Sam Heard Announces Pilot Jobs Program

CINCINNATI – Samantha Herd said today her pilot jobs program will help hard-to-employ residents find and keep jobs.

Herd said her proposed Community Jobs Program will create 100 publicly-subsidized jobs combining work experience with, among other things, training in basic skills, mentoring, and financial education.

“The jobless in Cincinnati are in the thousands,” Herd said. “This program will give people a sense of hope and opportunity.

“It’s a real chance to begin tackling the problem of chronic unemployment – a major factor in poverty, crime, and the break up of families,” she said.

Leveraging state and federal funds, this program is similar to a dozen in states and cities. As part of the Cincinnati pilot program, Herd proposes that participants:
work for 25 hours each week; the City of Cincinnati is the employer of record and pays each client $5.15 per hour
attend ten hours per week of professional development training through the Cincinnati Jobs Center
are mentored by a work partner at their work site
are eligible for child care and transportation subsidies for up to six months
Herd’s proposed pilot program is part of her vision for making job creation priority one for Council.
“We need to put job creation on the top of Council’s to-do list,” she said. “Nothing can be more important to our city’s health than bringing back families, businesses, and jobs. That’s why we must put jobs first.”