Concerned Citizens of South Central Los Angeles (CCSCLA) and the Coalition for Responsible Development (CRCD) announced today that they are launching a new job training program for South LA residents. The first class in the program will begin on January 10, 2017.
Upon completion of the program, participants will gain access to opportunities through CRCD’s Workforce Development and Employment Placement programs based in the Vernon-Central community of South Los Angeles. Participants in these Workforce Development Programs, targeting South Los Angeles residents, will receive priority consideration for jobs at The Reef Project, a mixed-use residential-retail development planned for the surface parking lots surrounding The Reef at Broadway and Washington Boulevard, during both the construction and operational phases.
“We want to thank City Councilmember Curren Price and the developers of The Reef Project for making this program possible and helping us begin the job training process now,” said Noreen McLendon, CCSCLA executive director. “The Reef is literally putting its money where its mouth is by being good corporate citizens and responsible members of this community.”
“The Reef’s plan to fill 30 percent of its jobs with local South LA residents is impressive. And on top of that they are making sure people have the skills needed to do the work,” added Mark Wilson, CRCD executive director. “It is to his credit that Councilmember Price insisted that The Reef fulfill this obligation to the South LA community. I hope that this serves as a model for other developers looking to do business in our neighborhood.”
It is estimated that The Reef Project will create more than 2,700 jobs during the construction process and 592 permanent jobs when open. As a portion of its robust community benefits package, the developer has agreed to ensure that at least 30 percent of the construction and hotel jobs will be filled by residents of Council District 9.
“Developments like The Reef give people more than just jobs, they give them careers,” said Ron Miller, executive secretary of the Los Angeles-Orange County Building Trades Council, which is a labor partner with The Reef. “This gives people a hand up, not a handout.”
The community organizations will conduct outreach to recruit up to 1,600 South LA residents to participate in the job training program. Once a candidate expresses interest, they will be directed to CCSCLA for initial intake. Following that, an individualized work plan will be developed for each participant in which they will be steered toward classes offered by LA Trade-Tech and receive life and job skills instruction. As a final step in the process, they will be linked up with CRCD career coaches who will facilitate interviews with contractors and employers. All participants will be tracked and receive additional on-the-job and career coaching for at least six months.
“In a neighborhood like this where there has been historically high unemployment,” added McLendon of the CCSCLA, “a project like The Reef will create tremendous opportunity for local residents.”
For more information on the job training program, please contact the Concerned Citizens of South Central Los Angeles at (323) 325-7750 or www.ccscla.org.
