SpatialNews Press Release

New Web Site Uses Internet Mapping Technology to Identify Business Data and Training Opportunities in Los Angeles County

maps.laworkforce.org

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LOS ANGELES, Jan 7, 2002 -- Locating employee training opportunities and business resources for the food processing, metal manufacturing or apparel industries in Los Angeles County is now only a mouse-click away on the Internet. The Los Angeles County Workforce Preparation and Economic Development Collaborative is launching the first workforce web portal of its kind at . It connects employees, training facilities and businesses through the Internet. The application feature allows prospective employees to view educational training facilities and programs that can help them improve their job skills for significantly better paying employment. In addition, web site visitors can gather and map detailed information about locations of targeted industries.

During the current economic downturn, Los Angeles County is implementing an innovative approach to connect unemployed people and those with low-paying jobs to higher paying employment in targeted industries which only require limited training.

Through the use of Internet mapping technology, training and employment seekers can search for opportunities only short distances from their own homes.

"No other source provides such a comprehensive picture of industry and training resources within the county," comments Linda Wong, project director for the state-funded Collaborative. "This site makes it easy for industry, job seekers and trainers to access what's in their backyards." The ability to identify opportunities nearby their homes is especially valuable in Los Angeles County for those without automobiles.

"This new mapping capability has a broad range of potential uses," observes Jack Kyser, chief economist for the Los Angeles County Economic Development Corporation. "City economic development departments and chambers of commerce can use both the industry cluster and training information for local planning and development projects. Educational and training institutions can learn more about their peers and their competitors. They can use it as part of the community scan needed to develop new course offerings. And, most importantly, workers seeking new skills can locate the training programs closest to their home."

At the heart of the application is cutting-edge Geographic Information System (GIS) technology developed by Berkeley-based GIS Planning, Inc. The Collaborative is launching the application using the initial three industries-metal manufacturing, food preparation and apparel manufacturing- that reflect the "skills gap" research projects conducted by the Collaborative. However, Wong notes, "the concept can be easily replicated."

Skills gap profiles essentially look at trends within an industry and the resulting skills expectations for current and future employees. These requirements are then compared to the scope and content of training currently available with the goal of closing any training gaps. All of the Collaborative's published reports can be accessed on the web portal under Labor Market Information.

The portal itself is another Collaborative project. Launched in May of this year, the portal, , enables users to efficiently navigate the complex workforce development system. It represents a simple concept and a radical effort-a single web site where both job seekers and employers can access the multitude of employment-related resources available within the county's public and private sectors.

The Los Angeles County Collaborative is part of a statewide effort to coordinate workforce training with economic development. Local Collaborative partners include the California Workers Assistance Program AFL-CIO; the Employment Development Department; the Los Angeles Area Chamber of Commerce; the Los Angeles County Department of Public Social Services; the Los Angeles Economic Development Corporation; the Los Angeles County Office of Education; the Los Angeles/Orange Counties Community Colleges Consortium; and the region's eight Workforce Investment Boards.

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Jan 7, 2002 Jun 26, 2002