The City of Tacoma is launching its Local Employment and Apprenticeship Training Program (LEAP) with informational workshops on December 19. Addressing the city's training and employment deficits, LEAP aims to connect participants with the tools and avenues to fulfill specific labor needs within the city-funded public work and various service contracts. These initiatives, as they have been planned, will be detailed in two sessions held at the Tacoma Municipal Building, in Room 243, situated at 747 Market Street; one starting at 8 AM and an afternoon session at 3:30 PM, as per the city's official website.
The one-hour workshops will encompass a primer on LEAP, elaborating on its essence and the workforce utilization requirements tied to it. Registering for the events is easy, with options for attending either in-person or virtually, adaptable for those interested regardless of commitments that might constrain their physical presence. According to the City's announcement, attendees can expect to learn how to evaluate if their employees' hours will suffice to meet LEAP requirements and where to find LEAP-qualified workers.
Additionally, the program takes a carrot-and-stick approach, laying out incentives for compliance and penalties for falling short of LEAP standards. These aspects are critical as businesses navigate their responsibilities in contracts that involve city investment, where failure to comply with such programs that harbor equity and widening of employment prospects, can lead to significant setbacks. The workshops will explain the rewards and penalties of the LEAP expectations.
