MTA APPROVES LOCAL HIRING PROGRAM FOR LARGE CONSTRUCTION PROJECTS FUNDED WITH FEDERAL ECONOMIC STIMULUS DOLLARS

NEWS

    Supervisor Mark Ridley-Thomas

             L.A. County Board of Supervisors, 2^nd District

 

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

March 26, 2009                                                     

 

Contact:   James Bolden 

                     213.200.5314

 

MTA BOARD APPROVES RIDLEY-THOMAS’ REQUEST TO ESTABLISH LOCAL HIRING PROGRAM FOR LARGE CONSTRUCTION PROJECTS FUNDED WITH FEDERAL ECONOMIC STIMULUS DOLLARS

 

Program will assure that local communities benefit from Federal Economic Stimulus Funding to promote economic development in Los Angeles County

 

LOS ANGELES COUNTY -- The Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) Board today unanimously approved Supervisor Mark Ridley-Thomas’ proposal to establish a local hiring program for large construction projects funded with federal economic stimulus dollars.

 

The vote came a month after Ridley-Thomas, during a meeting of the Board of Supervisors, urged the hiring of at-risk youth with federal stimulus funding.

 

He directed the County's Chief Executive Officer to develop actions to ensure that the use of Federal Economic Stimulus Package funds will create jobs, job training and other similar public benefits for at risk-youth.

 

As part of delivery of Federal Economic Stimulus dollars, the MTA will receive funding to carryout a number of "shovel ready" projects throughout its service area.  The intent of the funding is to promote economic development in Los Angeles County and to provide employment opportunities for local residents.

 

As part of delivery of economic stimulus dollars, the MTA will receive funding to execute a number of "shovel ready" projects throughout its service area.

 

In his motion to the MTA board, Ridley-Thomas said the “intent of the funding is to promote economic development in Los Angeles County and to provide employment opportunities for local residents.”

 

 

“To ensure that these objectives, one of Metro’s major program objectives must be to promote employment of individuals who reside in or near project areas and within the County of Los Angeles, and to provide employment and job training opportunities among populations affected by high unemployment,” he concluded. 

 

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Ta'Shara N. Murray

THE OFFICE OF SUPERVISOR MARK RIDLEY-THOMAS

500  W. Temple Street, Room 866

Los Angeles, CA 90012

(213) 974-2222    Fax (213) 680-3283

Seconddistrict@bos.lacounty.gov

http://ridley-thomas.lacounty.gov/