City opens 1st of its kind job training center

(1/23/2007)

John DeStefano, Jr. City Of New Haven

Mayor PUBLIC INFORMATION OFFICE

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

Tuesday January 23, 2007

-NEWS RELEASE-

CITY LAUNCHES 1ST OF ITS KIND JOB TRAINING PROGRAM

DOZENS OF PUBLIC HOUSING TENANTS TO ACQUIRE SKILLS NEEDED TO BEGIN NEW CAREERS

New Haven: Mayor John DeStefano joined local aldermen, federal housing officials, and New Haven Housing Authority officials this morning at a news conference to announce a first of its kind job training program to begin at Farnam Court in New Haven. The program, initiated by the City of New Haven, and funded through the Housing Authority, will train approximately 80 residents for careers in the building trades, this includes plumbing, electrical work, and painting. The Union involved in this collaborative effort is the UBC (Carpenters), IBEW (Electricians), IUPAT (Painters / Tapers), U (Plumbers, and the GLC (Laborers). Each of the four classes will consist of 20 people and will last for 8 weeks. Upon completion, graduates will be qualified to begin apprenticeships and apply for high quality jobs, some with the city’s school construction program.

“This is not about a hand-put, this is about a hand-up,” said Mayor John DeStefano. “Our school construction program has created hundreds and hundreds of jobs, and we want to make sure New Haven residents keep getting the opportunities to get those jobs and earn a paycheck. This is a smart investment in people because it’s helping them help themselves.”

The New Haven Housing Authority is spending approximately $225,000 on the new job training center and program, which will eventually be expanded to other housing developments across the city. It is the latest example of how the City of New Haven is committed to creating positive opportunities for its residents. This year Mayor DeStefano has announced the city’s goal of creating 2,000 jobs for the city’s youth and an additional 3,000 slots for job preparation classes. Combined, these program and jobs would help 5,000 teens, compared to 1,000 this past summer.

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Contact Name: Derek

Contact Email: dslap@newhavenct.net

Contact Phone: 956-7660