Industry Preps for Job Fair
California Mart and Dress For Success, a non-profit low-income job assistance program, recently presented the first installment of a tax-benefit seminar as part of LA Connection: People Helping People Job Fair, designed to help individuals find and retain employment and educate employers about the tax benefits and other incentives for employing people from a specific target group. The target group is comprised of low-income individuals who reside in either a city-designated empowerment zone or enterprise zone and may be coming off of welfare or working for low wages while supporting children.
The seminars and job fair were created to “provide information for employers so that they will be willing to consider the population we serve,” according to Dress For Success’ Janet Lavender.
The first seminar provided information for employers to secure tax benefits for hiring from within the target group as well as information for employees looking to increase their take-home pay.
Presenters at the first installment were Los Angeles Community Development Department representatives Victor Ramirez, who provided information on earned income tax credits for employees; Robert Biller, who spoke on federal tax credits for employers; and Monica Walters, who spoke on state tax credits for employers.
The next seminar, Tax Benefit Seminar II, is scheduled for June 26 at the Cal Mart. The Job Fair will be hosted in the Mart’s Fashion Theater on Thursday, July 26.
The seminar and job fair were conceived by Cal Mart’s Karen Mamont and Lavender, and is planned for an annual presentation.
Dress For Success is a non-profit organization founded in 1996 to provide clothing, job information and referrals within the apparel industry for disadvantaged individuals who have completed rehabilitation and job training programs.
For more information on the Job Fair and the next seminar, call the Cal Mart at (213) 630-3737 or People Helping People at (213) 629-3537. —Darryl James
