County May Receive Job-Training Grant

Ventura County stands to receive more than $1 million to conduct a job-training experiment for hard to employ individuals as part of the state’s new welfare-to-work program.

The Board of Supervisors is scheduled to decide Tuesday whether to accept the three-year, $1.07-million grant from the California Department of Social Services. Ventura would be one of seven counties participating in the effort to provide extra help for people who have had substance abuse, mental health or domestic abuse problems.

At least 180 welfare recipients would spend 32 hours a week in a combination of classroom training and real-life work experience. At the same time, a second group of 180 welfare recipients who meet the same criteria would serve as a control group.

The training would be provided by Goodwill Industries of Ventura and Santa Barbara counties. If county supervisors approve the grant, they will have to approve a budget with Goodwill Industries by next month.