LOS ANGELES, Calif. — Today, the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors (the Board) approved a motion authored by Supervisors Holly J. Mitchell and Janice Hahn that directs the Los Angeles County Internal Services Department (ISD) and Department of Economic Opportunity (DEO) to launch a three-year Community Hiring Pilot Program. The pilot will be countywide and connect high-road jobs from five of ISD’s largest procurement contracts to residents living in zip codes with high rates of poverty.
Each year, the County spends $6 to $9 billion dollars on good and services to meet the needs of its 10 million residents. Last year, the Board passed Supervisor Mitchell’s motion committing the County to using its purchasing power to expand access to high-road jobs – jobs that provide family supporting pay, benefits, and growth opportunities – for residents living in communities with high concentrations of poverty. Today’s action moves that commitment to implementation.
“This pilot program links procurement, workforce development, and economic mobility into a coordinated strategy that will provide quality job opportunities for talented and qualified residents in communities that have face historical under investment and high rates of poverty,” said Supervisor Holly J. Mitchell. “We have an opportunity to show how equitable hiring practices tied to how we spend our money are good for business and for strengthening our efforts to end the cycle of poverty.”
“If the County is going to spend billions of dollars every year contracting out to provide our residents services, we should use these contracts as tools to invest in good jobs in the communities that need them most. That is our goal with this Community Hiring Pilot Program – to use the County’s own purchasing power to open doors for LA County residents to stable careers and to help workers build a pathway out of poverty,” said LA County Supervisor Janice Hahn.
The Board will receive a report back within 90 days with a list of the five eligible ISD contracts, community hiring goals, and a timeline for implementation. The pilot will also include targeted outreach to America’s Job Centers of California, High Road Training Partnerships, and other community partners to support referrals of qualified job seekers.
“The County and our contracted partners hire for thousands of high-quality jobs and careers across almost every sector and occupation as we collectively invest billions in goods and services for our community wellbeing,” shared Kelly LoBianco, Director of the LA County Department of Economic Opportunity. “Thanks to our Board of Supervisors and this motion, we are excited to formalize and scale these community hiring opportunities with talented, local workers, trained by our America’s Job Centers and training partners.”
The Community Development Technologies Center (CD Tech) is among the many community partners helping to prepare residents in South Los Angeles for quality employment opportunities. CD Tech President and CEO, Benjamin Torres, shared, “For 30 years, CD Tech has been combining grassroots community building towards strengthening the skills and self-sufficiency of residents especially though workforce development into high wage career pathways that make a difference. Thanks to Supervisor Mitchell’s Motion, the Community Hiring Pilot will open more doors into good jobs, hire people from our communities, and provide families with the economic mobility to make uplift our community.”
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