MAYOR NUTTER ANNOUNCES THOUSANDS OF PHILADELPHIANS PUT TO WORK, MANY MORE JOB OPPORTUNITIES STILL AVAILABLE

July 22, 2010rnrnWay to Work Philadelphia! puts almost 2,700 adults to work in first 3 monthsrnrnPhiladelphia, July 22, 2010 – Mayor Michael A. Nutter announced today that the Way to Work Philadelphia! (WTWP) program launched in May has provided almost 2,700 adults with jobs, and that hundreds more job opportunities are still available. Speaking during a visit to a participating employer that has hired almost twenty people through the stimulus-funded program, Mayor Nutter urged Philadelphians looking for work to visit their local CareerLink office or call the job-seeker hotline to find out about job slots that are waiting to be filled.rnrn“We are focused on putting Philadelphians back to work and through Way to Work Philadelphia almost 2,700 people who were previously unemployed have jobs this summer and are earning wages to support their families,” said Mayor Nutter. “Over 100 employers across the region have stepped up to take advantage of this program and so there are still hundreds of job opportunities available. If you’re looking for a job visit your local CareerLink or call 215-557-2625 so that you can get back to work.”rnrnMayor Nutter visited MEE Productions, a company that through WTWP has hired 18 adults as Community Action Team Coordinators to supervise the street outreach teams made up of Philadelphia youth who promote positive social and health messages to their peers and the broader community. MEE also hired 100 youth through WTWP to participate on the Community Action Street Teams.rnrn“This collaboration is a good opportunity for people to work together and ultimately get people employed. MEE would not have been able to do this without WTWP,” said Alicia Jackson, Director of Operations for MEE. “This project has been fueled by the employees we have hired through WTWP, and that’s the collaboration. The dollars that WTWP is fueling into this surely help us by supplementing what we would have to bring to the table by way of the payroll that we would ultimately have to meet for this project. Overall, everybody wins.”rnrnSince the City of Philadelphia, in partnership with the Philadelphia Workforce Investment Board (PWIB) and the Philadelphia Workforce Development Corp. (PWDC), officially launched WTWP on May 19, 2,699 adults are working and earning wages through the program. They have earned almost $3.2 million in total already. Funded by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, the program aims to jump-start job creation by subsidizing the wages of eligible individuals who are hired under the program.rnrnCurrently the program is set to last through September 30, 2010 when federal funding will end, however advocates and some legislators are working to push for an extension. Private, public and non-profit employers who participate will receive a 100% wage reimbursement (up to $13 per hour) for adult employees hired through this initiative.rnrnJobs must employ workers between 20 and 40 hours of work per week. The program cannot be used to fill positions behind laid off employees, displace current employees or impede promotional opportunities.rnrnIndividuals must be qualified as eligible for the program, which involves income verification and status of dependents. Eligibility will be determined at the point of service, where assessment and other job screening will also occur. To find out more, individuals should visit their local CareerLink office or call the Job Seeker Hotline at 215-557-2625.rnrnBusinesses that are interested in hiring workers through this program should visit the Way to Work Philadelphia! website at www.waytoworkphilly.org or call the Employer Hotline at 888-557-2535.rnrnAbout MEE ProductionsrnMEE Productions (Motivational Educational Entertainment) – Nationally recognized company that maintains a reputation for developing and executing highly effective communication strategies and tactics to reach and influence urban, ethnic and underserved audiences.rnrnAbout the Philadelphia Workforce Development CorporationrnThe Philadelphia Workforce Development Corporation (PWDC) is a private non-profit organization that has been providing quality employment services to the residents of Philadelphia for over thirty-five years. As the fiscal agent for federal and state employment and training dollars, PWDC invests resources in hundreds of job training providers and employers in the region to provide services to unemployed and underemployed individuals.rnrnAbout the Philadelphia Workforce Investment BoardrnFounded in 1999, the Philadelphia Workforce Investment Board is a volunteer commission appointed by the Mayor of Philadelphia with the legislated responsibility to govern the public workforce system in the city, including the CareerLink Centers. The organization that supports the commission – Philadelphia Workforce Investment Board, Inc. – provides expertise in all facets of workforce development, and works to align the skills of the region’s labor force to meet the needs of industry, ultimately supporting the region’s growth and prosperity. The organization’s vision is a thriving and inclusive regional economy and its mission is to advocate and advance a demand-driven opportunity agenda that effectively prepares Philadelphians to compete in the economic mainstream.