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Monrovia school board approves local American Job Center affiliate to deliver workforce services
Summary
The Monrovia Unified School Board approved Monrovia Community Adult School as an affiliate of the American Job Center network. City and school officials said the affiliate will administer WIOA funds and offer training, youth work experience, incumbent-worker upskilling and business recruitment services; a public job fair is scheduled for May 13.
The Monrovia Unified School Board on April 6 approved Monrovia Community Adult School to serve as an affiliate of the American Job Center of California, steering federal workforce program funds and locally tailored services into Monrovia.
The vote paves the way for a Monrovia American Job Center (AJCC) affiliate that will administer Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) funds to support classroom training, youth work experience, incumbent-worker training, customized employer training programs and business recruitment assistance, Councilmember Larry Spicer said at the City Council meeting on May 6.
“This milestone represents the culmination of more than 5 and a half years of dedicated effort,” Spicer said, describing a multi-year effort to move Monrovia from the Foothill Workforce Development Board to the Los Angeles County Workforce Development Board and to locate AJCC services at the adult school. Spicer said the project required coordination with county leaders, the school district and city staff.
John Russell, a partner from Monrovia Community Adult School who addressed the council, said residents who previously lacked access to AJCC services will now be able to receive them locally. “This is the culmination of this process,” Russell said, acknowledging long work by city and school staff to colocate services at the adult school.
City Manager Dylan Feek and staff said the local affiliate will make available WIOA-funded supports including classroom training to help individuals earn licenses and certifications, work experience programs oriented to Monrovia youth, incumbent-worker training for existing employees and custom training to meet employer needs. Staff also said the affiliate can help local businesses with recruiting and retention.
Monrovia Community Adult School and city officials promoted a job fair tied to the affiliate: Tuesday, May 13 from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., with more than 45 employers attending and organizers noting over 450 job seekers attended a recent previous job fair. Russell said the city helped with logistics, and that applicants who applied for three jobs at the job fair would receive a free meal sponsored by a local business.
Why it matters: local access to WIOA-funded AJCC services can shorten the path from training to employment and give Monrovia employers direct access to workforce supports, officials said. Council members and staff framed the affiliate as a step to address local gaps in services and expand opportunities for residents to earn credentials and find work.
The council did not take a separate vote on the affiliate at the May 6 meeting; the school board approval is one required local step and staff said the affiliate will become fully operational after final administrative steps with the county and partner agencies. The council asked staff to continue coordination with the school district and county to finalize operations and to publicize services and upcoming events.
Speakers quoted in this article spoke during the presentations portion of the May 6 City Council meeting and included both city officials and adult school representatives.
