The program, which City Council approved during its April 26 meeting, aims to support employment opportunities and cultivate a qualified local workforce. It will target residents impacted by the pandemic but also those who are members of low- or moderate-income households, according to council documents.
The program has $500,000 in funding, which was allocated from the city’s American Rescue Plan Act funds. Those funds were issued by the Department of Treasury to provide relief during the COVID-19 pandemic.
After Dallas City Council approved funding for the project in 2021, Mayor Eric Johnson commissioned a report titled “Upskilling Dallas,” which provided recommendations on how to improve workforce development in the city.
“Planning for the future has been stymied as we’ve focused on immediate needs from the pandemic, but workforce development is a critical issue for Dallas,” Johnson stated in the 2021 report.
One of the recommendations in the Upskilling Dallas report was to establish partnerships with workforce development organizations like the city has done through this new program. Dallas College and Metrocare Services will carry out the Upskilling Dallas program by providing participants with “opportunities to attain new skills in targeted industries,” according to council documents. The contract with the two entities is for two years.
For more information, visit the city’s Workforce Development website.
