Apr 2010 Vol. 13 No. 4

 Do you live in Alameda, San Francisco or Fresno County?

Subsidized employment programs put Carpenters back to work

Out-of-work union carpenters in Alameda, San Francisco and Fresno counties may be heading back to work, thanks to programs those counties have developed with funds from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009. Already several members in San Francisco have been hired through that city’s program, and quite a few have qualified in both Alameda and San Francisco.

"The requirements to qualify for these programs are very generous," said Augie Beltran, Field Representative for Carpenters Local 152 in Manteca.

Requirements include:

• You must live in the participating county;
  
• Have at least one child under 18; and
  
• A total income in the last month that does not exceed 200 percent of the federal poverty level.
  

All the requirements are clearly spelled out on the program’s websites (see box below).

The programs use subsidy funding from the national stimulus bill to reimburse employers for a percentage of wages, and in some cases, Medicare, social security and worker’s compensation.

In Alameda County, for example, the AC Hire program reimburses employers for 80 percent of wages and certain employment taxes. San Francisco’s program, Jobs Now, reimburses 100 percent of wages to employers. In Fresno, the 80/20 Program is reimbursing employers who qualify at 100 percent, with the stipulation that employers match 25 percent of the wages in training and supervision expenses.

All of these programs are in line with the goal of the Obama stimulus bill—to put people back to work and boost local economies.

"If you are currently unemployed and live in one of these counties," said Beltran, "we urge you to apply for these programs."

These programs end September 30, 2010.

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