Sep 23, 2025 Economic Development and Opportunity Committee

[00:01:55]

OKAY.

GOOD AFTERNOON.

SO, I WOULD LIKE TO CALL THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT OPPORTUNITY COMMITTEE MEETING TO ORDER FOR TODAY, SEPTEMBER 23RD, 2025.

UM, MADDEN CLERK, PLEASE CALL THE ROLE COUNCILWOMAN ZENDEJAS.

[CALL TO ORDER]

VICE CHAIR ALLEN.

PRESENT CHAIR.

SORROW.

PRESENT.

WE HAVE A QUORUM.

THANK YOU.

COULD YOU PLEASE READ THE FIRST ITEM? ITEM ONE IS A RECOMMENDATION TO APPROVE THE MINUTES FOR THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT

[ROLL CALL]

OKAY.

ALRIGHT, IT'S BEEN MOTION.

AND SECOND, IS THERE ANY DISCUSSION ON THIS ITEM? ANY

[1. 25-56543 Recommendation to approve the minutes for the Economic Development and Opportunity Committee meeting of Tuesday, May 6, 2025.         Suggested Action: Approve recommendation. ]

DO WE HAVE, UH, PUBLIC COMMENT? OKAY.

SEEING NONE, UM, PUT, UM, LET'S VOTE.

MOTION CARRIES.

GREAT.

COULD YOU PLEASE READ THE NEXT ITEM? ITEM TWO IS A RECOMMENDATION TO RECEIVE AND FILE A PRESENTATION BY ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT REGARDING AN UPDATE ON LONG BEACH WORKFORCE INNOVATION NETWORK, L-B-W-I-N.

GREAT.

THANK YOU.

BEFORE WE BEGIN, UM, CAN I GET A MOTION IN A SECOND? AND THEN, UM, BEFORE I BEGIN, I WANTED TO JUST SHARE, UM, 'CAUSE THIS IS OUR SECOND, UM,

[2. 25-56544 Recommendation to receive and file a presentation by Economic Development regarding an update on Long Beach Workforce Innovation Network (LBWIN).         Suggested Action: Approve recommendation. ]

I WANTED TO SHARE THE VISION AND STRATEGIC FOCUS, UM, AREA AND PRIORITIES FOR THIS YEAR.

THAT WAS SHARED IN THE LAST MEETING, WHICH WAS SEVERAL MONTHS AGO.

SO WANTED TO MAKE SURE IT WAS AT THE FOREFRONT.

UH, AT LEAST FOR, UH, MY ROLE AS CHAIR, THE VISION IS TO CREATE A THRIVING LOCAL ECONOMY WHERE ALL RESIDENTS CAN BENEFIT FROM EQUITABLE ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITIES.

NOT TO SAY THAT THERE AREN'T OTHER, UH, IMPORTANT, UM, ITEMS, BUT WANTED TO MAKE SURE WE FOCUS SPECIFICALLY ON THIS VISION AND REALLY NARROWING IT DOWN TO FOUR CATEGORIES, WHICH I'VE SHARED HERE WITH MY COLLEAGUES.

OUR COMMITTEE MEMBERS IS, UM, NUMBER ONE, INCLUSIVE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AND GROWTH, WHICH LISTS OUT SOME KEY ITEMS THAT I HOPE THAT WE CAN EITHER GET UPDATES IN THE COMMITTEE MEETING OR, UM, HAVE A PRESENTATION.

AND THAT INCLUDES, UM, OUR UPCOMING ECONOMIC INFRASTRUCTURE FINANCING DISTRICT PRESENTATION WE'LL BE DOING NEXT MONTH.

AND THEN THE SECOND ONE IS SMALL BUSINESS AND MICROENTERPRISE SUPPORT.

AND THAT RANGES FROM ALL OF THE DIFFERENT, UM, THE INITIATIVE AND THE PROGRAMS, AS WELL AS INCLUDING MICROENTERPRISE, UH, PROGRAMMING AS WELL.

AND THIRD IS WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT AND ECONOMIC MOBILITY.

AND THAT INCLUDES OUR LONG BEACH WIN, UH, WHICH IS WHY WE'RE HAVING OUR PRESENTATIONS TO GET AN UPDATE CONSIDERING, UH, THE, UM, UNCERTAIN ECONOMIC TIMES RIGHT NOW THAT IT WAS REALLY IMPORTANT THAT WE GET AN UPDATE IN HOW WE'RE GONNA MAKE SURE, UH, WE'RE, UM, KEEPING EVERYONE, UH, UH, WORKING.

AND THEN THE LASTLY IS ENSURING THERE'S PARTNERSHIP ALLIANCE BETWEEN OUR DIFFERENT PARTNERS, OUR NONPROFIT PARTNERS

[00:05:01]

UM, I DON'T THINK I'LL BE ABLE TO GET TO ALL OF THEM THIS YEAR, BUT AT LEAST WE'LL BE ABLE TO GET TO HALF OF THEM, OR A PORTION OF THEM.

UM, AND WE'LL CONTINUE ON TO NEXT YEAR.

SO WITH THAT SAID, UM, I JUST WANTED TO MAKE SURE, JUST GIVE SOME FRAMEWORK AND CONTEXT.

UM, I'LL HAND IT OVER TO, UM, DIRECTOR MARTINEZ.

THANK YOU, CHAIR SORROW COMMITTEE MEMBERS.

BEAU MARTINEZ, DIRECTOR OF ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT.

UM, IT IS OUR PLEASURE AND HONOR TO PRESENT TO YOU TODAY.

UM, EVERYTHING ABOUT, AS YOU TALKED ABOUT, WHEN YOU THINK ABOUT THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT'S MISSION, IT'S TO CREATE EQUITABLE OPPORTUNITIES FOR WORKERS.

INVESTORS AND ENTREPRENEURS AND WORKERS ARE VERY IMPORTANT PART OF OUR FUTURE AS WE LOOK AT LONG BEACH AS A GLOBAL CITY.

UM, TALENT RETENTION, TALENT RECRUITMENT, AND BUILDING OUR OWN ARE GONNA BE VERY IMPORTANT GOING FORWARD.

AND ALSO, WHEN YOU THINK ABOUT INCLUSIVE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AND GROWTH, WE REALLY FEEL THAT THIS, YOU KNOW, TALENT, UH, RETENTION, RECRUITMENT AND GROWING AND GROWING IS GONNA BE VERY IMPORTANT TO, TO THIS INITIATIVE.

AND SO WITH THAT, WE WANTED TO SHARE WITH YOU TODAY ON ALL THE WONDERFUL PROGRAMS AND SERVICES THAT THE LONG BEACH WORKFORCE INNOVATION NETWORK DOES ON BEHALF OF THE CITY AND OUR COMMUNITY.

SO, WE'LL BE TALKING ABOUT, UH, VARIOUS PROGRAMS AND SERVICES AROUND ADULT SERVICES, YOUTH SERVICES, BUSINESSES OR SERVICES, AS WELL AS PARTNERSHIPS AND HOW WE LEVERAGE, AND NOT ONLY OUR FEDERAL FUNDING, BUT WORK WITH BUSINESS COMMUNITY, WORK WITH FOUNDATIONS AND PHILANTHROPY TO REALLY CONTINUE TO RAISE DOLLARS.

SO THAT WAY WE CONTINUE ALL THE GREAT WORK THAT'S HAPPENING THROUGHOUT THE CITY OF LONG BEACH.

AND WHEN YOU HEAR FROM OUR SMALL BUSINESSES, THEY'RE GONNA TELL YOU THAT THERE'S THREE THINGS THAT REALLY, THAT THEY'RE, THEY'RE CHALLENGED WITH AS WELL AS THEY SAY, AS OPPORTUNITIES.

AND THAT'S, UM, ACCESS TO CAPITAL.

THE SECOND AREA IS SMALL BUSINESS MARKETING AND BRANDING, AND REALLY MAKING SURE THAT THEY HAVE OPPORTUNITY NOT ONLY TO MAKE SALES AT THEIR BRICKS AND MORTAR STORE, BUT ALSO TO DO MORE STUFF ON ONLINE AND THE INTERNET OF THINGS.

THEN THE THIRD AREA THEY'LL TELL YOU IS TALENT.

AND ESPECIALLY WHAT WE'RE SEEING, UM, IN TODAY'S WORLD, UM, YOU KNOW, THAT'S BEEN A CHALLENGE FOR A LOT OF OUR SMALL BUSINESSES NOW, AND I'M SURE WE'LL BE GOING FORWARD.

AND SO WITH THAT, I LIKE TO, UH, INTRODUCE, UM, I LIKE, I LIKE TO CALL THEM OUR LONG BEACH WORKFORCE INNOVATION DREAM TEAM AS PART OF THE LARGER DREAM TEAM, INCLUDING YOU ALL HERE WITH US AND CHAMPIONS.

UH, JAIME GUTIERREZ, WHO IS THE WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT BUREAU MANAGER, AS WELL AS, UH, THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR FOR THE LONG BEACH, UH, WORKFORCE INNOVATION BOARD.

