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Gulf Coast Alternative Staffing Initiative
The Gulf Coast Alternative Staffing Initiative is a multiyear project designed and managed by P/PV on behalf of the Charles Stewart Mott Foundation. Three nonprofit organizations in Southeast Louisiana will receive funding to launch Alternative Staffing Organizations (ASOs)—social-purpose ventures that aim to help disadvantaged job seekers and businesses by providing job brokering enhanced with supportive services—as a response to the 2005 hurricanes. What is unique about the ASO strategy, compared to other workforce development approaches, is that employers are charged a fee for screening workers and placing them in jobs. Like traditional staffing agencies, ASOs keep workers on their own payroll, however unlike traditional for-profit firms, these enterprises are not primarily profit-motivated, but rather focus on helping job seekers secure good jobs.
The initiative is the culmination of a two-year reconnaissance and planning process led by P/PV in partnership with the Southwest Center for Economic Integrity; both will provide technical assistance to the selected organizations during the implementation phase. In addition to managing the initiative and providing opportunities for sites to exchange information and learn from one another, P/PV will conduct an implementation study aimed at understanding what it takes to start an ASO.
The three organizations participating in the initiative are:
Catholic Charities Archdiocese of New Orleans will focus on hospitality and food service, offering an alternative to for-profit day labor companies in the City. Initially operations will run out of a community center located in close proximity to the French Quarter and to a new housing development being constructed by Catholic Charities' partner organization, Providence Community Housing.
Options for Independence in Houma will focus on providing skills and opportunities for young adults who have significant barriers to employment. Drawing on the organization's strong relationships in this largely rural community, Options for Independence will strive to meet the needs of employers in the hospitality, medical support, and grocery industries.
UpLIFTD (Louisiana Industries for the Disabled) will target light industrial and clerical positions for disabled and disadvantaged residents in the Baton Rouge area. The organization will focus on temporary positions as transitional jobs, recruiting workers largely from partner nonprofit agencies.
For additional information, please contact Deena Schwartz at dschwartz@ppv.org or Josh Freely at jfreely@ppv.org.
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