Omaha Mayor Jean Stothert’s 2016 budget proposal includes more than one million dollars for job training and workforce development programs.
Stothert introduced her budget plan Tuesday. It includes $500,000 for the Step Up summer jobs program. The city’s support of Heartland Workforce Solutions would increase from $40,000 this year to $440,000 next year.
Stothert says the funding will help workforce development agencies address a labor shortage in Omaha.
"This is our investment in our community to help those people that are unemployed or underemployed find those resources to the jobs that are out there. So we feel like this investment is well worth the money, to help our citizens in this city."
Another $150,000 will go toward the REACH program. The goal of the Greater Omaha Chamber of Commerce initiative is to help small and emerging businesses land major contracts for construction projects. Partners in the REACH program include the city of Omaha and Metropolitan Community College.
A public hearing on the 2016 budget is August 11 at 7 pm.