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Workforce development and summer youth programs face cuts; providers urge continued funding
Summary
Workforce development staff warned of reduced personnel and grant funding for 2026 that could shrink summer youth and Job 1 programs; employers and nonprofits urged the council to preserve funding for youth job slots and training that produce measurable social returns.
City workforce development staff told the council that grant reductions and the end of some federal funding streams will reduce staffing and program capacity for 2026, potentially shrinking paid internship slots and shortening the Mayor27s Summer Youth Employment Program.
Sabrina Johnson, fiscal manager for workforce development, reported a drop in personnel from nine actual staff in 2025 to a proposed six full-time positions in 2026 and said the adopted 2025 workforce budget of about $25 million would be proposed at roughly $24 million for 2026 due to grant changes. Staff warned that reduced staffing and contract constraints could limit training, placements and wraparound supportive services such as childcare and transportation.
Speakers from the nonprofit and employer community told the council the programs deliver measurable social returns. Laura Tuggle of Southeast Louisiana Legal Services highlighted a 97% favorable outcome rate in eviction cases where right-to-counsel was provided. Multiple employers and training partners including Ochsner Health and local nonprofits said youth employment and Job 1 pathways provide pipelines to careers in healthcare, construction, and other sectors.
Council members and providers urged the council to find ways to preserve workforce investments despite fiscal pressure. Several public commenters gave personal testimony about the program27s impact on youth employment and training, and organizations called for funding that preserves program duration and slot counts rather than reducing them.
Workforce staff proposed operational efficiencies such as using libraries as hubs, expanding standardized online forms to reduce staff time and leveraging existing community spaces to maintain access if funding is constrained.