SO, JAIME, THE FLOOR IS YOURS AND THE REST OF THE TEAM.

ALL RIGHT.

THANK YOU, DIRECTOR MARTINEZ.

UH, THANK YOU CHAIR SORO AND COMMITTEE MEMBERS APPRECIATE THE OPPORTUNITY TO BE HERE TODAY AND PROVIDE A LITTLE BIT OF INFORMATION ABOUT OUR PROGRAMS AND, UM, HOW WE SUPPORT THE COMMUNITY.

SO WE'LL GO THROUGH THE SLIDES A LITTLE BIT.

UH, THIS IS US.

I'M NOT GONNA PUT THIS UP FOR VERY LONG SINCE, YOU KNOW, YOU DON'T NEED TO LOOK AT US VERY LONG, BUT I'M THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR AS, UH, DIRECTOR MARTINEZ, HEAD OF THE LONG BEACH WORKFORCE INNOVATION NETWORK.

AND I HAVE WITH ME LISA MUNOZ AND ELI ROMERO, WHO ARE BOTH OFFICERS WITHIN THE LONG BEACH WORKFORCE INNOVATION NETWORK.

ALL RIGHT, SO WHAT AND WHO IS THE LONG BEACH WORKFORCE INNOVATION NETWORK? AND AGAIN, AS, UH, DIRECTOR MARTINEZ STATED, WE ARE PART OF THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT, UH, WITHIN THE CITY OF LONG BEACH.

ESSENTIALLY, THE BOARD, UH, HAS THE AUTHORITY TO OVERSEE, UM, WORKFORCE COMPONENTS, UH, WORKFORCE INVESTMENT GRANTS, UH, AND PROVIDE CAREER AND BUSINESS SERVICES FOR THE LONG BEACH, THE CITY OF LONG BEACH, AS WELL AS SIGNAL HILL.

UM, AS A BOARD, WE HAVE THE DIRECT AUTHORITY, UH, TO THEN RECEIVE WORKFORCE INNOVATION OPPORTUNITY ACT FUNDING AS PART OF THAT.

UM, AND, UH, CHAIR SORO, AS YOU MENTIONED, THERE'S A LOT OF, UH, THINGS THAT ARE UP IN THE AIR IN REGARDS TO THE FUNDING.

UH, WE DID INITIALLY RECEIVE THE DEPARTMENT OF LABOR, UH, AWARD FOR $5.4 MILLION TOTAL FOR OUR FUNDING, UH, FOR THIS COMING FISCAL YEAR.

HOWEVER, THERE ARE, UM, AS THE HOUSE HAS JUST PASSED A BILL THAT DID, UH, MAKE SOME CHANGES TO THE FUNDING FOR THIS COMING FISCAL YEAR.

SO, UM, IT, IT IS POSSIBLE THAT THAT MAY CHANGE AS WE MOVE FORWARD, BUT FOR NOW, UM, WE'RE GONNA MOVE FORWARD WITH IT AS WE BELIEVE IT WILL BE, AND HOPE IT WILL BE AS WE MOVE FORWARD.

UM, SO WHO WE ARE, WE ARE ONE LOCAL BOARD OF 45 TOTAL WITHIN THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA.

IT IS A TOTAL SYSTEM NATIONALLY.

UM, SO EVERY STATE HAS A SYSTEM THAT INCLUDES LOCAL BOARDS.

CALIFORNIA IS THE LARGEST WITH 45 LOCAL BOARDS, UM, IN MOST CASES, UH, EACH STATE HAS JUST A FEW.

WE HAVE 45.

AND HERE IN LA COUNTY SPECIFICALLY, WE HAVE SEVEN LOCAL BOARDS TOTAL.

SO LA COUNTY IS CONSIDERED A LOCAL BOARD.

LA CITY IS, HAS THEIR OWN LOCAL BOARD,

[00:10:01]

UH, AND THEN THERE'S FOOTHILL, UH, VERDUGO.

AND WHO'S THE LAST ONE I'M MISSING? CELICO.

CELICO IS THE LAST ONE.

THANK YOU.

SO THERE'S SEVEN TOTAL HERE IN LA COUNTY.

UM, WHAT THAT MEANS IS THAT THE FUNDING THAT COMES DOWN FROM THE, UH, FEDERAL GOVERNMENT FOR THAT GETS SPLIT BETWEEN ALL OF THE LOCAL BOARDS HERE, UM, AT THE STATE LEVEL AND THEN DOWN TO THE LOCAL LEVEL.

UM, THE SERVICES THAT ARE DELIVERED HERE FOR THE CITY OF LONG BEACH AND FOR SIGNAL HILL ARE THROUGH TWO OF OUR CAREER CENTERS.

UH, ONE OF THEM IS OUR PRIMARY CAREER CENTER, ALSO CALLED AN A JCC, AMERICA'S JOB CENTER OF CALIFORNIA.

AND THAT IS THE ADULT CAREER SERVICES CENTER, UH, THAT'S LOCATED AT 48 11 AIRPORT PLAZA DRIVE, SUITE ONE 20.

UH, THAT ONE IS PRIMARILY FOR OUR ADULT SERVICES.

THE YOUTH SERVICE CENTER IS LOCATED AT 5 0 8 WEST WILLOW STREET.

IT IS ONE OF OUR, WHAT WE CONSIDER AN AFFILIATE SITE UNDER THE A JCC PROGRAM.

UH, UNFORTUNATELY, UH, BECAUSE WE HAD A PIPE BURST, UH, UNDERNEATH THAT ONE HAS BEEN, UM, OUT OF COMMISSION FOR ABOUT A MONTH AND A HALF NOW.

BUT WE ARE HOPING TO BE BACK INTO THE YOUTH CAREER SERVICES CENTER, UH, SOMETIME NEXT MONTH, UH, HOPEFULLY EARLIER PART OF NEXT MONTH.

SO, UH, AGAIN, WHAT IS A LOCAL BOARD? UM, SO WHAT ARE THE REQUIREMENTS AROUND BEING A LOCAL BOARD? UH, ONE OF THE REQUIREMENTS IS THAT EVERY FOUR YEARS, WE DO HAVE TO HAVE A LOCAL WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT PLAN.

THAT PLAN HAS TO BE SUBMITTED TO THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA.

SPECIFICALLY, IT IS SUBMITTED TO THE CALIFORNIA WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT BOARD AT THE STATE LEVEL.

UM, THEY APPROVE IT, AND THEN WE ESSENTIALLY BECOME AUTHORIZED.

UM, THAT PLAN ALSO GOES THROUGH A REVIEW PROCESS, UM, AND IT IS PROVIDED TO THE PUBLIC.

SO THE PUBLIC HAS INPUT INTO WHAT IS, UH, COORDINATED AND INCLUDED IN THAT PARTICULAR LOCAL PLAN.

IT IS A FOUR YEAR PLAN, AS I MENTIONED.

UH, SO OUR, UH, AS THE LOCAL BOARD, WE OVERSEE THE WORKFORCE SYSTEM, AGAIN, INCLUDING THE AJCC, AMERICA'S JOB CENTERS OF CALIFORNIA.

UM, AND THEN WE ENSURE THAT WE ENGAGE WITH NOT ONLY THE JOB SEEKERS, THE INDIVIDUALS THAT NEED EMPLOYMENT, BUT WE ARE ALSO REQUIRED TO ENGAGE WITH OUR BUSINESSES AS PART OF BUSINESS ENGAGEMENT TO ENSURE THAT THERE'S A CONNECTION BETWEEN THE JOB SEEKERS AND THE EMPLOYERS.

UM, WE ARE REQUIRED TO CERTIFY A ONE STOP OPERATOR VIA A COMPETITIVE PROCESS.

WHAT THAT MEANS IS THAT, UH, THE ONE STOP OPERATOR ESSENTIALLY HAS A ROLE TO BRING ALL THE DIFFERENT PARTNERS TO TOGETHER AND SUPPORT OF THE WORK THAT WE DO AT THE, AT LONG BEACH WORKFORCE INNOVATION NETWORK.

UM, AND THEN WE ALSO SELECT DIFFERENT PROVIDERS TO SUPPORT ALL THE WORK THAT WE DO.

SO WE CONTRACT OUT FOR DIFFERENT NEEDS.

UH, IN SOME CASES WE HAVE PARTNERS THROUGH, UM, THE, UH, UCC, UM, UH, UNITED CAMBODIAN COMMUNITY, UM, AS WELL AS APRILLE PARKER FOUNDATION, AS WELL AS, UM, CENTRO CHA AND OTHERS.

SO WE WORK WITH A LOT OF COMMUNITY BASED ORGANIZATIONS TO PROVIDE DIFFERENT SUPPORTS, BOTH AT THE ADULT LEVEL AND THE YOUTH LEVEL.

