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Workforce Solutions was selected by the National Association of Workforce Boards (NAWB) (www.nawb.org) for its submission of its story of a 2009 summer youth participant, Rudy Suarez.

April 5, 2010
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

WORKFORCE SOLUTIONS WINS AWARD FOR 2009 SUMMER YOUTH EMPLOYMENT PROGRAM

Workforce Solutions was selected by the National Association of Workforce Boards (NAWB) (www.nawb.org) for its submission of its story of a 2009 summer youth participant, Rudy Suarez.  Workforce Solutions was one of six entities selected as one of the best stories about the 2009 Summer Youth Employment Program (SYEP) from a field of 70 submittals.  According to NAWB, the six winners did the best job at demonstrating the summer program’s value, presenting the key components of a successful youth employment program, painting a picture of the program’s impact on individual participants, and highlighting the importance of business participation.  The six winners are:

• San Diego Workforce Partnership, Inc. (California)
• Lower Rio Grande Workforce Development Board dba Workforce Solutions (Texas)
• San Bernardino County Workforce Development Department (California)
• Central Region Workforce Investment Board (Missouri)
• Yuma Private Industry Council, Inc. (Arizona)
• Wisconsin Workforce Development Association

Workforce Solutions was recognized at the annual NAWB Forum in Washington, DC, on March 8, 2010.  Present to accept the award was Rudy Suarez who was helped by the staff at the Pharr Workforce Center.  Rudy, a young father of two, had been living in his car without food for several days.  He had sent his wife and young children to live with family in Rio Grande City, while he stayed in Pharr to complete his schooling.  He walked into the Pharr Workforce Center and was enrolled into the SYEP and assisted with temporary housing.  He has since completed his education as an electrical technician and is currently interviewing for jobs.   

The Board Chair Sam Vale, Vice Chair Dr. Ricardo Gonzalez, and Chief Executive Officer Yvonne “Bonnie” Gonzalez also accepted the award with Rudy.  CEO Gonzalez was proud to share the stage with Rudy.  She stated that “Rudy’s struggles, unfortunately, are not uncommon for many of our youth in the Valley.  We served 2000 youth last summer and we look forward to serving 2000 more youth this summer.  The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (Recovery Act) of 2009 made last summer’s and will make this summer’s (2010) youth employment program possible.”

Workforce Solutions plans to serve 2000 youth ages 16 to 24 in the Summer Youth Employment Program of 2010.  Workforce Solutions will pay the wages of eligible youth for an 8 week, 30 hours per week job.  Wages will be paid at the federal minimum wage of .25 per hour.  Workforce Solutions is seeking employers who are willing to be worksites and provide adequate supervision of these youth.  Interested youth should contact their nearest Workforce Center or call 1-866-687-1121.  Interested employers should contact the Corporate Office at 956-928-5000 and ask for Robert Barbosa.

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