On Friday, Councilmembers Marqueece Harris-Dawson and Paul Koretz honored the one year anniversary of the first hire under the Targeted Local Hire Program (TLH). Over the course of the program’s first year, TLH has connected over 200 individuals from disadvantaged backgrounds to high-quality jobs in the City of Los Angeles.
“Hiring more people from the City allows us to restore services that neighborhoods in each Council District desperately needs, from sidewalk repairs to tree trimming,” said Councilmember Marqueece Harris-Dawson. “The best part is that these services can be restored by the same residents who are directly impacted by the lack of services.”
Launched on June 6, 2017, the City of Los Angeles Targeted Local Hire (TLH) program is the culmination of a December 2015 agreement between City management and the Coalition of City Unions that committed to “develop innovative workforce development strategies to meet the needs of City residents and stakeholders, strengthen delivery of City services, and provide career opportunities to local residents.”
The City’s commitment to the TLH program was reinforced through the issuance of the Mayor’s Executive Directive No. 15. Additionally, Councilmembers have continued to refine and reinforce the program, including a motion by Councilmember Marqueece Harris-Dawson to hold departments accountable for making more jobs available to the program and setting benchmarks for success.
“This is a wonderful program that targets Los Angeles residents, including foster youth, formerly incarcerated or homeless, and provides an alternate entry into the local middle-class job market that the City offers,” said Councilmember Paul Koretz of the Fifth District. “You will not find a more enthusiastic, hard-working committed group of employees, anywhere. Just imagine where this program can take us in another year, or five!”
Despite the “soft” launch of the program in June 2017, with little advertisement and a limited applicant system, thousands of Los Angeles residents who are eligible in one or more of the targeted categories applied, completed the screening processes and are waiting in the applicant pool for their chance to interview for available City positions.
Residents can sign up to be a part of the Targeted Local Hire Program today through their local WorkSource Center. You can get more information and the location of the participating WorkSource Centers on the Targeted Local Hire Website: www.lalocalhire.lacity.org.
