The pandemic's economic fallout continues to reverberate throughout the state. More than 3.6 million Texans have filed for unemployment relief since mid-March.
Now, San Antonio Mayor Ron Nirenberg is asking residents to approve a new workforce development plan in the wake of the coronavirus crisis, which wiped out more than 60,000 area jobs.
The "SA Ready to Work" initiative, on San Antonio ballots as Proposition B, proposes a four-year program to train up to 40,000 residents for future in-demand jobs to provide stable careers in the post-COVID economy.
Nirenberg plans to reallocate a 1/8-cent sales tax to fund the program aimed specifically at helping those who lost their jobs due to the coronavirus pandemic, including 24,500 in the leisure and hospitality industry alone.
What kinds of jobs will the program target? Who would be eligible?
What education, training and other wraparound services would be provided to participants? What are the biggest challenges?
Guest: Mayor Ron Nirenberg, City of San Antonio
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*This interview was recorded on Monday, October 12.
