Villaraigosa announces federal job grant for LA

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Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa praised an increase in job creation in Los Angeles at news conference Tuesday. The federal government-funded Workforce Development Program created 76,191 summer jobs and 200,198 living wage jobs, said Villaraigosa. The program established 20 work source locations throughout L.A. which train and connect workers to companies. The mayor says the program's success rate helped the city receive a multi-million dollar federal grant which would create 2,000 more living wage jobs.

However, the grant money for this new grant was funneled away from other California communities who have not improved their unemployment rates. Workforce Development Board member Charlie Woo said Los Angeles received the funds because “many jurisdictions could not manage their funds.”  

“Over $13 million that is left over from other regions will be coming here because of what we have done. Because of our outstanding record,” said Woo. The unemployment rate in Los Angeles was around 10 percent compared to the national average at 7.6 percent.