Daley Launches Chicago Career Tech: Will Provide Training, Temp Jobs To Chicago's 'Forgotton' Middle Class

Chicagoans have been badly beaten by the recession. With thousands of workers out of jobs and foreclosures still on the rise, Mayor Daley decided to reach out to an often "forgotten" group of people: the middle and working class.

"What can we do for the forgotten class? That's you. You worked. You paid your taxes. . . .But, you don't fit into all the poverty programs. And you don't fit into all the rich programs. You're like in limbo... . . . You're very good workers. . . . Unfortunately, you were laid off. You've done everything right. [You're saying], 'Who's gonna reach out to me? Where am I going? . . . What can I do? Who's gonna hire me?'"

Daley was speaking to Chicago Career Tech's first class of 175 during a kick-off ceremony on Monday, the Chicago Sun-Times reports. While it sounds like the name of a high school, the Chicago Career Tech is actually Daley's plan to put Chicago's middle class back to work.

CCT will offer technology training and temporary city jobs to as many as 30,000 laid-off professionals, according to the Sun-Times:

In exchange for a $450 weekly stipend, Career Tech participants will work six-days-a-week.

Two days will be spent in the classroom acquiring the skills they need to reinvent themselves in such emerging fields as health care and information technology. Two days will be devoted to shadowing private sector mentors. And the remaining two days will be spent in "service learning" at a not-for-profit organization.

The average age of those involved in the program is 46, nearly half are college graduates, the Sun-Times reports.

Together, they have 9.5 million hours of work experience. Before joining the ranks of the unemployed, their average paycheck was $46,000.

The often grumpy Daley was particularly happy about CCT's launch.

"Waking up this morning -- of all the things I've done as mayor -- this is one of the most exciting Monday mornings," he told the class and reporters.

Money for the program will come from the hotly debated sale of the city's parking meters. Daley said $25 million in proceeds from the meter sale will go toward putting these "forgotten souls" back to work.

Area businesses and non-profit organizations have already committed to teach Career Tech participants. Microsoft, CNA Insurance and the YMCA of Metropolitan Chicago are just a few of those on board, the Sun-Times reports:

To qualify, participants must be Chicago residents who are either receiving or have already exhausted unemployment benefits. Their pre-layoff salaries must range from $25,000 to $75,000. And they must have a minimum of a high school diploma or GED, complete two interviews and be willing to work six days a week over a six-month period.

"What we're trying to do in technology is to create a pool of talent for Chicago unequaled in this country, unequaled in the world," Daley said.