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PG&E invests in central coast job creation 

America’s Job Center of California in SLO receives PG&E Economic Vitality Grant

jobsMore than 200 local job seekers and workers with barriers to employment will benefit from upcoming essential job skills training provided by Americas Job Centers of California (AJCC) serving San Luis Obispo. The job-seeking, and job-keeping skills training is being funded through a $20,000 grant awarded by Pacific Gas and Electric Company (PG&E) through its 2014 Economic Vitality Grant Program. The funds were presented by PG&E President Chris Johns today during a visit to the AJCC offices on Industrial Way in San Luis Obispo.

“PG&E wants to help our communities have growing, thriving local economies. This year’s grant program continues our long, proud history of supporting the local organizations that are working hard to create jobs and provide career training,” said Johns.

“The job readiness training at AJCC, made possible through the PG&E grant program, will focus on building good practices in attendance, attitude, ambition, acceptance and accountability in the work place. These are essential skills our employer community expects, and seeks out when making their hiring and retention decisions,” said Allison Schiavo, the AJCC Director of Workforce Services in San Luis Obispo County.

PG&E’s Economic Vitality Grant Program is investing $200,000 this year in ten nonprofits focused on local job creation, business development and promoting economic opportunity throughout its Northern and Central California service area.

The utility’s donation to AJCC in San Luis Obispo will supplement the organization’s existing Workforce Investment Act (WIA) funded operations, which focus on job-specific skills building through on-the-job and classroom-based training leading to industry recognized certifications. The additional 15-hour basic workplace behavior training is directed to job seekers with significant barriers to employment like homelessness, low income, incarceration, disability and unstable work history. The job skills program will also include training entry level and lower wage workers employed in local retail, hospitality, and healthcare organizations in the essential work place practices necessary for success on the job.

“Employers indicate a high turnover in these jobs decreases productivity, increases recruitment and training costs and elevates the amount they spend on unemployment insurance benefits,” Schiavo said. “What we aim to do with this program is help people develop personal responsibility and learn behaviors necessary for job success,” Schiavo said.

Americas Job Centers of California (AJCC) serving San Luis Obispo County is operated by Goodwill Industries of Santa Cruz, Monterey and San Luis Obispo Counties, Inc. Goodwill contracts with the Workforce Investment Board of San Luis Obispo County and the Department of Social Services to provide the AJCC services which assist job seekers and employers with their labor and employment needs. The AJCC is a collaboration of local, state, private, and public entities that provide comprehensive and innovative employment services and resources to meet the needs of the California workforce.

As part of the federal Workforce Investment Act (WIA), a network of career centers, like the AJCC, was established throughout the country to enable individuals to find the help they need in the areas of job training, employment services, and other related support services, in one location. Over the last decade, these centers have assisted Californians manage their careers, and California employers in their search for skilled workers and in building their workforce.

PG&E is the largest private employer in San Luis Obispo County, with the majority of its employees based at the Diablo Canyon Power Plant. The utility, in partnership with the PG&E Corporation Foundation, strives to power strong communities throughout Northern and Central California. In 2013, PG&E contributed more than $23 million to more than 1,300 charitable organizations, and PG&E employees donated more than $6.5 million and volunteered more than 48,000 hours in 2013. Community investments are funded entirely by the company’s shareholders.

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About the author: Publisher Scott Brennan

Scott Brennan is the publisher of this newspaper and founder of Access Publishing. Follow him on Twitter, LinkedIn, or follow his blog.