Workforce Alliance Applying $10 Million in Stimulus Funds to Improve Local Economy

WEST PALM BEACH, Fla., Aug. 13 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Workforce Alliance is applying approximately $10 million in recently-awarded American Recovery and Reinvestment Act funds, popularly known as stimulus funds, to significantly expand its employment services and operations in Palm Beach County.

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Kathryn Schmidt, President and CEO of Workforce Alliance, said, "The additional funding is approximately $10 million and is targeted to benefit the economic progress of Palm Beach County through increased services to businesses as well as job training and job placement services for the unemployed. Our advice to employers at this time is for them to analyze their current and anticipated needs for employee hiring, retention and training in anticipation of possible opportunities for grants or funding from Workforce Alliance."

Some of the resources and programs expanded by stimulus funding and available to employers through

Workforce Alliance include:

• hiring incentives / tax credits;
• training grants / matching dollars for the training of existing employees;
• recruitment and hiring assistance;
• access to professional and executive-level job candidates;
• screening of mid-level and entry-level job seekers;
• local job postings;
• outplacement services;
• business start up and expansion resources; and
• localized labor market and employment information.
  

Ms. Schmidt added, "Palm Beach County employers can use our expanded resources for their complete human resource needs and should talk to one of our Business Services Representatives (561-340-1060) for full details."

A portion of the stimulus funds has been committed to Workforce Alliance's 2009 Summer Youth Employment and Training Program (SYETP). Under the program, several hundred local employers were able to hire one thousand temporary summer workers for a six-week period with Workforce Alliance paying the wage and workers' compensation costs. The employers are providing the worksites and are supervising the participants in meaningful and productive employment situations. The side benefits of the program include a major contribution to the economic recovery of Palm Beach County and a better workforce for our future.

Workforce Alliance is the organization chartered by the State of Florida to create, develop and retain a quality workforce system in Palm Beach County. It operates three Career Centers and Professional Placement Centers and offers professional services to all employers and job seekers in the County. The Career Centers are located in Belle Glade, Boynton Beach and West Palm Beach and the addresses and phone numbers are listed on the website, www.pbcalliance.com.

SOURCE Workforce Alliance