Sonoma County Workforce Board Awarded Grant Funds to Improve Career Pathways for English Language Learners
The California Employment Development Department (EDD) announced it has awarded $1.8 million to seven organizations to implement programs that develop critical job skills that English Language Learners (ELL) need to enter careers in growing local industries. These statewide organizations will use an Integrated Education and Training (IET) service model, which provides a wide spectrum of career services, to prepare ELLs for high quality jobs with sustainable wages. The Sonoma County Workforce Investment Board (WIB) received $182,900, and in collaboration with Santa Rosa Junior College (SRJC) will focus on English Language Skills in Building and Construction Trades. The Sonoma WIB, in partnership with the Sonoma County Economic Development Board (EDB) and the Job Link (AJCC) Business Services Team has done extensive outreach to connect with a variety of employers in the construction industry and 13 employers have been identified as eager to hire up to 176 ELL participants who complete the SRJC IET program, as the demand for workers outpaces the supply of job seekers.
For more information, please contact: John Paul, Job Link Manager, jpaul@schsd.org
Welcome aboard to our new WIB Staff!
John Paul, the new Job Link Manager, comes to us from our own Human Services department. He works with Job Link, oversees the Business Services Unit, and many other services. Please join us in congratulating John in this well-deserved promotion! John can be reached at jpaul@schsd.org, or (707) 565-5592.
Fabiola Garcia Almonaci, is the new Analyst for the Job Link programs. She supports the programs like Prison 2 Employment, the Trades Introduction Program, and does data quality and assurance. Fabiola can be reached at fgarciaa@schsd.org, or (707) 565-5508.
Shaydra Ennis, is our new WIB Analyst coming to us from the Business Services Team. She will be working with Title 1, budgeting, and supervising staff. Shaydra can be reached at sennis@schsd.org, or (707) 565-8086.