Workforce Central Florida (WCF) is looking for employers with whom displaced workers can serve as interns for up to a period of 26 weeks.
In September 2009, the jobs agency launched the “Re-employment Connections” program which aims to place workers who have lost their jobs, as interns, with employers. But there is a major mismatch between the number of applicants and the number of employers.
A spokesperson for the agency said, there are currently 4,780 applicants for only 700 slots and that they (the agency) weren’t looking to promote the program from the job seekers side, at this time.
It is not clear how many “interns” have been placed with employers since the program began and how much has actually been spent to date, although the program has a $10.8 million budget.
Last month the jobs agency was warned by Governor Rick Scott to clean up its act and new board members were recently appointed. Orange County Mayor Teresa Jacobs also joined Scott in expressing her outrage over the agency’s activities, that included questionable spending and the awarding of contracts to board members.
Workforce Central Florida Executive Search Committee will meet tomorrow, to discuss the search for a President/Chief Executive Officer for the long-troubled jobs agency.
The program budget is $10.8 million, funded through Workforce Investment Act (WIA) Adult Dislocated Worker funds, as well as, Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) funds.
