ANCHORAGE – Today, Mayor Ethan Berkowitz announces the expansion of Anchorage’s pilot Path to Purpose Job Shop initiative. Path to Purpose is a workforce initiative that improves employability skills and promotes cross-sector skills acquisition.
The Municipality opened the first ‘Job Shop’ in December 2015 in partnership with the Alaska Department of Labor and Work Force Development at the Mountain View Library. Job Shop seeks to build career awareness and improve job skills for those facing employment challenges. Subsequent Job Shop offerings showed substantial increases in participation with over 200 individuals attending the April Job Shop.
“Job Shop is dynamic and brings employment resources into our neighborhoods, connecting more of our neighbors with job opportunities,” said Mayor Ethan Berkowitz.
With a $36,000 grant the Alaska’s Future – Workforce Development Grant Program, the Municipality will open a second Job Shop hub at the Loussac Library and a series of pop-up sites targeting neighborhoods with high unemployment and young adults or adults changing careers.
“Based on our successful partnership bringing Job Center services to the Mountain View library, collaboration between the Mayor and the State of Alaska can expand employment services in Anchorage even in these tough economic times,” said Alaska Labor Commissioner Heidi Drygas.
For more information, contact Nora Morse at (907) 565-9836.
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