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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
April 4, 2002
PR-072-02
www.nyc.gov


NEW YORK CITY LAUNCHES AD CAMPAIGN
TO PUBLICIZE WORKFORCE1 CAREER CENTERS


Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg, Department of Employment (DOE) Commissioner Betty B. Wu, and Human Resources Administration (HRA) Commissioner Verna Eggleston today announced that New York City has begun a $1 million advertising campaign to publicize the ninety-seven Workforce1 Career Centers located throughout the five boroughs. The network of Workforce1 Career Centers offer free assistance to anyone who needs to find a job or the training to get a better one. The publicity campaign will include advertisements in the major daily newspapers, Spanish language newspapers, ethnic and community newspapers, in buses, subways, on phone kiosks, and also on the web.

"In this very difficult job market, and particularly after September 11th, it is important for the City to help New Yorkers find employment," Mayor Bloomberg said. "We created the Workforce1 program so that individuals in need of a job can access the different job programs that exist and select the one best for them. Workforce1 Career Centers are open to all New Yorkers regardless of income and education level. I also urge businesses in the New York metropolitan area to contact Workforce1 with their job openings - we can offer them a pool of screened and qualified workers, ready to go to work immediately."

"This is a challenging time in New York City's history," said DOE Commissioner Wu. "The impact of the national economic downturn and September 11th has created unique difficulties in the job market. New Yorkers, however, have met tough challenges before, and we hope and expect that the Workforce1 web site and hotline will play a vital role in helping our City's residents when they are in need of training, jobs, and related resources."

"We have had great success in helping New Yorkers find meaningful employment," said Commissioner Eggleston. "The Workforce1 Career Centers, with job support and training programs, play a vital role helping people access jobs or find better ones. And we will continue to assist low-income New Yorkers with other job supports, including child care, health insurance and the earned income tax credit."

Workforce1 Career Centers offer free job placement, assistance with resume writing and interviewing skills, career counseling, and access to job search essentials such as Internet job banks, newspaper job listings, printers, copiers, and fax machines. Centers also offer free training targeted to local industries including information technology, customer service, hospitality and food service, and health and dental care.

Individuals in search of employment or seeking to improve their job status can contact Workforce1 through the hotline at 1-866-JOBS-NYC from Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. or by accessing the website at www.nyc.gov/workforce1. On the website, job seekers can input their zip code and obtain a list of centers in their neighborhood. Some career centers are designed to help specific groups, such as the disabled, veterans, and immigrants with limited English. In addition, employers can to log onto the Workforce1 website and post job openings.

Most of the programs are neighborhood-based and many are in the areas with the highest unemployment. The programs are operated by well-established private organizations with years of experience. In most cases, the programs are paid based on their success in placing and keeping people in jobs.

Most of the funding for the career centers and all the funds for the publicity campaign are from the federal Workforce Investment Act (WIA) signed in August 1998. WIA authorizes workforce development services for employers and businesses, including employment and training activities for adults, dislocated workers and youth. WIA replaces the preceding legislation, the Job Training Partnership Act.

Workforce1 is a partnership of many government agencies, including the City Department of Employment, Human Resources Administration, Department for the Aging, Department of Youth and Community Development, and Mayor's Office of Adult Literacy; the State Department of Labor, the Education Department and Vocational Educational Services for Individuals with Disabilities, the Job Corps and the Queens Public Library. Workforce1 is overseen by the City Workforce Investment Board, composed mainly of local business leaders.

 

www.nyc.gov

Contact: Ed Skyler / Lark-Marie Anton
(212) 788-2958

David Neustadt (HRA)
(212) 331-6200

Allen Monczyk (DOE)
(212) 442-2160