Organizational example:
Bay Area Biotech Consortium
Organization/Program |
Career Pathways Project |
Program Purpose |
To provide assistance to dislocated airline workers following September 11th. These airline layoffs came on the heels of the “dot.com bust” in Silicon Valley. At the same time, the Region faced the need to build pharmaceutical manufacturing capacity in biotechnology as promising new drugs moved into large-scale production. The Region is home to the world's most dynamic biotechnology industry. |
Program Description |
This pilot program was designed to move unemployed airline workers and others into the new and expanding biotechnology sector. The Career Pathways Project has five components: 1) One-stop services targeted to displaced airline and IT workers in both Alameda and San Mateo Local Workforce Investment Areas supported by both WIA Formula and State Discretionary Funds; 2) an intensive 3-month, 200-hour curriculum to deliver key skills and competencies developed with Genentech, the consortium’s primary employment partner; 3) optional 3-month full-time internships for all graduates of the 200-hour training arranged with Genentech; 4) job placement with Genentech for those participants who successfully completed the internships with the company or placement with our employer partners; and 5) continuous training and placement opportunities available through the Career Pathways Project. |
Progress |
The Consortium has been successful in training 180 new biotech workers and plans to train 300 more over the next 2 years. The placement rate has exceeded 75 percent in jobs paying upwards of $35,000. The regional model used in the biotech industry is being considered by others in the pharmaceutical manufacturing business. Plans for sustaining and expanding the Career Pathways Project to include other Local Workforce Areas are underway. |
Contact Information |
Alameda County Workforce Investment Board |
Information from Patti Castro of AlamedaCounty Workforce Investment Board and from U.S. Department of Labor, 2005.