Young people were disproportionally impacted during the recession and recovery of youth employment opportunities has been slow.  Gaining work experience and training is critical for young people seeking entrance to the job market.

The Youth Employment Program has been a key component of the Youth Workforce Development System for over 30 years in the County and City of Los Angeles.  Now launching year-round, the HIRE LA’s Youth program is expected to connect over 20,000 youth from across the region to employment.

When:  Wednesday, July 8, 2015, 11a.m.

Where:  County Hall of Administration – West edge of Grand Park, across the street from the Music Center, above the fountain

Speakers:

• Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti
• Los Angeles County Supervisor Don Knabe
• Los Angeles County Supervisor Sheila Kuehl
• Los Angeles County Supervisor Hilda Solis
• Los Angeles County Supervisor Mark Ridley-Thomas
• Representatives from supporting companies, including Blair Taylor, Chief Community Officer, Starbucks; and Lisa Deloney, Managing Director and Market President, Citibank
• Youth participants

Los Angeles County will create a one-stop-shop Small Business Concierge to assist small business owners navigate the County’s permitting and contracting processes, thanks to a motion put forth by Chairman Supervisor Don Knabe.

“Small businesses are a vital sector of the Los Angeles County economy, and we need to continue to look at innovative ways to offer support and guidance towards their development and success,” said Supervisor Knabe. “Starting a small business, as well as keeping one in business, can be an incredibly challenging endeavor and with the help of this Small Business Concierge, we can help them thrive right here in our community.”

Under the proposal, the Office of Small Business will be consolidated within the Department of Consumer Affairs, which will expand the Office’s ability to help owners get their business up-and-running. A report back by the Chief Executive Officer is expected in 90 days to determine the feasibility and fiscal impact of this migration.

“Small businesses have created over 60% of the new jobs in this country,” said Supervisor Knabe. “We need to be sure we are doing whatever we can do to make it easy for them to get started.”

Earlier this month, Supervisor Don Knabe became Chairman of the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors and cited three priorities for his tenure: innovation, customer service and combating child sex trafficking. Today, three motions supporting these goals were approved unanimously by the Board.

Following two years of intense effort, Knabe said he was proud of what the County has accomplished in the fight to end the sexual exploitation of children for money, but more effort is needed. He proclaimed January 2104 to be “National Human Trafficking Awareness Month” in Los Angeles County to reinforce the County’s commitment to ending this horrific crime.

Knabe also asked for the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) to work with all departments that interact with small businesses to reeningeer the process of how businesses get started in Los Angeles County, citing an often cumbersome and confusing process. A report back in 90 days will investigate the feasibility of establishing a one-stop small business concierge service that would offer guidance on navigating the process to those interested in starting a business.

On Knabe’s motion at last week’s meeting, the Board received a report from the CEO on options available to the County to provide the support and incentive needed for the Boeing Company to select the City of Long Beach as the project site for its Boeing 777x Jetliner.

“We must continue our efforts to support the economic growth of our region, while maintaining our focus on the most vulnerable in our community who need us most,” said Knabe. “By finding new ways to innovate, improving customer service, and always asking, ‘How can we do this better,” we will write a new chapter of County government that will be smarter, more efficient, better serving and easier to work with.”

Visit Board Agendas for more information and www.knabe.com for further updates.

Disabled veterans would receive a contracting bid preference with Los Angeles County under a motion made by Supervisor Don Knabe at today’s board meeting.  Citing a need to address the high unemployment rate and economic challenges faced by returning veterans, Knabe called for the development of a program similar to the bid preference the County gives small businesses.

“The County should be a leader in supporting our veterans with service-related disabilities, who have made extraordinary sacrifices on behalf of our country,” said Knabe.  “I am asking that our departments develop a Disabled Veterans Business Enterprise Program, which would provide a bid price preference in County solicitations for the goods and services we purchase.  It is one small, but important, way that we can show our appreciation and provide employment opportunities for our disabled vets.”

The County is required to select the lowest responsible and responsive bid for projects and services.  Local small businesses are currently eligible for a bid price reduction or ‘preference’ on the cost component of their submission.  Knabe’s motion calls for a similar preference for businesses owned by disabled vets.

The motion will be considered by the Board of Supervisors at its next meeting, August 20, 2013.

Several small business programs are administered by the County Office of Small Business which conducts training and workshops for local businesses, as well as certifies small businesses to be eligible for bid preferences and other benefits of the program.  More information is available at Office of Small Business’ website at www.laosb.org  or 855-230-6430.

The Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors today approved additional funding for a summer jobs program for low-income youth at its 2013-2014 budget review meeting.  The Board also approved a motion by Supervisor Don Knabe to seek funding from the State for subsidized employment for those on public assistance.

“While we are seeing improvements in the unemployment rates across California and in the overall economy, too many people are still struggling to find work or are underemployed,” said Knabe.  “A few years ago we launched my 10,000 Jobs Program, which utilized federal stimulus dollars to create temporary subsidized jobs for 11,000 adults and 15,000 disadvantaged youth.  The program was one of the most successful uses of stimulus funding in the nation.  However, that money has dried up and we still have too many people who have been looking for work for too long.  That is why I have asked our Department of Public Social Services to look into funding that has been set aside at the State level, through CalWORKS, to continue subsidized employment programs.”

