DEPARTMENT: Economic Development
DEPARTMENT HEAD: Alejandra Lopez
COUNCIL DISTRICTS IMPACTED: Citywide
SUBJECT:
Briefing on the SA Ready to Work initiative funded through a 1/8 cent sales tax to provide for workforce development and higher education under Chapter 379A of the Texas Local Government Code.
SUMMARY:
This item provides a briefing on the SA Ready to Work initiative to include a discussion of the proposed contractual agreement between the City and the San Antonio Early Childhood Education Municipal Corporation, the development of the SA Ready to Work Advisory Board, potential organization structures, and an implementation plan.
This initiative would build on the COVID-19 Recovery and Resiliency Plan workforce development pillar that served as the immediate response to the substantial and urgent need to assist San Antonio residents unemployed as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. Building on this short-term intervention, the ballot initiative will continue the path to a strong, resilient economic recovery by investing in a combination of training and education programs that leads to a robust talent pipeline for high demand careers with family sustaining wages.
BACKGROUND INFORMATION:
Prior to the outbreak of the COVID-19 virus San Antonio experienced a relatively low unemployment rate, yet poverty rates in our community were among the highest in the country. Low post secondary educational attainment rates in San Antonio have resulted in a lack of skilled workers and an abundance of lower wage, low skill jobs. The unprecedented economic impacts of COVID-19 on the economy have resulted in the employment displacement of an estimated 184,000 San Antonio residents, further compounding the various financial burdens faced by residents.
In July 2020, Mayor Nirenberg appointed a Workforce and Education Leadership Taskforce to reassess community workforce development priorities and identify the most effective strategies...
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