Let’s Solve the Unemployment Crisis in DC
Filed under Economic Development Committee, Job Creation, Local Investment, The Green Economy, The People's Blog
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- The DC Job Growth Incentive Act of 2010
Kwame and colleagues unveil the DC Job Growth Incentive Act
Today, At-Large Councilmember Kwame R. Brown unveiled the District Job Growth Incentive Act of 2010 with his Council colleagues on the heels of District unemployment reaching 12.1%, an historic high. He was joined by the DC Jobs Council, the Board of Trade, the DC Chamber of Commerce, Washington Interfaith Network, ABC of Metropolitan Washington, LiUNA, Earth Aid and District residents. Together, they called for the declaration of an unemployment crisis in the District.
“In a state of crisis, it’s time that we make jobs our top priority and this is one tool in the toolbox for our local businesses to put residents back to work” said Councilmember Brown. “We’re unified in our determination to help those who are unemployed get employed and those who are underemployed get better employed.”
The DC Jobs Growth Incentive Act was co-introduced by all members of the Council. The legislation grants a business franchise tax credit to businesses that create at least 10 new jobs in the District of Columbia. To qualify for the credit, businesses must retain the positions for at least one year. Businesses that create jobs in any industry are eligible for the credit.
To ensure sustainable economic growth, the tax credit is available to businesses between 2010 through 2015. It is equal to one-half the amount that an employer is required to pay in federal payroll taxes on the newly created jobs. In most cases, this should equate to 3.825% of each job’s annual wage. For each job created and filled by a District resident, businesses would receive the credit each year that the job is retained for a maximum period of up to five years–but no later than 2020. Each year’s credit can be carried forward for ten years, or through tax year 2030, and is nonrefundable.
- Download the fact sheet here…
- Download the legislation here…
- Download the crisis resolution here…
- Download job creation legislative milestones here…
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Share your story and get serious about jobs with Kwame. Learn how here.
For more information or to interview Councilmember Brown, please contact Press Secretary Michael Price at 202-445-4510 or mprice@dccouncil.us.
I’ve taken a focus on assisting ex-offenders with gaining employment. In my work, I’ve found that many of our un-employed are not always aware of the standards and requirements for job placement. Another obstacle tends to be the lack of understanding of what takes place in mainstream society and Corporate America. I can attest that programs such as “Project Empowerment” help to ease the transition for ex-offenders as well as expose this population to the current trends in mainstream society. But, I believe that there is more to be done.
Many of the citizens that I interact with aren’t aware of the need for training and certifications. Their situations are so strenuous that they aren’t afforded the opportunity to be patient throughout the course of a 6-week or 3-month training program prior to job placement. I can’t come up with an answer for their situation but, the need for training and certifications have to be stressed to our un-employed population. There also has to be more opportunities for paid training, even if the pay is minimal.
One solution that I can offer for our ex-offenders is increasing their volunteer opportunities. I tend to tell individuals within this population that for every offense on their record, there should be a volunteer experience attached. Often, our ex-offenders serve time and feel that their time served should suffice for their rehabilitation. In an ideal world, this would be the case. In the world that we actually live in, it is not. We have to find a way to connect with our non-profit and volunteer community to welcome ex-offenders. This can be a “stepping stone” for them and a good resume-builder. Going forward, when addressing their offenses, the individual can note a volunteer activity for every negative mark on their record.
Ultimately, we need to find a way to create partnerships between our largest employers/government agencies and the volunteer/non-profit sector. If large employers and government agencies are skeptical of ex-offenders, the volunter and non-profit arena can begin cultivating our ex-offenders for Corporate America here in Washington. These volunteer opportunities on weekends and after work hours can provide ex-offenders with relationships and experiences that can serve as a testimony to their work ethic in the future when applying for employment.
Kwame:
I read with interest your comment in the 1/23/10 article in the Washington Post on the “Jobless Rate in DC, the highest since 1976.” I too find the unemployment rate in the District and in Ward 8, in particular, a “disgrace and a crime.” Those of us who have given so much to make a difference face an up hill challenge. While we provide quality skills training programs in demand occupation, we cannot change the employment picture alone. There needs to be collaborative effort between the District’s policies; the employment community and those of us committed to preparing residents for the workforce. I won’t insult your intelligence by telling you what you know. I must say that providing skills training to residents who are systematically un-employed and under employed is a challenge and only one many components need to create the path from dependence to independence. We must take into consideration the impact of the economy on small businesses and hard line that local business take on “hiring” entry-level employees. The client group we serve need more than skills training they need employment after training.
We find ourselves in a catch 22 – with the downturn in the economy and the number of training referrals drastically cut it is a battle keeping the doors open. We have taken every cost-cutting measure including reducing staff from 15 to 4. We are struggling to keep the doors open — trying to wait out the recession and to battle against counter veiling situations. We are in business to prepare residents for career ladder employment — against all odds.
The industry need to stop making excuses and find ways to employ our graduates. I know you remember when our training program was at 90% completion rate and 85+ % placement rate. That was before the downturn in theeconomy. So when you look at job placement, please look behind the numbers and work with us to get the “industry” on board.
Another issue you can look at are the impact that the of DMV policies has on resident, many of whom are returning citizens/ex-offenders becoming certified as Commercial Vehicle Operators. Over the past year or so, there is only one (1) CDL examiner for the entire city. As if that is not enough, the DMV has instituted policies that disadvantage our residents. The District is the only jurisdiction in the metropolitan area with strict limits for the CDL written test and the CDL skills/certification test. If a resident takes the CDL written/computerized test and fail any portion of it 3 times, they must wait one (1) year before they can take the test again. How ridiculous. If they fail any portion of the skills test, they must wait 60 days before they can take the test again.
So as we look at ways to increase opportunities for employment let’s look at all factors, not just the placement rate of training providers.
I have contacted your office to set up an appointment to discuss the jobless situation in the District of Columbia and look forward to meeting with you.
Thanks for listening and excuse the rambling.
Toni