Overview of Boston Private Industry Council's Approach To Involve Local Employers in Employment and Training Programs

GAO surveyed the operations of the Boston Private Industry Council (BPIC) which was established under the Comprehensive Employment and Training Act (CETA) to increase the business community's involvement in employing and training the economically disadvantaged. Congress will likely approve some form of new employment legislation to replace CETA, and GAO studied certain aspects of BPIC operations that may help other private industry councils in this relatively new type of program.

GAO found that the BPIC practice of soliciting employers to hire recent college graduates can substantially increase the program's potential for success, and its outreach efforts are an excellent way of solidifying the relationship between the public and private sectors. BPIC outreach efforts include: (1) obtaining financial contributions from the private sector, (2) participating in community and economic development activities, and (3) sponsoring workshops and seminars to develop job opportunities. GAO concluded that the results of the BPIC activities may be helpful to other private industry councils in developing approaches for involving the business community in employment and training programs.