Villaraigosa, Schwarzenegger announce stimulus-funded jobs program for youths

Los Angeles government officials plan to find jobs for 16,500 youths over the next year as part of a program that has received a $20.5-million boost from President Obama’s stimulus package.

Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa and Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger discussed the funding this morning on the steps of City Hall, where they were joined by hundreds of students who have secured summer or part-time jobs. “I want to thank a president who’s investing in our cities again,” Villaraigosa said.

Hire L.A. works with education officials and with various companies -- Best Buy, Vons and the pharmacy chain CVS among others -- to find jobs for residents between the ages of 16 and 24. The program has grown from roughly 3,000 participants in 2005 to 13,500 during the current year, Villaraigosa said.

Federal funding for the program includes $8 million for jobs to hire roughly 4,000 youths between July 1 and Aug. 31, as well as $2 million to help out-of-work Angelenos between the ages of 21 and 24 find jobs between Aug. 1 and Sept. 30, a mayoral aide said.

-- David Zahniser

Comments

[Mario]

I think its a great start, considering there are hundreds of thousands of jobs our kids could have, crime and gang activity may be much lower, if they didnt have to compete with adults that are here illegally. Just a thought

[phantom71]

Although heartfelt, it's too bad that the Mayor didn't use the podium to challenge enterprises to provide a bridge to the future. Wanna get into tech? Here's a job at Best Buy. Want to get into the produce business? Here's a job at Vons. Wanna excel in the medical field? Try CVS. The workforce is changing. I would much rather see the Mayor develop a real vision with jobs in nanoceuticals, customized healthcare, smart transportation, desktop manufacturing and streaming payment systems. Ooops...that would mean, after 5 years in office he would be completing his first term vision of addressing education issues and flatter us that our youth is prepared to take leadership positions in the new economy and not use every retail bone he throws us as a photo opportunity.