March 19, 2007

CONTACT: Solomon Jones
(215) 829-1620
(215) 370-5681

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

FATTAH ANNOUNCES PLAN TO DEVELOP PHILADELPHIA'S WORKFORCE AND GROW JOBS

PHILADELPHIA, PA - Mayoral Candidate Chaka Fattah today announced his plan to develop Philadelphia's workforce and job possibilities, which will expand advancement opportunity and job availability for all Philadelphians.

Currently, only 20% of Philadelphians possess a college degree, limiting their job opportunities. To change this, Chaka Fattah will fully fund the city's share of the Community College of Philadelphia, and create a re-enrollment center to provide the 80,000 adults in Philadelphia who have earned some college credit -- but have not received either a Bachelor's or Associate's degree -- the information and support they need to earn their degrees.

"Education is the best way to get Philadelphians into well-paying jobs," Fattah said. "It will be my responsibility as mayor to ensure that every able Philadelphian has access to the training and education that they need for today's knowledge economy jobs."

Fattah pledged to focus the city's workforce development efforts on building strategic industry partnerships between employers and workers in targeted, growing industries in the City of Philadelphia and throughout the region. He also called for a tax credit for businesses that create at least five jobs and make a sizeable capital investment equal to the wage taxes for the new employees.

Philadelphia is 96th out of the 100 largest cities in the nation in terms of workforce participation. Workforce participation along with poverty, are root causes of the crime that plagues our city.

"Lack of opportunity is driving the crime in our city," said Fattah. "Now more than ever, Philadelphia needs a coordinated effort by our whole city to increase the educational level of our workforce and get people into well-paying jobs."

Chaka Fattah has proven experience when it comes to creating job opportunities As a State Representative, Fattah led the way to get 300,000 unemployed Pennsylvanians into the workforce through job and education training with his Employment Opportunity Act. As a U.S. Congressman, Fattah worked to secure millions for job creation and training.

To learn more about the Fattah Plan to Develop Philadelphia's Workforce and Grow Jobs visit the policy page of our website at http://www.phillyforfattah.com/policy_center.asp.

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Last Updated: March 23, 2007