My Recruiting Blog

A new plan is focused on creating meaningful and rewarding Seattle careers for local residents.

Local officials are hoping to soon launch the Seattle Jobs Plan, which would create next-generation economic development and a sustainable economy throughout the city.

The plan would use new and existing policies, programs, engagement strategies and investments to create quality jobs, protect the environment, and ensure that taxpayers get value from the city's investments.

"It's tough out there," Mayor Mike McGinn said. "People are hurting. We have important choices to make to position ourselves for the future – to be competitive, to take care of the environment, to take care of each other.

"I am making job creation a core priority for my administration, a priority supported by my Youth and Families Initiative and Walk Bike Ride," he continued. "We need to start transitioning toward the future. I will fight hard to expand quality job opportunities and will make sure city government is doing all that it can to partner with businesses big and small to help us meet the future."

The Seattle Jobs Plan will focus on making important investments in workforce development and training, entrepreneurial activity, key sectors of the economy, and next generation infrastructure.

Highlights of the plan include:

• Community Power Works will use $26 million in federal funding to complete more than $140 million of retrofit projects in six building sectors in a target district.
• Emerald Cities Collaborative will increase market demand for building retrofits by creating financing tools, targeting investment to create jobs for low-income residents, and developing community support for retrofit policies and public investment.
• A partnership among businesses, philanthropic and educational organizations will help provide career education and vocational training that results in good-paying jobs.
• The city will invest up to $2 million in the Seattle Jobs Initiative to double the number of low-income job seekers who complete at least one year of post-secondary education or training that results in a living wage job.
• The city will provide new financing for loans between $20,000 and $100,000 for new entrepreneur start-ups, business expansions and operations.
• The city will invest $300,000 in targeted minority and immigrant business support to improve access to credit and expert advice.
• The city and its lending partners will distribute $50 million in financing during the next 12 to 18 months to help disadvantaged communities and small businesses purchase equipment, make energy efficiency improvements, increase working capital, and create development projects.
• The city launched GrowSeattle.com, a new business services website designed to quickly connect new and existing businesses to frequently-used city services and programs.
• The city will work with industry, government and community leaders to support sustainable and smart growth in important industries, including manufacturing and maritime; healthcare and life sciences; content technology; energy efficiency; and retail, food and hospitality.
• The 2010 Adopted Capital Improvement Program will provide more than $700 million to support next-generation infrastructure, creating 2,500 direct jobs and just as many indirect jobs through projects such as building a broadband fiber network, improving the future capacity of major state road corridors, expanding Walk Bike Ride options, upgrading utility infrastructure, and investing in new fire stations.
• The city will monitor and report on five important economic indicators, including business income, job growth, business start-ups, performance of local K-12 and post-secondary education systems, and distribution of income.

Labels: Seattle careers