In the summer of 2008 King County YouthSource conducted a summer career exploration program called Opportunity Greenway (GENEW). Located at the Apprenticeship Training Center on the Georgetown campus of SSCC, the GENEW program including learning about green building, energy efficiency and how to remain physically fit for both work and life. This was a training program for students to gain core construction industry competencies to prepare them to enter an apprenticeship program. Students earned CPR/First Aid, Flagger, and OSHA Industrial Safety Certification as well as 40 hours of basic electrical skills. They also spent time shadowing various apprenticeship programs at the Training Center. Remarkably, the 2008 GENEW participants frequently reported that they "did not know these kinds of jobs existed."

We have a chance to change that reality in 2009 and to introduce local young people to the world of opportunity in the King County Industrial Business Community.

We know, we know…the economy is bad and you can't afford to bring an un-trained kid on this summer. Thanks to funding from the federal economic stimulus package approved by the U.S. Congress earlier this year, low-income, King County young people ages 16-24 will be eligible for PAID, short term, work experiences through King County's YouthSource program. King County's 2009 summer Youth Employment program builds on 2008 success by adding a 3-4 week internship at local industrial businesses. If you're willing to help get the word out that the kind of jobs at your company DO EXIST and provide a family-wage career alternative to the kid willing to put in the time to get trained, then give the MIC a call. We'll work with you to arrange an internship that works for your situation. Erin Evetts (she's back!) is the coordinator at 206-762-2470 or eemic@qwestoffice.net.

SPECIAL SODO BUSINESS ASSOCIATION LUNCH MEETING WITH MAYOR NICKELS
SPECIAL DATE - Tuesday, June 30, 12:00-1:30 - Complimentary Lunch at the Mezza Cafe Meeting Room, Third Floor, Starbucks Center (First S & S Lander)

Mayor Greg Nickels would like to talk to us here in the ever changing SODO Industrial/commercial district, about the many issues we're facing. Be sure to come with the questions that affect you, your business and employees. Most of the time will be devoted to an open forum with the Mayor. Here's your chance so don't miss out. Mark your calendar today. - Mike Peringer

ArtWorks is Looking for Summer Projects/Murals
Artworks has committed to the City and its Summer Youth Employment program as well as the King County Juvenile Justice Center, to find summer work for over 60 juveniles. And, we need projects for these kids. If you have ever thought of having your own mural on one of your buildings anywhere in the county, now is the time to talk to us about it this summer. We will have the kids at our doorstep on July 6. Think about it and give me a call or email to discuss timing, costs, etc.

Another way to go is the creation of 4 X 8 panels that can be put on fences or on your building. Examples of that are on the new construction at First Ave. S. and King, near the Triangle Tavern by the stadiums. Across the street on the Stadium Lofts are other examples of effective panels.

Keep in mind, murals tend to keep your buildings tag free. For some reason taggers respect mural or panel art. Something to think about when costing these projects. I hope to hear from you SOON about your project. Mike Peringer, 206-292-7449, mike@processheating.com.

Looking For Alternatives To Layoffs?
(reprinted from Port Jobs Airport Jobs e-Update, March 9, 2009)


No company wants to lay off employees. But in these increasingly difficult economic times, budgets need to be trimmed and sometimes that means that staffing must be cut. But what if there was a way to reduce your payroll costs without losing valued employees?

Washington State's Employment Security Department has a program that could help you do just that. It's called The Shared Work Program. The idea is to spare employees the financial hardships of full unemployment, while helping employers cut costs and retain their skilled workforce.

Just how does it work? Instead of laying off eligible, full-time employees, you can reduce the number of hours they work. Then these employees can collect a portion of their weekly unemployment benefits equal to the percentage that their work hours were reduced.

Employment Security shares this example: A company with 25 employees must implement a 20% workforce reduction. They can cut their workforce by laying off 5 full-time employees OR they can reduce the weekly work hours of all 25 employees from 5 days to 4 days and achieve the same 20% reduction. The income lost by the 25 employees would be offset by the Shared Work Program. So, if one employee's weekly unemployment benefits would have been $400 if he were completely laid off, he would be entitled to a Shared Work benefit of $80 (20% of $400) in addition to his weekly payroll check.

The benefit? Your company saves money, you keep valuable employees, and you can ramp up quickly once the economy and business improve.

Want to learn more? Take a look at this brochure or visit the Shared Work Program website. Or contact a representative of the Shared Work Program by phone: 800-752-2500 or email: sharedwork@esd.wa.gov

Link to Employment Security's website information on the Shared Work Program:
www.sharedwork.go2ui.com

SR 520 Bridge Closed This Weekend
SR 520 Bridge from Montlake Boulevard to 92nd Avenue NE will be closed round the clock beginning at 11 p.m. on Friday, June 19, until 5 a.m. Monday, June 22 for annual inspection and maintenance.

Seattle drivers will be able to use SR 520 from I-5 to Montlake Boulevard E.
Eastside drivers traveling westbound to Medina, Hunts Point, Clyde Hill, and Yarrow Point will be able to exit at 92nd Avenue NE. Detour routes will be marked.

- Freight Travel Alerts -
I-5 Washington/Oregon Border Bridge Lifts
LOCATION: I-5 Bridge milepost 308 connecting Washington and Oregon
DETAILS: Crews will use multiple lifts at night on the Interstate Bridges for cable greasing and other regularly scheduled maintenance. The lifts will take place on the northbound and southbound I-5/Interstate Bridges.
DATES: The lifts will begin Friday, June 19 and continue through the night of Saturday, June 21. All lifts will take place between 10 p.m. and 5 a.m.
The cable greasing will also require nighttime bridge lifts on the weekend of June 26-27. The bridge lifts will take place between 10 p.m. and 5 a.m.
Each night there will be multiple lifts about 15-20 minutes each. This work is weather dependent.
DETOURS: Motorists using the Glenn Jackson Bridge as an alternate route should also be aware of a right lane closure on I-205 northbound at Mill Plain Road in Vancouver. The lane closure is required for the I-205 - Mill Plain Exit -112th Connector project.

SR 104 Hood Canal Bridge has reopened to all traffic.

Preservation and safety upgrades around the corner for I-90 over Snoqualmie Pass this summer

WSDOT was awarded two more American Recovery and Reinvestment Act construction contracts to preserve I-90 near Snoqualmie Pass. These two projects, expected to begin work this summer, will support nearly 200 jobs.

>>The I-90 Snoqualmie Summit to Hyak - Dowel Bar Retrofit project was awarded to Vetch Construction from Stanwood for the low bid of $2.9 million. Construction to begin June 2009 and completed by November 2009. Project Link.

>>The I-90 Lake Easton to Bullfrog concrete paving project was awarded to Gary Merlino Construction Company from Seattle for the low bid of $13.8 million. Construction to begin July 2009 with the new concrete lane open to traffic October 2009. The second section construction will begin Spring 2010 and be completed November 2010. Project Link