South San Francisco’s economic advancement center, a resource hub for residents and business owners in north San Mateo County, will receive $500,000 from the recently passed $1.5 trillion federal appropriations act, officials announced this week.

The downtown center opened late last month to house programs providing job training and business and entrepreneurship courses. Mayor Mark Nagales said the center complements the city’s other initiatives, like guaranteed income, that aim to help underserved communities.

“People are looking for jobs, and they are also looking for the assistance in terms of placement,” he said. “This is going to be a long-term commitment from us, from the city.”

The city partnered with Bay Area nonprofits JobTrain and the Renaissance Entrepreneurship Center in July last year. Since then, Renaissance has already served 91 clients and secured $86,700 in capital for 19 client businesses in Daly City, San Bruno and South San Francisco, according to the city. Meanwhile, JobTrain has helped 73 clients, 22 who have found job placement with an average wage of more than $22 per hour.

The city committed $2 million over two years from its American Rescue Plan Act funding to the center. Another $1.1 million was granted by the US Economic Development Administration, and the county pitched in $200,000. Genentech contributed $50,000 and Lane Partners gave $10,000. Nagales said the city is continuing to explore additional funding sources.

North County residents can stop by the center to receive résumé and interview help, vocational training and be connected with employers. Small business owners or those interested in starting a business can take courses, network and receive help applying for grants. Services are free and available in both Spanish and English.

The new federal funding will go to the JobTrain program, adding classroom training and enabling expansion of service to at least 50 people, Nagales said. The greater Bay Area is slated to receive $73 million of the appropriations act for various uses.

“We are so incredibly grateful for the efforts of Senators Feinstein and Padilla, and Congresswoman Speier for fighting for the needs of our residents and surrounding communities,” Nagales said. “This money will dramatically improve access to job training and placement services for the region’s most vulnerable residents.”

East Palo Alto is also planned to get a center offering similar services. JobTrain, based in Menlo Park, is partnering on the effort and will provide services at the new location that will be constructed in coming years.

The South San Francisco center is located at 366 Grand Ave. and is open 10 am to 4 pm Monday to Friday.

The post Funding boosts South San Francisco financial development middle | Native Information appeared first on Los Gatos News And Events.

South San Francisco CA February 28, 2022 Submitted by City of South San Francisco

The old US Bank on Grand is now home to the Economic Advancement Center

Today the City of South San Francisco officially opened the Economic Advancement Center (EAC), strategically located at 366 Grand Avenue, to offer workforce development and small business and entrepreneurship services to residents of South San Francisco and throughout North San Mateo County. The goal of the Economic Advancement Center is to provide much needed economic recovery tools to some of the most vulnerable residents and small businesses, offering support in both English and Spanish.

One of South San Francisco’s partners at the EAC is JobTrain (www.jobtrainworks.org/south-san-francisco-career-center), a nonprofit accredited in vocational training, academics and essential skills development for adults of all ages to help move unemployed and underemployed individuals to successful and self-sufficient employment with skills development. Since the city’s partnership, JobTrain has served over 73 clients, had 22 job placements (14 full-time, 6 part-time and an average hourly wage of $22.65/hour), and nine clients pursuing training and education.

South San Francisco also partnered with Renaissance Entrepreneurship Center (Renaissance)(www.rencenter.org/mid-peninsula/), a nonprofit who works with individuals who want to start a small business and helps them successfully do so by offering training on a variety of topics, such as business planning, access to capital, as well as offering ongoing assistance to the business owner. Services offered by Renaissance are currently being offered to all small businesses in North San Mateo County (Daly City, Pacifica, Colma, San Bruno, Millbrae, South San Francisco, and Brisbane). Since starting the partnership, Renaissance has served 91 clients, secured $86,700 in capital for 19 client businesses in Daly City, San Bruno, and South San Francisco, and offered 45 consulting classes and workshops and English and Spanish.