The Board also approved $2 million for the Summer Youth Employment Program (SYEP), which provides low-income youth with invaluable job experience.  Positions will be located throughout Los Angeles County at sites including County departments, local cities, non-profit, and for-profit organizations and will include clerical, maintenance, grounds keeping, child care, teacher’s aide, and librarian assistance work.

“Young people have been hit particularly hard over the last few years and have really struggled to find work experience that gets them on the path to their futures,” said Knabe.  “This program will give them that experience and life skills, while providing local organizations with invaluable resources and support.”

On a motion by Supervisor Don Knabe at today’s Board of Supervisors meeting, Los Angeles County will review its current board policies and consider revisions in accordance with the recently revised California Film Commission’s Model Film Ordinance, which protects more than 6,600 local businesses and hundreds of thousands of jobs.

“As a job creator and tourism generator, the film industry is vital to the economic well-being of Los Angeles County and our 88 cities,” said Supervisor Knabe. “The world’s view that Los Angeles is Hollywood – the mecca of film and television – is critical to attracting visitors and boosting the local economy. We cannot take for granted our position as the center of the entertainment industry.”

In May, the California Film Commission adopted a revised statewide Model Film Ordinance and Best Practices based on extensive stakeholder outreach together with Southern California Association of Governments (SCAG), FilmL.A., and the Los Angeles County Economic Development Corporation (LAEDC).  The purpose of a standardized statewide ordinance was to provide the entertainment industry with a uniform set of policies and procedures to secure on-location production that will streamline the permitting process and send a clear signal that this is a coveted industry California intends to retain.

According to the LAEDC, the entertainment industry accounts for 176,700 jobs and $30 billion in spending in the Southern California region and is the third largest industry in Los Angeles County, behind international trade and tourism.

County code will be revised to make it easier to establish a secondhand retail store in the unincorporated areas of Los Angeles County thanks to a motion at today’s Board of Supervisors meeting by Los Angeles County Supervisor Don Knabe. Title 22 of the County Code currently limits sales of all secondhand consumer products as a permitted use and classifies secondhand retail stores in the same category as used car lots and pawn shops, which significantly impact the surrounding neighborhoods.

“Many of these retail stores are run by charitable organizations, such as the Salvation Army, and are looking to provide job training and social services to the residents in the community,” said Supervisor Knabe. “Now, more than ever, our residents need access to these stores for clothes and other goods while the economy continues to sputter.”

Supervisor Knabe’s motion instructs the Department of Regional Planning to revise the County zoning code to allow secondhand retail stores in the neighborhood business zone subject to an administrative review or discretionary permit, depending if the facility is proposing drop-off collection or outdoor storage areas.

“These proposed zoning revisions will also make Los Angeles County greener,” said Knabe. “As more used goods are sold in secondhand retail stores, fewer items will be discarded in the County’s landfills.”

The Regional Planning Commission will hold a public hearing prior to September 30, 2012 and recommend revisions to the Board to consider.

At its September 13, 2011 meeting, the Board of Supervisors increased the County’s bid preference from five percent to eight percent for certified, local small businesses which bid on county contracts.  The change goes into effect November 1.

Local small businesses are currently eligible for a bid price reduction or ‘preference’ on the cost component of their submission.  The County is required to select the lowest responsible and responsive bid for projects and services.  Today’s Board action lowers the bid of a small business by eight percent.  This preference is used only to determine the lowest bid during evaluation and does not change the amount of the contract award.

“Small businesses are a huge employer in Los Angeles County and play a vital role in our economy,” said Supervisor Don Knabe.  “During these challenging times, when jobs are absolutely critical, we know that two out of three jobs in this County are created by small businesses.  Our action today will help small vendors who want to do business with the County and we’re going to see them get more contracts. This supports small businesses, encourages them to hire more employees and boosts our local economy.”

Other County incentives for small businesses include a 15-day prompt pay turnaround on invoices for certified vendors. Also, County buyers are authorized, on a spot purchase basis, to acquire up to $5,000 in goods or services without getting the required three quotes only if purchased directly from a certified local small business.

Several small business programs are administered by the County Office of Small Business which conducts training and workshops for local businesses, as well as certifies small businesses to be eligible for bid preferences and other benefits of the program.  More information is available at Office of Small Business’ website at www.laosb.org  or 855-230-6430.

The Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors today approved a summer jobs program introduced last week in a joint motion by Supervisors Don Knabe and Zev Yaroslavsky. The program is expected to create at least 2,200 jobs for economically disadvantaged youth Countywide.

The program was developed to address the extremely high unemployment rate for young people in Los Angeles County, which has reached 26.9 percent. Positions will be located throughout Los Angeles County at sites including County departments, local cities, non-profit, and for-profit organizations. These new jobs will include clerical, maintenance, grounds keeping, child care, teacher’s aid, and librarian assistance work.

Young people in foster care, on probation or those whose families receive welfare or general relief will be the priority for the program. Interested youth may find more information on the County’s website, lacounty.gov, where they will also be able to search for jobs by zip code.

“In these tough economic times, young people are really struggling to find employment, which limits their ability to gain necessary experience for the future,” said Supervisor Knabe. “This program will give them that experience and life skills, while providing local organizations with invaluable resources and support.”