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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
PR- 066-08
February 26, 2008

MAYOR BLOOMBERG HONORS OVER 100 ORGANIZATIONS COMMITTED TO HIRING NEW YORKERS IN CITY EMPLOYMENT PROGRAMS

Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg hosted a reception today at Grace Mansion in honor of the hundreds of organizations that partner with City agencies to provide jobs for thousands of New Yorkers. Organizations such as private companies, non-profits, public and private universities, and City agencies have committed to hiring New Yorkers who participate in the City's many job training and education programs. The Mayor was joined by Human Resources Administration Commissioner Robert Doar, Parks Department Commissioner Adrian Benepe and Department of Small Business Services Commissioner Robert Walsh, three agencies whose employment programs have found jobs for more than 500,000 New Yorkers.

"The City's job training and education programs have made a real difference in the lives of countless New Yorkers and they have contributed to reducing citywide unemployment down to levels not seen since before 9/11," said Mayor Bloomberg. "Their success is based in large part on the commitment of businesses and organizations that have been willing to believe in New Yorkers others had given up on. Thanks to the City's partnerships with these organizations, thousands of New Yorkers are now climbing up the economic ladder and on the path to stronger, healthier lives."

Human Resources Administration

HRA works with public and private entities to further its mission of moving New Yorkers off of public assistance and towards self-sufficiency. HRA has contributed to more than 500,000 job placements of welfare recipients since the beginning of the Administration. Working with employment preparation firms, educational institutions and non-profits, HRA has completely transformed what was an entitlement based system into one that is based on work and personal responsibility. Employers such as Macy's; Fresh Direct; Partners in Care; Duane Reade; Personal Touch Home Care; the Department of Education; Active Staffing Services; Alliance for Health; United Parcel Service; Cooperative Home Care; the Spirit of New York; Gotham Per Diem; and People Care have helped to make the city's welfare-to-work policies successful. As a result, the number of people receiving cash assistance has dropped to historic lows. In 2002, more than 457,000 people were on cash assistance. Today, the cash assistance caseload stands at 347,681 persons, a decrease of 25%, or 114,914 cases since the beginning of the Administration. Because of HRA's work with New York City area companies, people who had little hope, now have an opportunity for self-sufficiency.

Parks Department

The Parks Opportunity Program (POP) provides training and long term employment placement for job training participants in exchange for service to the city. Career counselors train workers in job skills and find ways to place them in positions that suit their needs. Since 2002, approximately 6,500 trainees found employment through POP. POP relies on the support of a unique network of public and private partnerships for its continued success. The program works with a variety of city agencies, public and private universities, and local providers to educate and train participants in fields that provide local opportunities. Additionally, POP serves as a resource for some of New York City's largest employers. Some of these 370 employers include HHC, Securitas, Time Warner Cable, FedEx & FedEx Kinko's, Lifespire, the City's Department of Information Technology and Telecommunications, the Metropolitan Transit Authority, Randall's Island Sports Foundation, and Reliable Community Care, Inc and The Central Park Conservancy. These employers are committed to hiring POP trainees, who are carefully prescreened by the Parks Department and given the preparation they will need for their new jobs.

Small Business Services

The Department of Small Business Services runs 6 Career Centers that work with jobseekers and employers throughout the city to place people into jobs. SBS works directly with large and small businesses across the five boroughs to help them hire and train employees. These partnerships have enabled the agency to grow from placing New Yorkers in 127 jobs per quarter in 2004 to 4,300 jobs per quarter in 2007. Since 2004, when Mayor Bloomberg merged SBS with the Department of Employment, SBS has placed over 40,000 people in jobs thanks to these partnerships.







MEDIA CONTACT:


Stu Loeser/Evelyn Erskine   (212) 788-2958

Barbara Brancaccio   (Human Resources Administration)
(212) 331-4990

Jama Adams   (Parks Department)
(212) 360-1311

Kara Alaimo   (Small Business Services)
(212) 618-6716




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