PRESS RELEASE

Long Beach, CA – The City of Long Beach is seeking public feedback on the development of the Long Beach Youth Climate Corps, a new youth job placement program in climate-related careers. Respondents can provide input on climate-related job placement opportunities and indicate interest in participating in the program.

“The Long Beach Youth Climate Corps supports and engages Long Beach youth in workforce development and instills a focus on climate change and adaption in future jobs,” said Mayor Robert Garcia. “Long Beach is a leader in this critical work to support climate change by training our workforce to help our residents and our environment.”

The Youth Climate Corps survey is available now through March 10, 2022, at 11:59 p.m. at longbeach.gov/climatecorps and is available in English, Khmer, Spanish, and Tagalog. Information gathered from the survey will be used to develop the Youth Climate Corps Program, anticipated to launch summer 2022.

The City is partnering with Pacific Gateway Workforce Innovation Network, which will oversee the Youth Climate Corps Program and facilitate placement of up to 380 eligible youth and young professionals ages 16 to 30 years old in public agencies and non-profits to facilitate skill development, training, and long-term job placement over the next two years. Youth Climate Corps placements can include work on a wide range of climate-related projects and urban greening, urban agriculture, policy impact and food security, and waste reduction and clean energy placement opportunities. The program will bring together young people who live in communities disproportionately impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic to help address urgent challenges, while simultaneously being paid to learn skills that lead to high-growth and in-demand career pathways.

The Youth Climate Corps Program will be made possible by $6.3 million in grant funding through the State’s 2021 CaliforniansForAll Youth Workforce Development Program. The program is included as part of the Long Beach Recovery Act, a plan to fund economic and public health initiatives for Long Beach residents, workers and businesses critically impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic.  Additional information about the Long Beach Recovery Act is available at longbeach.gov/recovery.

The Youth Climate Corps Program aligns with the Racial Equity and Reconciliation Initiative: Initial Report by fulfilling Goal 4, “Improve the health and wellness in the City by eliminating social and economic disparities in communities most impacted by racism.”

Pacific Gateway Workforce Innovation Network is a public workforce agency, dedicated to helping job seekers connect to employment as quickly as possible, as well as helping businesses through worker training programs, hiring incentives, and other resources. Pacific Gateway serves the cities of Long Beach and Signal Hill, and the Los Angeles Harbor communities of Harbor City, Harbor Gateway, San Pedro and Wilmington.

Additional information about the Youth Climate Corps Program is available in a presentation provided to the Long Beach Sustainable City Commission on Feb. 24, 2022.