according to a press release.
To learn more and apply, those interested should contact Career Center manager Nakawa Shepherd at Nakawa.Shepherd@longbeach.gov or visit the LBWIN Adult Career Services Center, 4811 Airport Plaza Drive, Suite 120. Applications will remain open until funds are exhausted.
The initiative is funded by a $130,000 Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act Dislocated Worker Additional Assistance grant. The federal act is designed to help job seekers access employment, education, training and support services to succeed in the labor market, officials said.
The Department of Economic Development and Opportunity is also seeking local employers interested in hosting a participant to provide on-the-job training while expanding their future workforce, according to a press release. To learn more and participate as a host employer, businesses are can contact business engagement officer Courtney Chatterson at Courtney.Chatterson@longbeach.gov.
“This effort is about more than recovery, it’s about opportunity,” Bo Martinez, director of the Department of Economic Development and Opportunity, said in a statement. “By connecting individuals impacted by the wildfires to meaningful work experiences and comprehensive training pathways, we are aiding workers with re-establishing stability while also strengthening Long Beach’s local talent pipeline.”
For more information about workforce programs and services in Long Beach, job seekers and employers can visit longbeach.gov/workforce.