Investing in Seattle’s Residents, Youth and Young Adults
Preparing Seattle’s residents for success in the economy means providing access to quality education and training that leads to meaningful employment.
PREPARE OUR WORKFORCE
- Now, more than ever, education and training beyond high school is the gateway for good paying jobs. Over the last year, the City has taken the following steps to improve connections between the demands for labor and the skills of Seattle’s workers to help grow our economy and achieve shared prosperity:
- Developed and placed on the ballot a $230 million renewal of the Families and Education Levy that will help Seattle children graduate from high school ready for college or a career. The levy includes new investments in assessing college readiness and providing career counseling for high school students.
- Formed a strategic partnership with the Seattle Community College District to double the number of individuals who complete a degree or certificate that leads to a good paying job. The first phase focuses on preparing low-income Seattle residents to fill a projected 50,000 job openings in business administration, international trade transportation and logistics, manufacturing, and healthcare through 2020.
- Provided direct training and employment services to 1,324 individuals resulting in 353 job placements and 590 people enrolled in skills training.
- City Light hired a class of 14 Pre-Apprentice Lineworkers in February, 2011. After successful completion of the six-month pre-apprenticeship program, they will enter a 7000 hour Lineworker Apprenticeship Program and be on the path to becoming highly-skilled journey-level Lineworkers.
ENERGY EFFICIENCY
Launched Community Power Works (CPW) Initiative to conduct energy upgrades in six building sectors that will save money, reduce energy waste and create new job opportunities. Accomplishments to date include:
- Developed a Community High Road Agreement that will help the program create high-quality jobs that are accessible to community residents.
- Created a pipeline of more than 350 homeowners who have applied to be part of the CPW for Home program, and have 15 homes with completed or in progress home energy upgrades.
- Developed a Community Workforce Agreement that will ensure CPW-funded large commercial upgrade projects create good jobs and new career pathways.
- Leveraged CPW funding nearly 16-to-1 for $8 million in upgrade projects at four hospitals.
- Completed energy assessments of 30 City facilities, and invested $1.8 million in 2011 energy upgrades in 19 City facilities.
MICRO AND SMALL BUSINESS SUPPORT
Entrepreneurship is an effective way to earn a livelihood and accumulate wealth, particularly for minority and immigrant populations who have unique barriers to the economic mainstream. To support these enterprises, the City invests in targeted assistance for those who are historically underserved by business support programs and lenders. The Office of Economic Development (OED) and its community-based partners have provided:
- Nearly 1,000 small businesses with support between January 2010 and June 2011.
- Over 50 immigrant businesses with culturally appropriate entrepreneurial training to date in 2011. The majority of these businesses are from the East African community.
- 28 South Park businesses with one-on-one assistance during bridge closure and construction.
LOOKING AHEAD
- Successfully pass and implement the Families and Education Levy.
- Launch and institutionalize course offerings for career pathways in the four industry sectors identified on page four.
- Conduct more than $10 million in energy efficiency upgrades in the hospital, commercial and municipal sectors over the next year, with the first projects beginning in September, 2011.
- Develop a Community Workforce Agreement to guide the jobs created as part of CPW’s hospital upgrade projects.
- Launch CPW’s small business program, which will help restaurants, grocery stores, corner stores, and cold storage facilities complete building energy upgrades.
We have to build on our strengths to help Seattle compete in the global economy.
