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Atlanta Department of Labor reports year-to-date placements and prepares for expanded summer youth program
Summary
Interim Commissioner Theresa Austin Gibbons briefed the committee on workforce metrics: the department met PY24 federal performance goals, reported zero monitoring findings in two consecutive years, and previewed SYEP and targeted grants for youth and training partnerships with private funders.
Interim Commissioner Theresa Austin Gibbons presented the Atlanta Department of Labor and Employment Services quarterly update to the Community Development and Human Services Committee.
Gibbons said the department has met PY24 federal performance goals and noted two consecutive years with zero federal monitoring findings for workforce grants under the leadership of Sonya Wilson Westmoreland. The department reported serving roughly 4,270 customers in the current fiscal year to date, including job placements achieved through resource fairs and employer partnerships.
Key items covered: - Federal grants and SYEP: the department reported federal grant funding that supports youth, adults and dislocated workers; the Summer Youth Employment Program (SYEP) funding and partnerships with YMCA and Annie E. Casey Foundation were highlighted. - Training and placements: the department described recent placements (for example, 39 placements through a FedEx initiative) and success stories, including a participant who completed CDL training and quickly gained employment with Coca-Cola. - Initiatives and operations: the department launched an employee bill of rights and an ILREP labor-rights education program with community partners (Georgia Stand Up, Atlanta-North Georgia Labor Council, Partnership for Southern Equity). The department also described employer engagement and a career-development series for youth.
Committee members asked about program sustainability amid federal funding uncertainty and about expanding year-round programming beyond the summer months; Commissioner Gibbons said the WIOA grant provides some year-round funding and that staff would continue to coordinate with the mayor’s office and council on budget requests.
Why it matters: Workforce programs provide training and placements for residents; summer youth jobs and year-round work-based learning affect youth employment, skill development and connection to employers.
What’s next: The department will continue summer program recruitment and year-round coordination with APS and other partners; staff will monitor federal funding developments and return with updates.
