Long Beach City Council Approves $2.1 Million in State Funding to Expand Youth Employment Opportunities

City of Long Beach
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411 W. Ocean Blvd,
Long Beach, CA 90802
www.longbeach.gov

Long Beach, CA - The City of Long Beach Department of Economic Development & Opportunity (EDO) has been awarded $2.1 million in grant funding from the California Governor's Office of Service and Community Engagement, California Volunteers. The funding will expand paid youth employment and service opportunities through the Long Beach Youth Service Corps, which encompasses an array of programs that connect young people with meaningful work experience, career exploration, mentorship and civic engagement.

"We are grateful to California Volunteers for their partnership and continued investment in young people and public service," said Mayor Rex Richardson. "This funding represents a meaningful investment in the future of Long Beach and in the next generation of leaders who will help shape it. These resources will help expand programs like the Long Beach Public Service Corps, creating real career pathways for local students and graduates to gain hands on experience, develop leadership skills, and pursue careers serving their community. By continuing to invest in opportunity and service, we are building a stronger workforce and a brighter future for Long Beach."

The Long Beach Youth Service Corps brings together several paid, service-oriented youth employment programs for young people ages 16 to 30. Programs supported through this effort include the Long Beach Fire Corps Program, Urban Planning and Design Internship Program, Long Beach Public Service Corps and the Port of Long Beach High School Internship Program. Together, these programs create structured pathways for youth and young adults to explore public service careers, build workplace skills and contribute to the Long Beach community.

Approved by the Long Beach City Council with a 7 to 0 vote at its June 9, 2026, meeting and administered through EDO's Long Beach Workforce Innovation Network (LBWIN) Youth Career Services Center, the funding brings together City departments and public agency partners to provide high-quality, mentored-work experiences across sectors such as public safety, urban planning, civic leadership, municipal operations and goods movement. The funding will actively engage young people in a comprehensive career development journey that encompasses community-led outreach, job preparation and professional leadership development components. This initiative, scheduled to run through Dec. 31, 2027, is poised to have a profound impact by providing substantial employment opportunities and financial assistance to local youth.

"We're developing the next generation of leaders and cultivating a workforce that will shape the future of tomorrow," said EDO Director Bo Martinez. "We extend our thanks to the state, our many partners and all those whose unwavering commitment is helping to create brighter futures and lasting opportunities for Long Beach youth."

Youth employment opportunities are integral to the City's 2030 Strategic Vision goal of fostering a prepared and inclusive workforce and support the City's Grow Long Beach Economic Blueprint objectives of establishing accessible pathways into public sector jobs and leading industries. Additionally, Long Beach Youth Jobs Corps programs contribute to the S.T.R.O.N.G. Beach: Summer of Opportunity Initiative.

Previous grant awards from the California Volunteers, Office of the Governor have supported the placement of more than 400 youth in paid work experience opportunities in Long Beach. Numerous program alumni have secured full-time roles with the City or regional agencies, while others have leveraged their experience to join national advisory boards, secure scholarships and pursue related graduate studies.

To learn more about youth employment programs and services, people may visit the Department's website at longbeach.gov/youthservices or contact the LBWIN Youth Career Services Center at 562.570.4700.

About the City of Long Beach
Long Beach is nestled along the Southern California coast and home to approximately 466,000 people. As an award-winning full-service charter city, Long Beach offers the amenities of a metropolitan city while maintaining a strong sense of individual and diverse neighborhoods, culture, and community. With a bustling downtown and over six miles of scenic beaches, Long Beach is a renowned tourist and business destination and home to the iconic Queen Mary, nationally recognized Aquarium of the Pacific and Long Beach Airport, the award-winning Long Beach Convention and Entertainment Center and world-class Port of Long Beach.

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