UM, SO BOARD RESPONSIBILITIES, WE DO HAVE A BOARD, UH, AND THE BOARD REQUIRES US TO, UH, ESSENTIALLY LIKE ANY CITY COUNCIL MEETING, RIGHT, WHERE WE'RE REQUIRED TO APPROVE A BUDGET.

UH, WE'RE REQUIRED TO APPROVE ANY ADDITIONAL FUNDING THAT COMES OUR WAY.

UH, WE ENGAGE WITH EMPLOYERS TO ENSURE ALIGNMENT TO THE BUSINESS NEEDS.

SO, SPECIFICALLY IN LONG BEACH, WE'RE FOCUSING ON, UH, ONE PRIMARY AREA.

YOU KNOW, A LOT OF AREAS, BUT ONE OF THE AREAS IS AEROSPACE, AVIATION, OBVIOUSLY, THAT WE'RE FOCUSING ON IN ALIGNMENT WITH THE GROW LONG BEACH INITIATIVE.

UH, WE PROMOTE INDUSTRY PARTNERSHIPS, UH, CREATE PATHWAYS, UM, BOTH WITH, FOR EXAMPLE, TRADES.

WE HAVE A LOT OF PARTNERS THAT WE WORK WITH IN THE TRADES.

UM, BUT WE ALSO C CREATE CAREER PATHWAYS IN NON-TRADE AND TRADITIONAL AREAS.

UM, AND WE FOCUS ON LABOR MARKET INFORMATION, SPECIFICALLY FROM, UH, ORGANIZATIONS LIKE THE EMPLOYMENT DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT, LABOR MARKET INFORMATION DIVISION ITSELF, AS WELL AS, UM, OUR C-S-U-L-B PARTNERS TO TRY TO FOCUS ON THE MARKET NEEDS.

UH, AND THEN WE CO COORDINATE, UH, ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AND EDUCATION AND, UH, WITH LOCAL INITIATIVES IN THE AREA AS WELL.

SO HERE IS THE MAKEUP OF OUR BOARD.

UM, ESSENTIALLY WHAT IS, UH, REQUIRED, UM, BY THE STATE AND WORK.

THE WORKFORCE INNOVATION OPPORTUNITY ACT ITSELF, UM, IS 19 BOARD MEMBERS.

UH, THE MAJORITY OF THE BOARD MEMBERS,

[00:15:01]

SO OF THE 19, UH, 10 HAVE TO BE FROM THE BUSINESS COMMUNITY.

THEN WE ARE ALSO REQUIRED TO HAVE LABOR AS PART OF OUR BOARD.

SO WE ARE REQUIRED TO HAVE A MINIMUM OF THREE, UM, AND POTENTIALLY FOUR, UH, PREFERABLY FOUR, BUT A MINIMUM OF THREE ON OUR BOARD AS PART OF LABOR.

UH, WE CURRENTLY HAVE, UM, WE'RE CURRENTLY IN THE PROCESS OF ADDING TWO OF OUR LABOR PARTNERS, UM, LUNA, AS WELL AS, UH, THE CARPENTERS ONTO OUR BOARD, UH, TO MEET THAT REQUIREMENT.

AND THEN WE ALSO HAVE EDUCATION PARTNERS.

WE DO HAVE, UH, LONG BEACH CITY COLLEGE, AS WELL AS C-S-U-L-B ON OUR BOARD.

UM, AND THEN WE ALSO HAVE, UH, COMMUNITY PARTNERS ON THE BOARD AS WELL.

SO THAT JUST GIVES YOU AN IDEA OF WHAT THE MAKEUP IS REQUIRED TO BE.

UH, AGAIN, THAT'S REQUIRED BY BOTH THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT FROM A WE A PERSPECTIVE AND THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA.

AND WITH THAT, I WILL, UH, THEN ALLOW MY COLLEAGUE HERE AT LISA MUNOZ TO THEN PROCEED WITH THE ADULT CAREER SERVICES INFORMATION.

GOOD.

A GOOD AFTERNOON, EVERYONE.

UM, SO AS JAIME MENTIONED, I'M GONNA COVER OUR WIOA PROGRAMS AND SERVICES THAT WE OFFER.

AND THEY'RE PRIMARILY OFFERED THROUGH, UM, OUR LONG BEACH WORKFORCE INNOVATION ADULT CAREER SERVICES CENTER.

AND SOME OF THE SERVICES THAT WE OFFER THERE ARE RESOURCE CENTER ACCESS.

WE HAVE A COMPLETE RESOURCE CENTER WHERE INDIVIDUALS WHO ARE SEEKING JOB SEARCH ASSISTANCE OR JUST, UM, ASSISTANCE WITH CAREER EXPIRATION OR WHATEVER IT MAY BE, TO GET 'EM BACK INTO, INTO THE WORKFORCE.

WE HAVE A DESIGNATED RESOURCE CENTER, WHICH INCLUDES COMPUTERS, PRINTERS, COPIERS, SCANNERS, WIFI ACCESS.

WE ALSO HAVE, UM, JOB LEAD POSTINGS WHERE INDIVIDUALS WHO, UM, ARE LOOKING FOR WORK IN A SPECIFIC AREA, THEY HAVE ACCESS TO THOSE POSTINGS.

WE ALSO SCHEDULE JOB FAIRS AND HIRING EVENTS.

AND USUALLY THESE, UM, HIRING EVENTS ARE LOOKING AT SPECIALIZED AREAS.

SO, FOR EXAMPLE, IF WE HAVE INDIVIDUALS WHO MAY HAVE BEEN LAID OFF IN A SPECIFIC, SPECIFIC INDUSTRY, WE'LL HOST, UM, JOB FAIR OR HIRING EVENT TO ASSIST THOSE INDIVIDUALS GETTING BACK INTO THE WORKFORCE.

AND THEN WE ALSO OFFER, UM, JUST RANDOM HIRING EVENTS.

WE JUST RECENTLY HAD ONE SEIZE CANDIES FOR THE HOLIDAY.

SO AGAIN, LOOKING AT DIFFERENT OPPORTUNITIES THAT WE CAN REACH OUT TO OUR CUSTOMERS AND PROVIDE THESE TYPE OF SERVICES TO HELP THEM GET BACK INTO THE WORKFORCE.

WE ALSO PROVIDE JOB SEARCH, I'M SORRY, JOB SKILLS DEVELOPMENT WORKSHOPS.

A LOT OF THESE WORKSHOPS ARE FOCUSED AROUND EITHER CAREER READINESS, RESUME DEVELOPMENT, MOCK INTERVIEW, AGAIN, PREPARING OUR, OUR, OUR CUSTOMERS, UM, TO GET BACK INTO THE WORKFORCE AND MAKE 'EM FEEL CONFIDENT AND SECURE AS THEY, UH, APPLY OR, OR SEEK FOR EMPLOYMENT, EITHER IN THEIR SAME INDUSTRY OR AREA IN WHICH THEY, UM, WORKED OR EXPLORING ANOTHER CAREER OR OCCUPATION.

UM, SOME OF THE JOB SKILLS, I THINK I MENTIONED THAT WE OFFER RESUME UNLOCKING THE HIDDEN JOB MARKET.

UM, OLDER WORKER.

LET'S HEAR IT FROM THE OLDER WORKER.

AS WE KNOW, AND I THINK I QUALIFY AS AN OLDER WORKER, WE HAVE, UM, MANY INDIVIDUALS WHO NEED TO CONTINUE WORKING EITHER TO SUPPLEMENT THEIR, UM, YOU KNOW, SOCIAL SECURITY BENEFITS OR JUST LOOKING FOR A TRANSITION IN THE NEW JOBS.

SO WE OFFER WORK SHOPS TAILORED TO THAT POPULATION.

UM, FINANCIAL LITERACY, UH, SOCIAL MEDIA FOR JOB SEEKERS.

THAT'S A BIG ONE WHERE WE KNOW NOWADAYS, UM, YOU NEED TO BE VERY FAMILIARIZE YOURSELF WITH SOCIAL MEDIA, WITH LINKEDIN AND DIFFERENT PLATFORMS, IT'S VERY IMPORTANT THAT WE ENSURE THAT OUR CUSTOMERS ARE AWARE OF THOSE PLATFORMS AND KNOW HOW TO NAVIGATE THEM FOR THEIR JOB SEARCH.

AND THEN WE HAVE REJECTION, UM, PROOFING YOUR JOB SEARCH.

AGAIN, THESE WORKSHOPS TAILOR TO GIVING OUR CUSTOMERS THE, UH, NECESSARY SKILLS TO JOB SEARCH, AS WELL AS GIVING THEM THE CONFIDENCE THAT THEY NEED TO GET BACK INTO THE JOB MARKET, WHICH CAN BE VERY, VERY INTIMIDATING.

AND YOU CAN, UM, ACCESS ALL OF OUR WORKSHOPS.

