SF Mayor Lee's Initiative Designed To Add 2,500 Jobs in 5 Years
SAN FRANCISCO (KCBS) — Mayor Ed Lee announced Tuesday the launch of a citywide initiative designed to train and place 2,500 people in high-tech jobs over the next five years.
The mayor was joined at San Francisco City Hall by the inaugural class of the TechSF Academy for his announcement.
The initiative is built around the city's growing high-tech industry. Transitioning jobseekers get the training they need to join this specialized workforce.
KCBS' Anna Duckworth Reports:
"I want to say yes to every kid, to every returning veteran, to everybody who is challenged with their careers now to say, 'yes you can'," Lee said.
Lee added that TechSF would partner with schools, non-profits and the companies themselves.
"That is the private sector working with city government that's going to create the newest jobs for generations to come," Lee said.
Since March, Tech SF has received $8 million from the Department of Labor.
Ron Conway is chair of San Francisco Citizens for Innovation and Technology, which represents some 350 companies. Conway said his staff will start by asking member companies what they're looking for.
"We're going back to TechSF and we're going to say we added up all these jobs. Let's go to City College to San Francisco State and make sure that their classes are training for these jobs," Conway said.
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