Ready to Work Program’s First Participant Completes and Secures Job

Published on July 22, 2022

Ready to Work Program’s First Participant Completes Training and Secures Job

JOSEPH GARZA IS ONE OF FOUR TO RECENTLY COMPLETE JOB TRAINING PROGRAM

SAN ANTONIO (July 22, 2022) — The first four participants of the City of San Antonio’s unprecedented workforce initiative, Ready to Work, have completed their job training and earned their commercial driver’s license (CDL). Joseph Garza is the first participant to secure job placement with a local construction company.
 
“We are pleased to announce this milestone of San Antonio’s Ready to Work program; and we are proud of our participants,” Mayor Ron Nirenberg said. “Our community came together to make this program happen, and this is just the beginning. We look forward to continuing its progress and helping our friends and neighbors create their own success.”
 
Ready to Work offers courses from more than 50 local training providers, colleges, and universities in an approved training catalog that is published online and updated quarterly. Participants who enroll and complete training could be placed in a job in as early as a few months. Garza pursued his career path with Ready to Work prime partner Project Quest and completed his training through St. Philip’s College.
 
“I always wanted to be a truck driver but was never able to save up to get my CDL, but Ready to Work helped me do that,” Garza said. “I have a wife and three kids and with the costs of everything going up, I needed something to better provide for my family. This new job will allow me to do that and get on track to provide a better financial future for my family.”
 
Ready to Work is designed to help remove financial, social and emotional barriers for qualified adults committed to earning industry-recognized certifications, Associate’s Degrees, or Bachelor’s Degrees. Participants have access to:

• Tuition assistance aligned with targeted occupations in high-demand, well-paid careers;
• Support services and emergency assistance to ensure training completion; and
• Job placement and retention services.