UM, IF SOMEONE WANTED TO SIGN UP, THEY CAN GO TO LONG BEACH GOV WORKFORCE TO SIGN UP FOR A WORKSHOP, AND THEY'RE OPEN, UM, TO ANYONE WHO'S, WHO'S INTERESTED IN, UM, ATTENDING WIA ADULT AND DISLOCATED WORKER PROGRAM, AS JAIME MENTIONED, THIS IS OUR PRIMARY FUNDING SOURCE.

EACH YEAR WE GET A-W-I-O-A ALLOCATION THAT IS SPECIFICALLY TO SERVE ADULTS, DIS DISLOCATED WORKER AND YOUTH, UM, AT THE ADULT, ADULT, UM, FOR WIOA ADULT DISLOCATED WORKERS FOR ANYONE 18 AND OLDER WHO'S ELIGIBLE TO ACCESS OUR SERVICES FOR ADULTS.

USUALLY INDIVIDUALS WHO, UM, MAY HAVE LIMITED WORK EXPERIENCE OR, UM, ARE IN NEED OF MAYBE SOME ADDITIONAL, UM, SKILLS UPGRADE, HAVE

[00:20:01]

UM, EITHER, YOU KNOW, TAKING CARE OF THEIR CHILDREN, DISPLACED HOMEMAKERS, WHATEVER IT MAY BE.

USUALLY THAT'S OUR ADULT POPULATION.

AND THEN OUR DISLOCATED WORKERS OR INDIVIDUALS WHO HAVE BEEN RECENTLY LAID OFF EITHER THROUGH A MASS LAYOFF OR, UM, JUST LIKE A DOWNSIZING.

AND THESE ARE FOR INDIVIDUALS WHO ARE INTERESTED IN, UM, QUICKLY RETURNING TO WORK AND MAY HAVE SOME BARRIERS THAT THEY HAVE MAY HAVE TO OVERCOME.

AND THEY MAY OVERCOME THOSE BARRIERS THROUGH EITHER, UM, JOB SEARCH ASSISTANCE THAT WE OFFER, AS WELL AS, UM, OCCUPATIONAL SKILLS TRAINING OR SKILLS UPGRADES.

SO UPGRADING THEIR SKILLS SO THEY CAN BE MORE COMPETITIVE IN THE LABOR MARKET.

AND FOR OUR WIO ADULT, WE DO HAVE A PRIORITY OF SERVICE.

AND BECAUSE FUNDS ARE, ARE LIMITED AND WE CAN'T SERVE EVERYONE AS, AS MUCH AS WE WOULD LIKE, THERE IS A PRIORITY OF SERVICES.

AND AGAIN, THE PURPOSE OF THE PRIORITY OF SERVICES TO ENSURE THAT THE INDIVIDUALS WHO ARE IN MOST NEED OF SERVICES ARE ACCESSING OUR SERVICES.

AND SOME OF THE AREAS THAT QUALIFY OR WHERE WE, UM, PROVIDE PRIORITY ARE VETERANS.

THOSE THAT ARE ON PUBLIC ASSISTANCE, LOW INCOME, HOMELESS, BASIC SKILLS DEFICIENT, YOUR OLDER WORKER, UM, SOMEONE WHO'S BEEN JUST AS INVOLVED.

UM, ELIGIBLE MIGRANT IS SEASONAL FARM WORKERS, WHICH REALLY DOESN'T APPLY TO TO LONG BEACH SINGLE PARENTS, UM, INCLUDING SINGLE PREGNANT WOMEN.

AND THOSE WHO HAVE BEEN LONG, UM, TERM UNEMPLOYED FOR 27 OR MORE CONSECUTIVE WEEKS.

AND HERE'S JUST A LITTLE SNAPSHOT OF OUR PERFORMANCE FOR LAST, LAST PROGRAM YEAR, WHICH IS FROM, UM, JULY 1ST, 2024 TO JUNE 30TH, 2025 FOR OUR ADULT PROGRAM.

WE SERVED 542, UM, INDIVIDUALS.

WITH THOSE 542 INDIVIDUALS RECEIVED 415 SERVICES, UM, WHICH COULD INCLUDE CAREER EXPIRATION, 4,000, I'M SORRY, 4,415 SERVICES, WHICH INCLUDE CAREER COUNSELING, UM, WORKSHOPS, TRAINING, SO VARIOUS SERVICES, WORKFORCE SERVICES TO HELP THE INDIVIDUAL, UM, TO RETURN BACK TO WORK.

AND THEN WE EMPLOYED 154 OF THOSE 542.

AND JUST KEEP IN MIND, THOSE 154 EMPLOYED WERE DURING THAT TIME PERIOD.

SO DEPENDING ON THESE INDIVIDUALS WERE EN ENROLL, WERE ENROLLED, THEY STILL COULD BE ACCESSING SERVICES.

AND HERE'S JUST A SNAPSHOT OF THE SERVICES THAT WE PROVIDED.

112 INDIVIDUALS WERE CO-ENROLLED, WHICH MEANS THEY WERE ENROLLED IN OTHER PROGRAMS OFFERED THROUGH LB WIN, WHERE THEY COULD LEVERAGE SERVICES, UM, PROVIDED SUPPORTIVE SERVICES, WHICH USUALLY INCLUDES TRANSPORTATION ASSISTANCE.

UM, I'M TRYING TO THINK OF OTHER SUPPORT SERVICES.

USUALLY THE MAIN ONE IS TRANSFER, IS TRANSPORTATION ASSISTANCE AND MAYBE INTERVIEW CLOTHING OR TOOLS FOR WORK, UM, INITIATION DUES IF THEY'RE, IF THEY'RE APPLYING FOR A UNION.

SO VARIOUS SUPPORT SERVICES THAT WE PROVIDE.

WE ALSO TRAINED 82 INDIVIDUALS.

AND THE INDIVIDUALS THAT WERE IN, UM, RECEIVED TRAINING.

IT WAS PRIMARILY IN TRUCK DRIVING, HEALTHCARE, UM, TECHNOLOGY.

THOSE WERE THE THREE MAIN AREAS THAT, UM, WE TRAINED INDIVIDUALS COMING INTO OUR CENTER WHO, UM, ACCESS THAT SERVICE AND KNOW OF THOSE THAT WERE TRAINED.

83, UM, PERCENT COMPLETED TRAINING AND FORTUNE RECEIVED, PAID WORK EXPERIENCE AND FOR PAID WORK EXPERIENCE.

THOSE ARE INDIVIDUALS WHO ARE PLACED AT VARIOUS WORK SITES WHERE THEY GAIN, UM, TANGIBLE WORK SKILLS.

AND USUALLY, UM, CAN BE ANYWHERE FROM A HUNDRED HOURS TO, UM, 600 HOURS DEPENDING ON, ON THE PROGRAM.

AND FOR THE WIOE DAY ADULT PROGRAM, THIS IS ONE, UM, UM, SERVICE THAT WE LEVERAGE.

'CAUSE USUALLY WE DON'T HAVE FUNDING TO PAY FOR ADULT SERVICES.

I MEAN, UM, WORK EXPERIENCE THROUGH OUR ADULT SERVICES.

SO THIS IS WHERE WE LEVERAGE IT THROUGH OUR OTHER PROGRAMS THAT WE OFFERED THROUGH LB WIN.

AND HERE'S OUR DISLOCATED WORKER PERFORMANCE.

AND AGAIN, THESE ARE FOR INDIVIDUALS WHO WERE LAID OFF OR MAYBE IMPACTED BY A MASS LAYOFF.

WE ENROLLED 194 INDIVIDUALS.

2049 SERVICES WERE PROVIDED, AND 4 48 WERE EMPLOYED.

11 COHEN ROAD 64 RECEIVED SUPPORT SERVICES THROUGHOUT THEIR PARTICIPATION IN THE PROGRAM.

AND 72 WERE TRAINED.

AND FOR THE DISLOCATED WORKER, WE SAW A LOT OF INDIVIDUALS WHO RECEIVED TRAINING IN, UM, TECHNOLOGY.

THAT WAS ONE OF THE TECHNOLOGY.

AND, AND HEALTHCARE, THOSE WERE TWO AREAS WHERE DISLOCATED WORKERS, UM, RECEIVED, UM, ADDITIONAL OCCUPATIONAL SKILLS TRAINING OR SKILLS UPGRADE.

AND OF THOSE 70% COMPLETED TRAINING, THE NEXT PROGRAM WE HAVE IS OUR TRANSITIONAL SUBSIDIZED EMPLOYMENT.

AND THIS PROGRAM

[00:25:01]

THEY USUALLY RECEIVE PAID, THEY RECEIVE PAID WORK EXPERIENCE, AND THEY CAN WORK UP TO 10 TO 12 MONTHS, UM, AT DIFFERENT, UM, WITH DIFFERENT EMPLOYERS.

AGAIN, GIVING THEM AN OPPORTUNITY TO INCREASE THEIR SKILL LEVELS, TO FAMILIARIZE THEIR SELF WITH A DAY-TO-DAY, UM, WORK ENVIRONMENT.

THEY CAN EARN UP TO SEVEN, $17 AND $27, $17 AND 20 CENTS PER HOUR.

