On Friday, January 20, Supervisor Don Knabe will kickoff Career Pathways, a new employment pilot project designed to provide scientific training and high-income job opportunities for foster youth, dislocated workers and disadvantaged adults.

Program participants will receive free college-level training in basic skills and industry-specific training, as well as free supportive services such as child care and employment counseling. If participants successfully complete the training, they will be guaranteed a job at corporate sites like ConocoPhillips, BP, Valero and Exxon-Mobil. Funding for this pilot project was provided by Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger’s discretionary Workforce Investment Act Fund.

This program represents an outstanding model of how to connect low-income residents with high-income jobs and the expertise training that goes with it, said Supervisor Knabe. I am happy to be a part of this pilot program and look forward to finding ways to expand it throughout the County.

Supervisor Knabe will be joined at the event by Patrick Henning, Director of the California Department of Employment Development, as well as executives from ConocoPhillips and other participating refineries.

This program provides access for those from the local community who need a helping hand to get started on a very challenging and well paid career in the refinery industry, said Jay Churchill, Los Angeles Refinery Manager for ConocoPhillips.