The program will be funded by reallocating an existing 1/8th cent of San Antonio’s sales tax that is currently dedicated to the Edwards Aquifer Protection Program and greenway trails. When the current usage expires in spring of 2021, Proposition B would authorize the use of that funding for four years to get COVID-displaced San Antonio workers back on their feet.
Because it would be utilizing an existing portion of San Antonio’s sales tax, no taxes or fees need to be raised to fully fund this initiative.
Targeted industries include manufacturing, logistics, aerospace, bioscience, healthcare, financial services, technology, cybersecurity, construction, and trades.
Yes. 2-12 week certificate programs that yield forklift certifications or commercial driver’s licenses will be part of this initiative, ensuring that we can fill the thousands of available logistics positions in our region.
The program will focus on individuals who have been displaced as a result of COVID-19 and work to ensure they have a pathway to a stable, future-proof career in San Antonio’s post-pandemic economy.
Criteria will be developed that ensures an equitable selection process for eligible participants.
No, but emergency grants for things like car repairs or unexpected medical expenses will be available on a case-by-case basis to lessen barriers that typically thwart certificate or degree completion.
You can find out more info from the presentation that City of San Antonio staff proposed to City Council in August 2020.
Just last year, one of our own local workforce training programs was featured in the New York Times. SA: Ready to Work won’t try to reinvent the wheel when it comes to education and training. We have local partners who are willing to scale up to meet our demands. Utilizing what we have will reduce administrative bloat and allow us to serve more residents.
Graduating seniors may qualify for a tuition-free associate’s degree through the AlamoPROMISE program, offered by the Alamo Colleges District. Eventually, all graduating seniors in San Antonio will be eligible for a free 2-year degree. To check eligibility: https://www.alamo.edu/promise/
If the 40,000 participants are able to improve their pay by just $10,000 a year for 10 years, that’s a $4 billion positive impact to San Antonio’s economy with just a four-year, $154 million investment through the reallocation of a portion of the sales tax.
That’s likely a conservative estimate, as programs like San Antonio’s Project Quest boast 230% increases in participants’ pay.
The targeted industries do not exclusively contain large businesses. There are small businesses located within the healthcare, logistics, manufacturing, technology, construction and trades industries. The training and certification requirements will prepare 40,000 San Antonio residents for a career, not just a specific job at a select company. The Ready to Work initiative will expand the available pool of qualified and skilled San Antonio workers, which will benefit every business in our city.
Vote Prop B
