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About SF Works
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SF Works Year in Review In this, our last communication of 2009, we are happy to share with you some of our key learnings from the past year and how these ideas are shaping our plans for 2010. This past year was about jobs, not only finding a job but also keeping it and staying afloat if you lost hours or took a pay cut. In 2009, SF Works met with hundreds of lower-wage employees at their workplaces and connected them to critical community resources and savings. Fewer than 10% of the people we worked with were accessing assistance, although many had lost wages, and all of them were eligible for help. In 2010, we will more than double our efforts, building off of our success in 2009 and our better use of technology. Small and medium-sized employers, including nonprofits, have been particularly hit by the recession and have limited ability to support their employees. SF Works applauds employers like Alma Via, John Stewart Company, Recology, Rose Pistola restaurant and South of Market Child Care Center for providing paid time-off to their employees so that their staff could meet with us. We begin 2010 with an exciting initiative with the Golden Gate Restaurant Association to focus on connecting employees of Association restaurants with valuable services. Green jobs received a lot of attention in 2009. While it’s unclear where the new jobs are and how many there will be, it is clear that we will all be increasingly “working green.” In early 2010, SF Works will complete a study of local green employers. We will use the information collected from these employers to understand how they can be better supported and how their staffing needs can be met by San Francisco’s new Green Skills Academy. Employer incentives work. We’ve worked with many private employers to help them understand the hiring tax credits and to show them how these credits are available to them. The employers have told us that these generous hiring tax credits are critical to their business and to helping them keep jobs. SF Works also did a small demonstration of pre-certifying job seekers to improve their “hire-ability.” In 2010, we will increase our outreach on hiring tax credits and implement a program to pre-certify job seekers for these credits. We also have been busy in the community promoting San Francisco’s JOBS NOW!, an exciting program that provides 100% wage subsidy for qualifying hires. In 2010, SF Works fully launches as an independent organization. We look forward to continuing our affiliation with the San Francisco Chamber of Commerce, while working closely with many other civic organizations. One way you can support our efforts is with a financial contribution. SF Works increasingly relies on the support of generous individuals and businesses. It costs us $50 to help a lower-wage worker attain $1,500 in annual household savings. Donate to us and know you are getting a 30:1 return. We look forward to working with you in 2010 to support hard-working families and bring resources to their worksites. Happy Holidays and best wishes for the New Year,
Carrie Portis Executive Director
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