AND AGAIN, IT'S DESIGNED FOR INDIVIDUALS WHO ARE COMMITTED TO WORKING FULL-TIME, WHO, UM, ARE LOOKING AT INCREASING OR DEVELOPING THEIR, THEIR SKILLS AND ARE INTERESTED IN SECURING FULL-TIME EMPLOYMENT.

SO AS PART OF THIS PROGRAM, AGAIN, GIVE THEM EXPOSURE TO, TO REAL LIFE WORK EXPERIENCE, AND THEN ALSO WORK WITH THEM IN, IN FINDING PERMANENT EMPLOYMENT.

AND HERE'S A BREAKDOWN OF, UM, OUR PERFORMANCE FOR LAST PROGRAM YEAR.

FOR THE TSE PROGRAM.

WE ENROLLED 37 30 COMPLETED BLUEPRINT, UM, TRAINING, WHICH IS A REQUIREMENT FOR THE PROGRAM, WHICH IS, UM, A MANDATORY WORK READINESS TRAINING.

28 RECEIVED, UM, PAID WORK EXPERIENCE.

AND THREE, WERE UNEMPLOYED, WERE EMPLOYED.

AND AGAIN, BECAUSE THE PROGRAM IS A, THEY CAN PARTICIPATE IN THE PROGRAM FROM 10, 10 MONTHS TO 12 MONTHS, MANY OF THEM ARE, ARE WORKING AND, UM, AT A WORK SITE.

BUT ONCE THEY COMPLETE, I'M SURE THOSE NUMBERS WILL INCREASE.

THE MAJORITY OF PEOPLE WHO GO THROUGH THAT PROGRAM HAVE BEEN SUCCESSFUL IN, IN OBTAINING, UM, UNSUBSIDIZED EMPLOYMENT.

THE NEXT PROGRAM IS OUR HOMELESS TWO EMPLOYMENT, WHICH WE CALL HEP.

AND THIS PROGRAM AIMS TO, UM, ASSIST INDIVIDUAL WHO ARE EXPERIENCING HOMELESS BY HELPING THEM GAIN, UM, EMPLOYMENT AND SECURE HOUSING, PROVIDE CASE MANAGEMENT, SUPPORT SERVICES, AND JOB PLACEMENT SERVICES.

THIS IS THROUGH A PARTNERSHIP WITH, UM, THE HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES DEPARTMENT, WHERE WE RECEIVE REFERRALS DIRECTLY FROM THEM FOR THESE INDIVIDUALS.

UM, INDIVIDUALS WHO QUALIFY FOR THIS PROGRAM ARE UNHOUSED.

SO USUALLY THOSE WHO, UM, LACK FIX AND ADEQUATE NIGHTTIME RESIDENTS, UM, THEY'RE IN, UM, A SHELTER OR THEY'RE TRANSITIONING OUT OF TEMPORARY HOUSING.

SO WORK WITH THESE INDIVIDUALS AND, AND PROVIDE A VARIETY OF SERVICES TO HELP THEM, UM, IN GETTING THE, THE SKILLS THEY NEED TO FIND EMPLOYMENT AND HOPEFULLY SECURE HOUSING.

AND OUR PERFORMANCE FOR LAST PROGRAM YEAR WAS, FOR THIS, FOR THIS PROJECT WAS 33 WERE ENROLLED, 323 RECEIVED SERVICES, AND SIX WERE EMPLOYED OF THAT, 28 WERE CO-ENROLLED.

AND AGAIN, AS MENTIONED EARLIER, AS A WAY TO LEVERAGE SERVICES.

SO WE'RE ALWAYS LOOKING AT OPPORTUNITIES WHERE WE CAN CO-ENROLL OUR, OUR CUSTOMERS IN DIFFERENT PROGRAMS SO THEY CAN ACCESS VARIOUS SERVICES THAT MAY NOT NECESSARILY BE PROVIDED THROUGH DIFFERENT GRANTS.

UM, SUPPORTIVE SERVICES, UM, WERE PROVIDED AS WELL AS PAID WORK EXPERIENCE.

AT LB WIN, WE ALSO OFFER SECOND CHANCE OPPORTUNITIES PROGRAMS. SO FOR OUR JUSTICE INVOLVED INDIVIDUALS, ONE, WE OFFER TWO PROGRAMS. ONE PROGRAM IS THE INVEST PROGRAM, AND INVEST IS A PARTNERSHIP WITH ALLY COUNTY PROBATION.

AND THE DEPARTMENT OF ECONOMIC, UM, OPPORTUNITY THROUGH ALLY COUNTY, WHICH IS WORKING, UM, IS AIMED TO WORKING WITH INDIVIDUALS WHO ARE, UM, ON PROBATION AND GIVING THEM THE SKILLS, UM, AND SERVICES NEEDED TO HELP THEM OBTAIN EMPLOYMENT.

AND WE WORK WITH PRO PROBATION OFFICERS, AND USUALLY MANY OF THE INDIVIDUALS THAT COME THROUGH THAT PROGRAM ARE REFERRED THROUGH THROUGH PROBATION, EXCUSE ME.

AND, AND THE PROGRAMS ARE THROUGH COORDINATION AND ARE LEVERAGED THROUGH ALL, THROUGH ALL OF OUR A JC PROGRAMS AND SERVICES.

OUR OUTCOMES FOR LAST PROGRAM YEAR WHERE WE ENROLLED 93, WE SERVED, UH, PROVIDED 101,136 SERVICES.

WE EMPLOY 21, AND THEY WERE OFFERED A NUMBER OF, OF SERVICES.

EIGHT CO-ENROLLMENT, 42 SOFT SKILLS WORKSHOPS, 166 SUPPORTIVE SERVICES, AND 13 ACCESS TRAINING AND TRAINING FOR MANY OF THESE INDIVIDUALS.

WE WERE FOCUSED ON, UM, TRANSPORTATION, LOGISTICS, UM, TRUCK DRIVING.

THE SECOND PROGRAM THAT WE OFFERED THROUGH ALB WIN PRISON TWO EMPLOYMENT, AND THE PTZ IS DESIGNED TO, UM, WORK WITH INDIVIDUALS WHO HAVE BEEN FORMERLY INCARCERATED OR JUSTICE INVOLVED.

UM,

[00:30:01]

SO INDIVIDUALS WHO PARTICIPATE IN THE PROGRAM AND COMPLETE TRAINING, THEY GET STIPENDS FOR SUCCESSFULLY COMPLETING ALSO SUPPORTIVE SERVICES AND EMPLOYMENT RETENTION INCENTIVES.

SO TWO OF OUR PROGRAMS WE OFFER INCENTIVES, UM, IS OUR INVEST IN P TWO E PROGRAM.

AND OUR OUTCOMES FOR THE P TWO E PROGRAM INCLUDE, UM, WE ENROLLED 39, WE ENROLLED 39 INDIVIDUALS.

WE PROVIDED 474 SERVICES, AND WE EMPLOYED 14 INDIVIDUAL, 10 WERE CO-ENROLLED, 50 RECEIVED SUPPORTIVE SERVICES, AND 11 WERE TRAINED.

AND THE LAST PROGRAM IS OUR WORK READINESS PROGRAM AND SUPPORT, WHICH WE CALL WRAPS.

AND THIS IS A COLLABORATION WITH ALB WIN AND LONG BEACH CITY COLLEGES AND FOCUSES ON TARGETED POPULATIONS, USUALLY, UM, YOUNG ADULTS WHO ARE ATTENDING LONG BEACH CITY COLLEGE, WHO, UM, FIRST TIME, UM, COLLEGE ATTENDERS, UM, ENGLISH LANGUAGE LEARNERS, JUSTICE INVOLVED.

SO VARIOUS INDIVIDUALS FROM THE TARGETED POPULATIONS THAT I SHARED EARLIER.

UM, SERVICES THAT WE PROVIDE THROUGH THIS PROGRAM INCLUDE SUPPORTIVE SERVICES LIKE TRANSPORTATION, UM, ASSISTANCE WITH CERTIFICATION FEES, WORK ATTIRE, PAID WORK EXPERIENCE, CAREER GUIDANCE, JOB SEARCH ASSISTANCE, JOB FAIRS.

UM, THEY RECEIVE CREDIT FOR PRIOR LEARNING AS WELL AS ACADEMIC AND CAREER SUPPORT.

AND ALSO WE ASSIST THEM WITH, UM, PATHWAYS TRAINING LEADING TO INDUSTRY CREDENTIALS OR DEGREES.

AND THE OUTCOMES FOR LAST PROGRAM YEAR WERE 47, ENROLLED 661 SERVICES PROVIDED 12 CO-ENROLLED 68 SUPPORTED SERVICES, 45, UM, TRAINEES, 79 OF THOSE PERCENTAGE, 70 A PERCENTAGE OF 79 COMPLETED TRAINING, AND FIVE PAID WORK EXPERIENCE.

UM, AND ONE EMPLOYED.

