Mayor Manny Diaz, Commission Chairman Joe Sanchez, Commissioner Tomas Regalado, Commissioner Marc Sarnoff, City Manager Pete Hernandez, and Commissioner Michelle Spence-Jones launch EMPLOY Miami to connect residents with local job opportunities. Photo Credit: Jorge R. Perez/City of Miami.

(Miami, FL)—Mayor Manny Diaz, Commission Chairman Joe Sanchez, and Commissioner Michelle Spence-Jones today launched EMPLOY Miami, a comprehensive workforce master plan designed to connect qualified Miami residents with training opportunities and local employers. The announcement came shortly after the City Commission approved a resolution creating the initiative in an effort to combat unemployment and to prepare the City’s residents for investment and business to come.

“We are working hard in the City of Miami to create jobs through new projects and put people in our community back to work,” said Mayor Diaz. “EMPLOY Miami will ensure that our residents are trained and ready when these jobs are available, so they can provide a better life for their families.”

EMPLOY stands for Employing Miami’s People in Local Opportunities Year-round. As the acronym indicates, the goal of the program is to help workers find and keep jobs, while improving the regional economy and improving the overall quality of life of the City of Miami.

“Times are tough and our elected officials need to provide the people with more than just words,” said Chairman Sanchez. “Together with Mayor Diaz, Vice-Chair Michelle Spence-Jones and our Administration, we are creating opportunities for those seeking employment in Miami through action.”

The City of Miami is allocating $100,000 from the Mayor’s Poverty Initiative to directly assist residents with training and development by working with existing community organizations and trade unions. After workers have acquired the skills needed, the program will facilitate access to existing local jobs in construction, hospitality, retail, environmental “green jobs” and healthcare sectors through an outreach campaign carried out by the City Manager’s Office of Economic Initiatives.

One major component of EMPLOY Miami is the Miami Works project which collaborates with specific trade unions to ensure that Miami’s workforce has the technical and employability skills needed by employers in the construction industry.

“Miami Works will help bridge the gap between unemployed City of Miami residents and the employers in the construction industry,” said Commissioner Spence-Jones. “This program will ensure that our residents are equipped with the technical and employability skills necessary to secure jobs.”

Among the City’s partners for EMPLOY Miami are: South Florida Workforce, the Hospitality Institute, Florida Carpenter Regional Council, Florida Construction Laborers Union Local 1652, Plumber’s Union, Painter’s Union, Pipe Fitter’s Union, and Electrical Union.

For more information on EMPLOY Miami, please call William Porro at 305-416-2181or log onto www.accesssmiamijobs.com