Solano County to help employers provide jobs

County to help employers provide jobs

Local employers can tap into federal stimulus money to help create jobs through a new subsidized employment program being offered by the County.

With Board of Supervisors approval Tuesday, Solano County's Health and Social Services can now aid employers in accessing $1.8 billion in Federal American Recovery and Reinvestment Act funding available through September 2010.

"This program gives our local companies that little nudge to take a chance and expand their business. We hope this will create the momentum to get our economy moving forward again," said Supervisor John Vasquez, Chairman of the Board of Supervisors.

Any employer in Solano County can participate if they hire new employees in new jobs for at least 20 hours per week. Employers will be reimbursed for 80 percent of wage costs up to $16 per hour. The employer must be able to document that supervisory and training costs equal 25 percent of the subsidized wage costs, and that these costs are not paid from federal funds.

County official are hoping the program will lead to long-term employment, but employers need only have to commit to the program through September.

Employers and new employees will also get an array of services to ensure the new hires are successful.

Potential employees under the program are people already participating in CalWORKs and other needy families. Income guidelines limit participation to household incomes up to 200 percent of the Federal poverty level, or $44,100 for a family of four. CalWORKs participants should contact their employment services worker to sign up for this program.

Employers interested in participating in the program should e-mail createjobs@solanocounty.com, call (707) 553-5173, or go to www.solanocounty.com/createjobs.

The County is also interested in partnering with local agencies working with low-income families to expand this program. Interested agencies should contact Christiana Smith, Health and Social Services deputy director for Employment and Eligibility Services at (707) 553-5173.

Posted: Feb. 9, 2010