Multi-Sector Partnership National Emergency Grant

Community Challenge/Problem

In 2008, the U.S. Census Bureau hired nearly 700,000 workers. These were all short term assignments and all were completed by September 2010.

The census jobs, though temporary positions, were a lifeline for many of our residents seeking employment during tough, recessionary times, said Josie Gonzales, Chair and County of San Bernardino Fifth District Supervisor.

Board Solution/Innovation

The San Bernardino County Workforce Investment Board announced that a $1.5 million Workforce Investment Act, Multi-Sector Partnership National Emergency Grant has been expanded to include laid-off census workers. This grant has nearly 200 spaces available to fill by the close of June 30, 2012. Census workers who were laid off between September 21, 2010, and September 27, 2011 are eligible to apply at one of San Bernardino County's Employment Resource Centers.

The San Bernardino County Business Resource Team is also recruiting employers to hire through this grant and receive reimbursement for the wages of new employees paid through On-the-Job Training contracts.

Outcomes & Results

Now, through this grant expansion another lifeline has been cast, linking former census workers with services and training to secure more permanent careers in one of our region's in-demand industries, said Josie Gonzales, Chair and County of San Bernardino Fifth District Supervisor.

The California Multi-Sector Workforce Partnership was formed to address 123 mass layoffs in California that affected 32,527 workers in 19 industries statewide. The partnership expects 5,887 California residents to receive free training paid for by this grant.

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