Ramona Gardens Project Creates Jobs.

LOS ANGELES--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Nov. 2, 1999--

Seven Ramona Gardens public housing youth plan to roll up their sleeves for on-the-job training to replace old and deteriorated sewer lines in their neighborhood development in East Los Angeles.

The $700,000 joint venture project is a collaboration of the East Los Angeles Community Union (TELACU), the Housing Authority of the City of Los Angeles (HACLA) and Ramona Gardens Resident Advisory Council (RAC).

"This program that the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) initiated several years ago allows TELACU's mission of economic development to assist the RAC," said Jose Villalobos, senior vice president, TELACU. "We are assisting in the areas of understanding how to run and manage a business and becoming self-sufficient. We hope it will also help HACLA's resident leaders identify some opportunities that they can undertake on their own."

Francisco Ibarra, Javier Aguirre, Guillermo Uloa, Maria Orozco, Ivonne Orze, Sal Salas and Gerardo Hernandez are some of the lucky youth working on the reconstruction of old sewer lines. The work will take about six months and the residents will be learning everything from running a business to cutting and fitting sewer pipe. "I'm so excited to find a job so close to home," said Hernandez, laborer and resident. "I look forward to learning some professional skills that will help me find another job or start my own business."

Established in 1968, TELACU was created by community and business leaders to provide economic and social revitalization to the residents of East Los Angeles. Their strongest ties are to minority communities, and TELACU has worked with the community and governmental agencies.

"I've always dreamed about getting a good job and learning a trade that I can depend on in the future, and maybe even support my family in the future," said Uloa, plumber. "It's a dream come true, and I hope there will be more jobs like these."

"We need more organizations and partners like TELACU and HUD, which step up to the plate and empower the community," said Executive Director Don Smith. "This allows residents to obtain the needed skills to nail down a living wage type job where they can take care of their family."

The Housing Authority has several business partnerships with resident leader groups designed to help them explore business and job opportunities in the community. Recently Jordan Downs Community created its own moving and security companies. Often participants in these ongoing projects get and retain jobs and upgrade their skills to help them get better jobs.

"This is another milestone for HACLA and its residents in partnership with an outstanding organization of the greater Los Angeles community," said Chairperson Ozie B. Gonzaque, HACLA Board of Commissioners. "We are very excited to be working with TELACU, an established non-profit agency that has targeted the problems of poverty."

The Housing Authority employs 1,000 people and has a consolidated budget of more than $470 million. Its contribution to the local economy is estimated to be at least $1.5 billion in direct and indirect jobs, vendor products and services, mortgage payments, taxes and fees. This year, the Housing Authority has earned a "high performer status" the fifth consecutive year from HUD for its overall management of public housing developments in Los Angeles.