WHAT/WHO: Mayor Vincent C. Gray will announce the availability of $2 million for a new on-the-Job Training (OJT) Program designed to help support unemployed DC residents in their search for permanent employment. Funded with local dollars, the District will pay 90 percent of a participant’s salary during the training period up to $34 an hour and a maximum of $8,000 over six months. In addition, the new OJT program allows more job seekers to participate than the current federal OJT program.

WHEN: 10:00 am (as part of the Mayor’s regular Biweekly Press Briefing)

Wednesday, March 7, 2012

WHERE: Department of Employment Services

4058 Minnesota Avenue NE

BACKGROUND: Currently, DOES operates an OJT program that is funded with federal dollars from the Department of Labor, due to expire on June 30, 2012, that targets the long-term unemployed. Individuals are required to have been out of work for a minimum of 22 weeks to participate in the federal program. The DC-funded OJT program Mayor Gray is announcing tomorrow will allow more-recently-unemployed residents to participate.

Mayor Gray outlined his vision for One City in his State of the District Address. It includes ensuring that District residents are prepared for the jobs of the new economy. Participants in the recent One City Summit affirmed that District residents are concerned about employment and job training.