Mayor Mark Nagales announced at today’s grand opening that the City of South San Francisco has been selected to receive a $1.1 million grant through the United States Economic Development Administration (EDA) to support services offered by Renaissance at the the EAC. This grant is estimated to create 372 jobs, retain 748 jobs and generate $43.7 million in private investment. The City has committed $1 million in American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funding for the EAC, and has received $200,000 in funding from the County of San Mateo, $500,000 in federal funds through Congresswoman Jackie Speier and private donations from Genentech and Lane Partners. City staff and its partners continue to pursue additional funding sources to expand and sustain all services offered to the community.

“The initial idea of ​​the EAC was introduced at a City Council meeting less than one year ago, and now that we are here celebrating the grand opening is incredible. So much work has been done between city staff, contractors, and our non-profits, and it’s amazing how many residents this center has been able to help even before the doors officially opened,” says South San Francisco Mayor Mark Nagales.

“Securing this grant for entrepreneurship services was a huge undertaking and our application being awarded shows not only the rest of California, but the entire nation, what amazing things we are doing here in South San Francisco. This will put us on the map in terms of economic development” says South San Francisco Mayor Mark Nagales.

All the services offered at the EAC are free to residents. To learn more about the EAC, please visit www.ssf.net/EAC. To learn more about JobTrain and workforce development services, please contact Julia Horiuchi at jhoriuchi@jobtrainworks.org, call (650) 505-4727 or visit the EAC at 366 Grand Avenue. To learn more about Renaissance and entrepreneurship services, please contact Amanda Anthony at amanda@rencenter.org, call (650) 321-2193 x 1103 or visit the EAC at 366 Grand Avenue.

The post Metropolis of South San Francisco Celebrates the Grand Opening of the Financial Development Heart appeared first on Los Gatos News And Events.

South San Francisco’s economic advancement center, a resource hub for residents and business owners in north San Mateo County, will receive $500,000 from the recently passed $1.5 trillion federal appropriations act, officials announced this week.

The downtown center opened late last month to house programs providing job training and business and entrepreneurship courses. Mayor Mark Nagales said the center complements the city’s other initiatives, like guaranteed income, that aim to help underserved communities.

“People are looking for jobs, and they are also looking for the assistance in terms of placement,” he said. “This is going to be a long-term commitment from us, from the city.”

The city partnered with Bay Area nonprofits JobTrain and the Renaissance Entrepreneurship Center in July last year. Since then, Renaissance has already served 91 clients and secured $86,700 in capital for 19 client businesses in Daly City, San Bruno and South San Francisco, according to the city. Meanwhile, JobTrain has helped 73 clients, 22 who have found job placement with an average wage of more than $22 per hour.

The city committed $2 million over two years from its American Rescue Plan Act funding to the center. Another $1.1 million was granted by the US Economic Development Administration, and the county pitched in $200,000. Genentech contributed $50,000 and Lane Partners gave $10,000. Nagales said the city is continuing to explore additional funding sources.

North County residents can stop by the center to receive résumé and interview help, vocational training and be connected with employers. Small business owners or those interested in starting a business can take courses, network and receive help applying for grants. Services are free and available in both Spanish and English.

The new federal funding will go to the JobTrain program, adding classroom training and enabling expansion of service to at least 50 people, Nagales said. The greater Bay Area is slated to receive $73 million of the appropriations act for various uses.

“We are so incredibly grateful for the efforts of Senators Feinstein and Padilla, and Congresswoman Speier for fighting for the needs of our residents and surrounding communities,” Nagales said. “This money will dramatically improve access to job training and placement services for the region’s most vulnerable residents.”

East Palo Alto is also planned to get a center offering similar services. JobTrain, based in Menlo Park, is partnering on the effort and will provide services at the new location that will be constructed in coming years.

The South San Francisco center is located at 366 Grand Ave. and is open 10 am to 4 pm Monday to Friday.

The post Funding boosts South San Francisco financial development middle | Native Information appeared first on Los Gatos News And Events.