City of Tacoma’s Community and Economic Development Department Helps Develop Tomorrow’s Workforce

--Department’s LEAP Program Staffers Join Public and Private Sector Partners in Pierce County Construction Partnership for Pierce County Career Day 2013--

Tacoma, Wash. -- With assistance from the City of Tacoma's Local Employment and Apprenticeship Training Program (LEAP), WorkForce Central’s Pierce County Construction Partnership recently introduced over 2,000 local youth to possible career opportunities in utilities, construction, manufacturing and transportation at Pierce County Career Day. 

"This event really gets at the heart and soul of what the City of Tacoma's LEAP program aims to do, so it's important for us to help ensure its success every year," said Pierce County Career Day Sponsorship and Budget Chair Peter Guzman, who also serves as the LEAP Program Manager in the City of Tacoma's Community and Economic Development Department. "LEAP exists because there is a need to level the playing field with training, resources and employment opportunities so that the citizens we serve can earn better wages."

As a workforce development tool, Pierce County Career Day provides local youth with interactive exhibits that teach them about the technical skills required to be successful, as they gain information about internships, registered apprenticeships, training resources and more.

"This was our sixth year helping to put on Pierce County Career Day," said Pierce County Career Day Volunteer Chair Debbie Chilton, who also serves as a LEAP Program staff member in the City of Tacoma's Community and Economic Development Department. "It is always a major collaborative effort, and we're very pleased with how this year's event turned out. Incidentally, nearly 1/5 of the youth participating in this year's event happen to be from Tacoma."

From 2007 through 2012, 16 percent of those who worked on the City of Tacoma's Public Works projects were Tacoma residents and apprentices who emerged from the City of Tacoma LEAP Program. Visit cityoftacoma.org/leap for more information.