AND AGAIN, THAT'S BECAUSE MANY OF 'EM ARE STILL PARTICIPATING IN TRAINING OR IN THE PROGRAM.

AND HERE IS A VIDEO, JUST A BRIEF VIDEO OF OUR CAREER SERVICES CENTER.

SO THIS IS A VIDEO OF OUR LONG BEACH WORKFORCE INNOVATION NETWORK, ADULT CAREER CAREER SERVICES CENTER.

AND ACTUALLY, THIS VIDEO WAS CREATED BY ONE OF OUR LONG BEACH PUBLIC SERVICE CORPS MEMBERS.

THERE SHE IS.

SO THIS GIVES YOU A, A LITTLE VIEW OF OUR, OF OUR CENTER.

IF YOU HAVEN'T VISITED, WELCOME, UM, ALL OF YOU FOR A TOUR.

I COULD SEND THAT VIDEO OVER IF FOLKS WANNA SEE IT IN ITS, UH, TOTALITY OR IT'S COM.

UH, UH, SO WE'LL SEND IT OVER.

BUT I, FOR THE SECOND TIME, I WANTED TO INTRODUCE MYSELF.

MY NAME IS ELI ROMERO.

I'M A WORKFORCE OFFICER WITH THE LONG BEACH WORKFORCE INNOVATION NETWORK.

I HAVE THE ABSOLUTE PRIVILEGE OF, UH, PRESENTING ON OUR YOUTH CAREER SERVICES.

UH, I KNOW MANY OF YOU HAVE HOSTED.

I THINK ACTUALLY ALL OF YOU HAVE HOSTED INTERNS OF OURS IN THE PAST.

UH, BUT THIS WILL GIVE YOU A LITTLE BIT MORE OF A LOOK BEHIND THE SCENES, UM, AND GIVE YOU A GLIMPSE INTO OTHER PROGRAMS AND PROGRAMS AND SERVICES THAT WE UTILIZE TO INSPIRE A NEW GENERATION OF TALENT HERE IN LONG BEACH.

AND INSPIRATION REALLY IS A KEY WORD.

WE WORK WITH A LOT OF YOUNG FOLKS THAT COME IN UNINSPIRED A LITTLE BIT AFRAID OF THE FUTURE.

I THINK WE'VE ALL BEEN THERE.

AND OF COURSE, AS WE MENTIONED THROUGHOUT THEIR PRESENTATION, A LOT OF THEM HAVE BARRIERS TO EMPLOYMENT.

AND WE ARE HERE TO HELP THEM NAVIGATE THOSE BARRIERS, LET THEM KNOW THAT IT'S ALL POSSIBLE, THAT IN FACT IT'S NOT TOO LATE.

AND, UM, THAT THERE IS A COMMUNITY OF NOT ONLY ELECTED OFFICIALS, BUT, UH, YOUTH DEVELOPMENT STAKEHOLDERS AND EMPLOYERS THAT, UH, ARE CONSPIRING FOR THEIR SUCCESS AND WANT THEM TO DO WELL.

UH, ONE OF THE, THE KEY PROGRAM THAT, UH, OPERATES OR FUNDS OUR WORK IS A WORKFORCE INNOVATION OPPORTUNITY ACT.

UH,

[00:35:01]

SO THIS ALLOWS US TO ENGAGE 'EM FOR NEARLY TWO YEARS, AND IT ALLOWS US TO IMMERSE 'EM IN A VARIETY OF DIFFERENT SERVICES THAT ARE DESIGNED TO ADDRESS THEIR SPECIFIC NEEDS.

SO WHETHER THEY NEED, UH, ASSISTANCE WITH COMPLETING THEIR HIGH SCHOOL DIPLOMA, WE HAVE PARTNERSHIPS WITH, UH, NOT ONLY TRADITIONAL COMPREHENSIVE HIGH SCHOOLS, BUT WE ALSO HAVE PARTNERSHIPS WITH CREDIT RECOVERY CENTERS.

WE OWE A CHARTER SCHOOLS SUCH AS, UH, PATHWAYS TO INDEPENDENCE, UH, LEARN FOR LIFE SCHOOLS THAT HELP YOUNG PEOPLE THAT MAY HAVE, MAY HAVE FALLEN, UM, OR GONE OFF TRACK IN TERMS OF THEIR CREDIT ATTAINMENT AND ALLOWS 'EM TO CATCH UP.

UM, ALSO, UH, WE ARE ABLE TO CONNECT 'EM TO CAREER EXPLORATION AND JOB READINESS RESOURCES, A LOT OF THEM BEING STAFF LED, BUT ALSO THROUGH, UH, STRATEGIC INVESTMENTS OF OUR WORKFORCE DOLLARS.

WE HAVE, UM, A VARIETY OF TECHNOLOGICAL TOOLS THAT ALLOW THEM TO EITHER IMMERSE THEMSELVES IN VIRTUAL REALITY OR, UM, ALSO, UH, CAREER EXPLORATION VIDEOS THAT REALLY HELP DEMYSTIFY THE JOB MARKET OUT THERE AND REALLY HELP THEM PUT THEMSELVES IN THE, IN THE SEAT OF A PROFESSIONAL IN THE AREA THAT THEY'RE INTERESTED IN.

OCCUPATIONAL SKILLS TRAINING.

IT ARE, UM, IN OTHER WORDS, UH, TRAINING SCHOLARSHIPS THAT WE OFFER TO YOUNG PEOPLE.

AND ALSO THAT EXTENDS TO OUR ADULT PROGRAMS WHERE WE COULD PAY UP TO $7,500 IN TRAINING SCHOLARSHIPS TO INDIVIDUALS THAT ARE INTERESTED IN OBTAINING, UH, INDUSTRY RECOGNIZED CREDENTIAL, UH, PAID WORK EXPERIENCE WHERE A LOT OF FOLKS KNOW US THROUGH, UH, WE'RE ABLE TO SUBSIDIZE WAGES FOR YOUNG PEOPLE TO WORK AT LOCAL BUSINESSES, UH, ELECTED OFFICIAL OFFICES, , OTHER PUBLIC SERVICE PLACEMENTS.

AND THEN WHAT YOU SEE DOWN THAT LIST ARE A VARIETY OF OTHER SUPPORTS THAT, UH, THE DEPARTMENT OF LABOR HAS IDENTIFIED AS BEING REALLY CRITICAL TO THE DEVELOPMENT AND THE WORKPLACE READINESS OF A YOUNG PERSON.

SO THOSE ARE SERVICES THAT WE EITHER PROVIDE DIRECTLY OR WE PROVIDE IN PARTNERSHIP WITH OUR WIDE NETWORK OF YOUTH SERVICE PARTNERS ACROSS THE CITY.

THOSE ARE SOME OF OUR PERFORMANCE NUMBERS.

UH, WE SERVE 174 YOUTH ANNUALLY ON AVERAGE, UH, PROVIDE OVER 3000, UH, INDIVIDUAL SERVICES ACROSS THE 174 YOUTH.

AND THOSE ARE SOME OF THE OUTCOMES AS WELL.

AS YOU CAN SEE, WE PROVIDED 473 SUPPORTIVE SERVICES.

THOSE ARE SERVICES THAT ARE DESIGNED TO PROVIDE SOME SORT OF STABILITY TO THE YOUNG FOLKS AS THEY ENGAGE IN, UM, CAREER DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMS, ALLOWING THEM TO ENGAGE IN OUR PROGRAMS FOR YOUR DISTRACTIONS.

UH, WE HAVE 54 PEOPLE THAT HAVE OBTAINED, UH, TRAINING THROUGH OUR PROGRAM, 89, THAT HAVE RECEIVED PAID WORK EXPERIENCE THROUGH THIS SPECIFIC FUNDING SOURCE.

AND 35 HAVE RETURNED TO SCHOOL CALIFORNIA VOLUNTEERS.

THIS IS A FUNDING THROUGH THE CALIFORNIA GOVERNOR'S OFFICE.

UH, MORE SPECIFICALLY HAS BEEN, UH, SORRY, MORE RECENTLY, HAS BEEN, UH, REBRANDED AS YOUTH SERVICE CORPS OVER THE LAST FOUR YEARS.

IT'S PROBABLY GIVEN US, I THINK, CLOSE TO $8 MILLION IN FUNDING TO, UH, INSPIRE YOUNG PEOPLE TO, UH, PURSUE CAREERS IN PUBLIC SERVICE.

THROUGH THIS, UH, UH, OPPORTUNITY, WE'VE, UH, DESIGNED A VARIETY OF DIFFERENT, UM, INITIATIVES INCLUDING LONG BEACH PUBLIC SERVICE CORPS THAT MANY OF YOU MAY BE FAMILIAR WITH, THAT PROVIDES ON AVERAGE MAYBE 55 TO 60 YOUNG PEOPLE ANNUALLY.

OPPORTUNITIES TO, UM, TO WORK AT THE CITY OF LONG BEACH AS PROGRAM PARTICIPANTS, AS TRAINEES AND FELLOWS.

