Mountain View, Calif. —  At the Tuesday, May 9 meeting, the Mountain View City Council voted unanimously to provide close to $600,000 for workforce development this fiscal year. Most of the funding - $500,000 – came from the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) with the remaining $95,975 coming from the General Non-Operating Fund for workforce development and job training programs.

“Thanks to the American Rescue Plan Act, we are investing in our residents who the pandemic hit the hardest financially,” said Mayor Alison Hicks. “We are providing workforce development opportunities in which they can increase their skillset in careers ranging from construction to childcare and, in turn, get higher paying jobs without having to leave the area. This is one of the many ways that Mountain View is making a concerted effort to be a Community for All.”

“Reach SV is extremely grateful to be included in the workforce development funding plan as approved by the Mountain View City Council for its ‘Mompreneur’ program,” said Malia Pires, Executive Director of Reach SV. “It’s an honor to join forces with the Los Altos Mountain View Community Foundation in supporting Spanish-speaking women in the community and helping them on their paths towards economic mobility and financial empowerment.”

The Council gave the go-ahead for close to $170,000 in one-time ARPA funding to Library workforce development programs. These programs are:

• Career Online High School ($135,075) – in partnership with the California State Library, participants can earn an accredited high school diploma and credentialed career certificate at the same time.
• Universal Class ($22,000) – library users can access over 550 online classes through a course catalog.
• Brainfuse’s Jobnow ($12,000) – participants receive live, interactive online career coaching services, along with a web-based career resource hub that includes a resumé builder.

The Council also awarded $426,900 in one-time funding for workforce development to:

• Working Partnerships USA ($100,000) – for the Trades Orientation Program, an apprenticeship preparation program that can lead to opportunities for skilled construction careers.
• Mountain View Los Altos Union High School District and Mountain View Whisman School District ($77,900) – for the establishment of a cross-generational literacy program in the schools.
• Foothill College
  • Career Exploration Day ($35,000) – to support a hands-on career fair to Mountain View residents interested in pursuing a career in the building trades.
  • Child-Care Provider Career Development Program ($29,000) – to help support courses specifically designed for nannies in child development and early-care.
• NOVAworks ($50,000) – for the Whole Person Initiative, which provides career counseling, training and placement opportunities, and wraparound support for extremely low-income families.
• Los Altos Mountain View Community Foundation and Reach Silicon Valley ($75,000) – for the “Mompreneur” program, which allows community members to prepare food items for sale during sporting and cultural events on a rotational basis and primarily serves Spanish-speaking immigrant women.
• Day Worker Center of Mountain View
  • Gardening Skills Training ($20,000) – a training program in which participants learn essential sustainable organic vegetable gardening principles and skills.
  • Basic Technology Training ($20,000) – a training program in which participants learn computer and internet skills.
  • Bicycle Repair and Maintenance Training ($20,000) – a training program in which participants learn bicycle mechanics, how to diagnose problems, and various techniques for repairing, adjusting and replacing bicycle parts and systems.

To maximize the impact of one-time funding by the City of Mountain View, all of these programs:

• Leverage or expand existing programs and capacity.
• Support the Council’s Community for All and Economic Vitality strategic priorities.
• Support the development of new and existing partnerships between organizations serving the Mountain View community.
• Focus on serving Mountain View residents.

For more details, view the May 9, 2023 Council Report.

View the news release in Spanish and Chinese.

About the City of Mountain View
Located between the Santa Cruz Mountains and San Francisco Bay, Mountain View is a diverse community with an estimated population of 83,601. Mountain View covers just over 12 square miles, featuring over 1,000 acres of park and wildlife areas including the 750-acre wildlife and recreation area called Shoreline at Mountain View. In the heart of Silicon Valley, Mountain View is home to a vibrant downtown and headquarters to many nationally and internationally known corporations including Google, LinkedIn, Intuit and NASA’s Ames Research Center. For more information, visit MountainView.gov.

Media Contact 
Lenka Wright, Chief Communications Officer
650-903-6615 or Lenka.Wright@mountainview.gov