In November 2020, San Antonio voters chose overwhelmingly to support workforce development in our community. Seventy-seven percent of voters cast ballots in favor of Proposition B, the city’s “SA Ready to Work” initiative.

Funded by a one-eighth-cent sales tax, the proposition commits $200 million over five years to train local residents for high-paying, in-demand jobs, and then placing them in those jobs.

Goodwill San Antonio is proud to partner with the city of San Antonio on this nationally heralded program. The mission behind Goodwill’s donated goods retail stores is workforce development, and Goodwill San Antonio has been fostering partnerships to equip individuals with the skills they need to succeed since 1945. 

As the CEO and president of Goodwill Industries of San Antonio, I am acutely aware of the links between workforce development, transportation, and housing. According to the latest Census Bureau data, San Antonio is one of the most impoverished cities in the United States, with nearly 20% of local residents living at or below the poverty line. For a person who cannot afford a vehicle, job training alone is insufficient if jobs aren’t easily accessible by public transit.

In fact, a person’s ability to engage fully in the workforce or access educational and training resources is greatly influenced by where they live. At Goodwill, we know this firsthand. Overall, about 9% of the nearly 3,200 individuals enrolled in our workforce development programs over the last year relied on Goodwill-provided bus passes to reach their program sites. In our program for individuals reentering society after being incarcerated, that number was 50% or 131 out of 260.

An efficient transportation network connects people with educational and job training institutions and enables them to access a wider range of employment options when they enter the workforce. 

Appropriately, in the 2020 election in which voters endorsed funding for Ready to Work, they also demonstrated strong support for a revitalized public transit system in our community. In passing Proposition A, they committed the same one-eighth-cent sales tax to VIA beginning in 2026 after funding for Ready to Work is complete. That additional source of revenue has enabled VIA to move forward with planning for two advanced rapid transit corridors and, for the first time, access federal dollars to improve public transit in San Antonio.

Housing plays an equally vital role in workforce development. The demand for affordable housing remains high, particularly for those with lower incomes. While San Antonio continues to grapple with housing affordability, our community has once again demonstrated its willingness to commit resources to the problem. Last year, voters solidly approved Proposition F — part of the 2022-27 bond program — that authorizes up to $150 million to create and preserve affordable housing.  

Workforce development empowers individuals to lead meaningful lives and contribute to their communities. Goodwills across the nation have long been committed to equipping individuals with the skills and training they need to enter the job market confidently. However, this commitment is only as effective as the ecosystem that supports it. By working together to remove life barriers, we fulfill our mission of helping change lives through the power of work.

Carlos J. Contreras III is president and CEO of Goodwill Industries of San Antonio.

Originally published on September 1, 2023 - Express-News