ALSO, I BELIEVE WE PLACE, UH, OF THOSE 50, UH, 20 OF THEM ARE PLACED IN THE LEGISLATIVE DEPARTMENT, UH, WORKING DIRECTLY WITH, UH, THE HONORABLE COUNCIL MEMBERS AND TEAMS, UH, OF, UH, THOSE RESPECTIVE COUNCIL OFFICES.

UH, WE SPECIFICALLY RECRUIT, UH, COLLEGE SENIORS OR THOSE COMPLETING PROGRAMS AT LONG BEACH STATE, UH, UH, CAL STATE DOMINGUEZ HILLS OR LONG BEACH CITY COLLEGE.

AND THEN LONG BEACH FIRE CORPS IS AN INITIATIVE UNDER YOUTH SERVICE CORPS THAT PREPARES YOUNG PEOPLE FOR CAREERS IN FIRE SAFETY, UH, EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS, DISASTER PREPAREDNESS, AND, UM, ANOTHER INITIATIVE.

THERE IS A LONG BEACH URBAN PLANNING PROGRAM WHERE THIS IS DESIGNED STRATEGICALLY TO ADDRESS A GAP WHERE, UM, THERE IS A NEED FOR URBAN PLANNERS, UH, OTHER PROFESSIONALS IN RELATION TO THAT SPACE.

AND, UM, MANY OF YOU WILL KNOW THAT WE DO NOT HAVE A GRADUATE, UH, URBAN PLANNING PROGRAM HERE LOCALLY.

THE NEAREST ONE IS PROBABLY POMONA, AND THEN OF COURSE, UCLA.

SO THIS IS AN, UH, A STRATEGY THAT ALLOWS THOSE FOLKS THAT ARE AT THOSE GRADUATE PROGRAMS TO RECONNECT TO LONG BEACH, BECAUSE THEY'RE ORIGINALLY FROM HERE TO WORK ON URBAN PLANNING RELATED EFFORTS TO THEN, OF COURSE, ESTABLISH ROOTS AND RECONNECT TO THE CITY THAT THEY'RE PROUD TO BE FROM, UH, THROUGH THIS IS MORE SPECIFICALLY PUBLIC SERVICE CORE OUTCOMES.

UH, 59 YOUTH HAVE RECEIVED, GAINED, OR SORRY, HAVE RECEIVED PAID WORK EXPERIENCE THROUGH THAT PROGRAM.

MOST OF THEM EARNING FROM 17 TO $27 AN HOUR, 43%, UH, SORRY, 43 OF THEM HAVE RECEIVED SUPPORTED SERVICES THROUGH THE PROGRAM, ONCE AGAIN, ENHANCING THEIR PARTICIPATION.

IF YOU LOOK AT THE OVERALL, UH, YOUTH SERVICE CORPS, ON AVERAGE,

[00:40:01]

THERE'S A LOT OF EXCITEMENT ABOUT COMPANIES THAT ARE MOVING TO LONG BEACH AND THE OPPORTUNITIES THAT ARE QUICKLY, UH, DEVELOPING OUT OF THAT SPACE, UH, PUN INTENDED.

UH, SO WE WORK IN COLLABORATION WITH OUR, UH, COLLEAGUES AT THE HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES DEPARTMENT TO, UH, GET REFERRALS FROM THEIR FUTURE'S FIRST INITIATIVE, WHICH OF COURSE PROVIDES STABILIZATION LIFE SKILLS TRAINING TO YOUNG PEOPLE WHO ARE OUTTA SCHOOL AND OUT OF WORK.

AND THEN WE ENGAGE 'EM IN WORK-BASED LEARNING EXPERIENCES TO DEVELOP AWARENESS, PROVIDE HANDS-ON EXPERIENCE OPPORTUNITIES, UH, IN THAT SPECIFIC, UH, INDUSTRY.

YOUTH AT WORK IS A FUNDING SOURCE FROM THE LA COUNTY DEPARTMENT OF, UH, ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITY THAT PROVIDES, UH, PAID WORK EXPERIENCES TO YOUNG PEOPLE BETWEEN THE AGES OF 14 AND 24.

THROUGH THIS PROGRAM, YOUNG PEOPLE ARE ABLE TO GET 160 HOURS OF WORK EXPERIENCE EARNING ABOUT $17 AN HOUR.

UH, THEY GET SOME WORK READINESS TRAINING, SOME CAREER COACHING AS WELL.

THIS PROGRAM ALSO PRIORITIZES YOUNG PEOPLE THAT HAVE BARRIERS TO EMPLOYMENT AS LISTED THERE, YOU CAN SEE JUSTICE INVOLVED, UH, LOW INCOME HOUSEHOLDS, PREGNANT PARENTING DISABILITIES, ENGLISH LANGUAGE LEARNERS.

THIS PROGRAM SERVES A REALLY LARGE NUMBER OF YOUNG PEOPLE IN A SHORT, WELL, IT'S YEAR ROUND.

BUT A BIG, UH, PEAK OF ENGAGEMENT IS DURING THE SUMMER PERIOD WHERE THROUGH THIS PROGRAM WE ENROLL 487 YOUTH PROVIDE 465 WORK READINESS TRAINING OPPORTUNITIES TO, UH, 480, UH, 465 OF THE, OF THOSE 487 YOUTH PROVIDE PAY WAX TO 362 AND 91 YOUTH RECEIVE SUPPORTIVE SERVICES.

UH, THAT IS OUR CENTER, UH, THAT IS LOCATED ON MAGNOLIA AND WILLOW, WHERE WE HAVE A WONDERFUL TEAM OF FOLKS THAT ARE READY, EAGER, AND EXCITED TO PROVIDE THE SUPPORT OR THE CAREER DEVELOPMENT SERVICES TO YOUNG PEOPLE.

UH, ALSO OUR ADULT CENTER IS ALSO STAFFED BY, UH, SIMILARLY SEVEN CAREER SPECIALISTS THAT I HAVE TO MENTION THAT A BIG PART OF THEIR WORK IS INSPIRING PEOPLE.

AS I MENTIONED EARLIER, UH, THESE ARE THE MOST EMOTIONALLY INTELLIGENT PEOPLE THAT I'VE EVER WORKED WITH, BECAUSE IT REQUIRES BIG, IN A LOT, A BIG PART OF INTUITION, UH, EMPATHY AND CARE TO WORK WITH SOMEONE THAT HAS BEEN DISILLUSIONED BY THE JOB MARKET AND REALLY NEEDS A, A BIG PUSH TO, UH, SEE THEMSELVES FOR REALLY THE POTENTIAL THAT THEY HAVE.

THANK YOU, ELI.

THE LAST, UH, COMPONENT IS REALLY BUSINESS ENGAGEMENT, AND I WILL JUST QUICKLY RUN THROUGH THIS.

UM, THE FOCUS OF BUSINESS ENGAGEMENT IS NOT JUST TO ENSURE THAT WE UNDERSTAND THE NEEDS OF THE BUSINESSES THEMSELVES, BUT TO MAKE A CONNECTION BETWEEN THOSE BUSINESSES AND CREATE PATHWAYS FOR PARTICIPANTS IN THE DIFFERENT PROGRAMS. SO, UM, THAT, UH, RAPID RESPONSE LAYOFF AVERSION IS ALSO A PART OF BUSINESS ENGAGEMENT.

WHAT THAT MEANS IS, UH, WHEN AN EMPLOYER IS, HAS IDENTIFIED A MASS LAYOFF, UH, THEN OUR, A BUSINESS ENGAGEMENT TEAM WILL GO OUT ALONG WITH SUPPORT FROM OUR CASE MANAGERS, UH, AND THEN SUPPORT THAT PARTICULAR EMPLOYER IN ENSURING THAT EACH PARTICIPANT HAS WHAT THEY NEED TO PREPARE, UH, ALL THE INFORMATION, UNEMPLOYMENT, INSURANCE, UH, INFORMATION, UH, WE, WE COLLABORATE WITH ALL OUR PARTNERS TO MAKE SURE THAT WE HAVE EVERYTHING THERE TO SUPPORT THEM AS THEY TRANSITION.

UM, WITH THAT, REAL QUICK, CHALLENGES AND OPPORTUNITIES, THERE'S A LOT OF CHALLENGES RIGHT NOW, UM, ESPECIALLY AROUND THE FEDERAL FUNDING.

THERE'S A LOT OF, UH, THINGS UP IN THE AIR AS IT RELATES TO WHETHER THE FUNDING WILL CONTINUE FOR, UH, A NUMBER OF THE WE OL PROGRAMS. UM, THERE'S OBVIOUSLY EVER CHANGING AND TIGHTENING LABOR MARKETS.

UM, AND THEN, UM, AS FAR AS OPPORTUNITIES ARE CONCERNED, JUST, UM, WE ARE TRYING TO MAKE SURE THAT WE UNDERSTAND THE GROWING NEEDS OF THE COMMUNITY.

