Subsidized Employment

Goodwill Industries of the Redwood Empire (GIRE) delivered a $5,362,680 Subsidized Employment Program for Sonoma County residents. The contract, funded through the Sonoma County Human Services Department with American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 funds, was awarded to GIRE after a competitive bid. The program was provided in a countywide approach through The Employment Group, a consortium of Sonoma County non-profits with Goodwill as the lead agency. Services were made available to any Sonoma County resident in need of a job with a child under the age of 18, living at or below 200% of the federal poverty level, until September 2010.

The program matched job seekers with non-profit, public and for-profits employers, providing the employer with an opportunity to enhance their mission, service delivery and business, while giving someone an opportunity to work and improve their skills and current work history. The program paid up to 100% of the employee’s gross wages for one to six months.

The program focused on developing employment opportunities in the emerging Green Jobs market as well as traditional employment opportunities. Employment matches were made according to a person’s individual placement plan based on their career goals, transferable skills and past work history.

We are extremely proud of the program and grateful to have been able to take part in a program that so completely benefited both our local community and participants.

Outcomes Information

269 Subsidized Employment Jobs Created

Resulting in

144 Unsubsidized Jobs

For more information contact:

Laurie Petta

(707) 523-0550 X 253

West County Community Services, Petaluma People Services and The Center for Social and Environmental Stewardship with Goodwill-Redwood Empire as the lead agency, make up The Employment Group.

"Since you get more joy out of giving joy to others,
you should put a good deal of thought into the happiness
that you are able to give."