Long Beach Mayor Bob Foster joined leaders from three other neighboring cities this morning to introduce an initiative sponsored by the Pacific Gateway Workforce Investment Network that will used stimulus money to promote the hiring of youth aged 14-24 this summer.  See video of Mayor Foster's speech below.

About $6.3 million from the Economy Stimulus Act will be put toward the program, which reaches out to small businesses.  Those that hire youth will be rewarded with tax breaks, and the Pacific Gateway stresses that employers will receive motivated, work-ready employees.  Visit the website at yournexthire.biz.



Mayor Foster was joined by leaders from neighboring communities like Signal Hill (Mayor Ellen Ward), Torrance (Mayor Frank Scotto) and Lomita (Mayor Pro Tem Don Suminaga).  Long Beach City Councilmember Tonia Reyes Uranga was also in attendance, and caught up with the LBPOST.com for a short interview about the plan's potential impact on her district.

"We're trying to get the word out that there's hope and employment," she said, pleased that the program includes a youth hiring aspect to keep kids off the streets and train them for the workforce.

"That is something that every city in this country has needed for ages," she said.  "Aside from the youth component, hopefully we can get unemployed people back to work so they can pay their mortgages."

By Ryan ZumMallen, Managing Editor

Disclosure: LBPOST.com co-founder Shaun Lumachi is a Pacific Gateway Workforce Investment Network board member.

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