UM, THE TALENT RETENTION IS ALWAYS A BIG COMPONENT OF THAT.

UM, TRYING TO MAKE SURE THAT WE HAVE OUTREACH TO ALL THE DIFFERENT COMMUNITIES, UM, AS WELL AS UNDERSTANDING AND LEVERAGING THE PARTNERSHIPS THAT WE HAVE.

SO WITH THAT, WE WANTED TO TRY TO MAKE SURE THAT WE HAD AN OPPORTUNITY FOR QUESTIONS, UM, AND WE THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO PRESENT TODAY.

GREAT.

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THE PRESENTATION.

I ALWAYS HAD A SENSE ON WHAT LONG BEACH WIND DID, BUT I THINK IT'S BEEN GREAT TO GET MORE OF AN UPDATED, UM, PRESENTATION ON THE OVERVIEW OF THE ADULT PROGRAM AS WELL AS THE YOUTH PROGRAMMING.

'CAUSE THINGS HAVE CHANGED

[00:45:01]

UM, I, I HAVE A FEW QUESTION.

I KNOW THAT YOU HAD TO SKIM OVER AND THEN I'LL, YOU KNOW, SEE IF MY COMMITTEE MEMBERS HAVE ANY QUESTIONS.

BUT, YOU KNOW, I KNOW THAT WE HAD TO GO, YOU WENT THROUGH THE BUSINESS ENGAGEMENT REALLY QUICK.

OBVIOUSLY WE KNOW, YOU KNOW, WORK, WORK WORKFORCE GOES HAND IN HAND WITH BUSINESSES.

WE, IT'S KIND OF LIKE WE CAN'T HAVE ONE WITHOUT THE OTHER.

SO I'M, I'M JUST CURIOUS ABOUT, UM, HOW ARE WE, I KNOW THAT THERE IS, UM, SERVICES OFFERED TO EMPLOYERS HERE, BUT WE'RE ALWAYS HEARING, OH, THERE'S A WORKFORCE SHORTAGE IN THIS AREA AND HEALTHCARE OR IN THIS OTHER AREA.

HOW ARE YOU HELPING TO FILL IN THE GAPS AROUND THE ACTUAL WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT NEEDS THAT BUSINESSES NEED TO, UM, MAKING SURE TO, I THINK, PREPARE, UH, RESIDENTS RIGHT AS WELL? THANK YOU FOR THE QUESTION.

UM, SO THERE'S A, A NUMBER OF THINGS THAT WE TRY TO DO.

FIRST OF ALL, WHEN WE ENGAGE WITH THE BUSINESSES, WE TRY TO UNDERSTAND WHAT THEIR PARTICULAR NEEDS ARE, AND THEN WE LOOK TO SEE IF WE HAVE PROGRAMS IN PLACE THAT ALIGN TO THOSE PARTICULAR NEEDS.

IF THERE AREN'T ALREADY PROGRAMS IN PLACE, THEN WE LOOK TO TRY TO FIGURE OUT IF THERE'S WAYS THAT WE CAN SUPPORT THEM THROUGH DIFFERENT TRAINING PAR PARTNERS THAT WE HAVE.

UM, AND THEN WE ALSO WORK TO TRY AND IDENTIFY IF THERE'S TALENT ALREADY HERE, UM, WHETHER THOUGH THAT TALENT IS ABLE TO ALIGN TO THEIR PARTICULAR NEEDS.

SO WE, WE LEVERAGE, UM, THE RESOURCES THAT WE HAVE, WE LEVERAGE THE PARTNERSHIPS THAT WE HAVE, UM, TO TRY TO MAKE SURE THAT WE UNDERSTAND THE BUSINESS NEEDS.

AND THEN, UM, FOCUS ON ENSURING THAT THOSE CONNECTIONS ARE MADE BETWEEN, UM, THE PARTICIPANTS, THE TALENT AND THE EMPLOYERS.

AND JUST A FOLLOW UP TO THAT RESPONSE IS HOW, HOW DOES THE BUSINESS KNOW THAT THAT AVAILABLE, RIGHT? I KNOW THAT THERE ARE UNLIMITED NEEDS, BUT ALSO HOW DO, DO BUSINESSES REGISTER ON A LIST AND DO THEY GET LISTED SOMEWHERE IN ON THE WEBSITE? BECAUSE I JUST WANNA MAKE SURE THAT THE SMALLER BUSINESSES TO BIG BUSINESSES HAVE ACCESS TO THESE RESOURCES TOO, BECAUSE SOMETIMES WE HEAR, YOU KNOW, THEY HAVE CHALLENGES IN HIRING AND RETAINING STAFF.

YEAH, THANK YOU.

UM, SO THERE, WE HAVE TWO DIFFERENT GROUPS.

WE HAVE THE, THE BUSINESS ENGAGEMENT TEAM THAT ACTUALLY DOES OUTREACH AS WELL.

UM, BUT THEN WE ALSO IN COLLABORATION WITH THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT OR ECONOMIC BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT SIDE OF, OF ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, UH, THE BIZ CARE TEAM ALSO PROVIDES INFORMATION TO THE BUSINESSES AS WELL WHEN THEY GO OUT.

GREAT.

THANK YOU.

AND COUNCIL SRO, WE ARE REALLY WORKING HARD TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE CONTINUING TO BE PROACTIVE AND THAT'S WORKING WITH EACH AND EVERY ONE OF YOU, UH, WORKING WITH A LOT OF OUR PARTNERS FROM ABOUT BCC TO C-S-U-L-B AND DOING THE BUSINESS WALKS, PUTTING IN INFORMATION IN OUR NEWSLETTER.

SO ANYTHING WE CAN SHARE OUT ABOUT THE RESOURCES THAT ARE AVAILABLE THROUGH, UM, LONG BEACH WIND, IT WILL JUST HELP US MORE AND MORE AS WE GET OUT THERE AND ENGAGE NOT ONLY, UH, RESIDENTS, BUT ALSO BUSINESSES, UH, UH, REGARDING WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT.

THANK YOU.

YES, I REALLY APPRECIATE THAT.

'CAUSE IT IS A PARTNERSHIP.

WE WANNA MAKE SURE OUR BUSINESSES CAN NOT ONLY JUST SURVIVE, BUT THRIVE LOCALLY AND ARE SUPPORTED AND HAVE THE RIGHT RESOURCES TO BE ABLE TO, UM, DO BUSINESS.

SO I'LL SEE IF ANY OF THE COMMITTEE MEMBER, UM, VICE VICE CHAIR ALLEN.

OKAY.

WELL, THANK YOU, UH, CHAIR, THOSE WERE GREAT QUESTIONS.

UM, I JUST WANNA FIRST OF ALL JUST SAY THANK YOU TO, UH, JAMIE GUTIERREZ AND ALYSSA MUNOZ AND, UH, ELI ROMERO FOR YOUR INCREDIBLE THOROUGH, UH, PRESENTATIONS.

UM, THE, WHAT YOU'RE DOING FOR BOTH OUR ADULT AND OUR YOUTH AND OUR CITY IS JUST INCREDIBLE.

I KNOW YOU SAID YOU'RE EMOTIONALLY TALENTED, BUT I THINK YOU GUYS ARE AWFULLY DARN SKILLED AND GOOD LOOKING TOO.

UM, BUT, UH, I REALLY DO APPRECIATE, UM, AND ESPECIALLY WHEN YOU, WHEN YOU, UM, MENTIONED, YOU KNOW, LIKE WITH THE YOUTH OVER 3000 SERVICES PROVIDED.

I MEAN, THAT'S JUST, THESE ARE JUST AWFULLY INCREDIBLE NUMBERS.

AND SO I KNOW YOU GUYS ARE WORKING HARD, SO I THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE AT COUNCIL AND, UM, AND, AND JUST, YOU KNOW, SOMETIMES WE JUST NEED TO REMIND PEOPLE, INFORM PEOPLE OF ALL THE WORK, UM, THAT YOU'RE DOING.

AND I KNOW, UM, I APPRECIATE THAT.

UM, I THINK, UH, IT'S MOST IMPRESSIVE TO, UH, THE 95% TRAINING COMPLETION RATE AMONG THE YOUTH, UH, PARTICIPANTS.

IT'S REALLY GREAT.

THIS IS JUST, JUST INCREDIBLE.

BUT I DID, UM, HAVE A QUESTION, UM, WITH SUCH HIGH, UM, COMPLETION RATES, I KNOW WE'RE STILL SEEING AN UNEMPLOYMENT,

[00:50:01]

SO, UH, IS THERE, IS THERE THINGS THAT, THAT WE CAN DO? I'M, I'M SURE YOU'RE DOING, AND IT'S HARD, UM, TO GET EVERYONE EMPLOYED, BUT IF THERE'S ANY, IS THERE ANYTHING THAT YOU'RE DOING, UM, WITH THOSE HIGH COMPLETION RATES TO SEE IF WE CAN GET ALL THOSE FOLKS A JOB? YEAH, THAT'S A GREAT QUESTION.