PPEP’s Arizona Farm Worker JOBS Program:
An Employment & Training Program for Seasonal & Migrant Farm Workers (and their dependents)
PPEP, Inc. has been the sole Arizona grantee of US Department of Labor’s (USDOL) Workforce Investment Act (WIA), Section 167, National Farm-worker Jobs Program (NFJP), since 1983.
Services are provided FREE to farm workers and their dependents who:
- Are Legal Aliens or US Citizens & can show proof of residency
- Have a Wage-earner, who worked 25 days or earned $800 or more from farm work within the past 24 months (proof of income required, but not that of legal status)
- Meet low income guidelines
- If male, are registered with Selective Service (if born after December 31, 1959).
Services Include:
Vocational Assessment—Assistance in finding out what career is right for you.
Vocational Training – Job-skills training that ends in a certificate, including Commercial Driving (Class B), through PPEP, Inc. & other training-providers.
On-the-Job Training (OJT) – Specific job skill training, provided on the worksite by the employer, who receives a salary reimbursement from PPEP, Inc.
Work Experience program (WEP) – Short-term work experience for those, who are new to the world of work, where PPEP, Inc. pays the wages.
Agricultural Upgrade: For those who wish to remain in the agricultural industry, an upgrade of skills, resulting in a higher salary and more hours worked.
Job Search Assistance: Assistance in finding openings, filling out applications, designing resumes and preparing for interviews. Interview clothing purchased.
Educational Services – GED or High School Equivalency, High School Diplomas, English as a Second Language & Adult Basic Education.
Apprenticeships – in Landscaping, Construction and others.
Supportive Services – Assistance while in training, such as food, gas and other training-related expenses, on an as-needed basis; relocation assistance.
Career Advancement — It’s not over when you land a job. Assistance provided in increasing your income, earning a promotion, getting benefits and/or finding the job you really love!
Emergency Assistance - to help with food and other basic needs when a crisis occurs.
Micro Loans - Small business loans are available to eligible individuals who are self-employed.
PPEP NFJP Offices are located in the following areas and are manned by the following staff members:
Cochise, Graham & Greenlee Counties
1122 G Avenue, Douglas 85607
Phone: 520-805-1946
Fax: 520-805-0143
Staff person: Frances Rascon, Workforce Development Specialist
158 W. Maley, Wilcox 85643
Phone: 520-384-2077
Fax: 520-384-2166
Staff person: Frances Rascon, Workforce Development Specialist
Maricopa & La Paz Counties
West Valley Career Center, 1840 N. 95th Avenue, Suite 160, Phoenix, AZ 85037
Phone: 602-372-4496
Fax: 602-372-4290
Staff persons: Edgar Gonzales, Workforce Development Specialist
Pinal County
515 Main Street, Ste. B, Eloy 85231
Phone: 520-466-7376 or 800-376-3553
Fax: 520-466-1484
Staff Persons: Rosa Garcia, Workforce Development Specialist
Pima County
802 E. 46th Street, Tucson, AZ 85713
Phone: 520-622-3553 or 800-376-3553
Fax: 520-622-148
Staff Persons: Rosa Garcia, Workforce Development Specialist
Santa Cruz County
555 W. Goldhill Rd., Bldg. A., Suite 2, Nogales, AZ 85621
Phone: 520-287-9657/ 520-237-1862 (cell)
Staff Persons: Rosa Garcia, Workforce Development Specialist
Management Staff: Polly Gutierrez, Area Coordinator, supervises all the areas and staff above; her office is at the Pima County address.
Yuma County
731 N. 1st Ave., San Luis, AZ 85713
Phone: 928-627-3203
Fax: 928-627-8637
Staff Persons: Leticia Beltran, Jovanna Covarrubias, Catalina Guajardo & Alma Rojas, Workforce Development Specialists
201 N. Bingham Ave., Ste. 6 & 7, Somerton 85350
Phone: 928-627-7665
Fax: 928-627-7006
Staff persons: Cinthia Jacobo & Aracely Escalante, Workforce Development Specialists
YPIC, 3826 W. 16th St., Yuma 85364
Phone: 928-329-0990 Ext. 105
Fax: 928-783-1825
Staff persons: Cesar Fandino and Elsa Madrid, Workforce Development Specialists
Management Staff: Maricela Alvarado, Area Coordinator, supervises the Yuma County area and staff; her office is at the San Luis address.
Corporate Administrative Officer, Kari Hogan, is responsible for this program, as well as a number of other employment and training and human services programs.
Field Operations Manager, Barbara Simcoe, oversees the operations of the State and all the staff listed above.
Field Operations Manager/Data and Systems Compliance Manager, Sandra Adams, oversees the data collection and reporting to US DOL, as well as managing the Human Services programs. She is assisted by Dora Coronado, Data Manager, and Amanda Gill, Program Assistant. They are all located at the Pima County address.
Photos courtesy of Barb Simcoe, Field Operations Manager:
Broccoli workers in Yuma County
Tractor Safety Class
Commercial Drivers License Training
NFJP Services for Business-Owners:
INTRO: In today’s economic climate, we must cultivate relationships that help us tend to our business, so that it can grow and produce profitable results. One of our most valuable resources is our employees – their careful selection, training, development and retention are crucial to our business outcomes and our bottom lines.
We at PPEP understand business growth. PPEP, itself, is a non-profit that has grown from several employees to over 550 employees, in 42 field office, 17 group homes and 12 charter schools, over the past forty years.
We understand business-owners’ concerns. PPEP’s Micro Business Loans have funded over $19 Million in small business start-ups.
We understand our local Arizona economy. Our international trade program provides technical and financial assistance to import/export businesses, here in the Arizona/Sonora Border Region.
We understand Arizonans’ concerns. Our mission is to “improve the economic quality of life in rural Arizona”. Over 4,000,000 people have received services from PPEP over the past 40 years. PPEP’s services are culturally relevant, provided by a multi-cultural staff. They include a variety of human services, as well as financial, educational, employment and training-related services.
These services help Arizonans increase their income and improve their quality of life and have garnered recognition as national models in US Congressional records numerous times.
NFJP Intro: PPEP has operated the Farm-worker Jobs Program with funding from the US Department of Labor since 1981 & assists over 500 people per year find employment and training opportunities.
Although the job-seekers we serve are current or former Arizona agricultural workers and their dependents, we help many of them find jobs in non-agricultural industries, while some remain in Ag with upgraded skills.
Incentives available: In either case, we have some great incentives from which either type of business – Ag or non-Ag - can benefit. These include:
- salary reimbursements
- tax credits
- and personalized services
The farm-workers we serve come from all sorts of Agri-business and occupations – they are not all field workers. Some worked in orchards, on ranches, in agribusiness support positions or in packing and food-processing.
I-9 Verification: Many are resident Aliens & all have documents allowing them to work in the USA. In fact, we check those I-9 documents before referring them to any job openings. Many of our job-seekers are Bi-lingual.
Pre-Screening & Recruitment Assistance: We assess our program participants’ skills carefully – essentially pre-screening them so that we know they are qualified for and interested in the job openings to which we send them. Our staff talk to you, the employer, too, to get the details of your opening’s requirements. Thus, a good match is assured.
We help you recruit from our pool of applicants (as well as those of our partner agencies), saving you recruitment money.
On-the-Job Training: If you have a job that workers can learn by doing, with some help from their immediate supervisor, the Farm-worker Jobs Program can reimburse you company up to 50% of that trainee’s salary, while they’re in the training mode.
We do all the upfront paperwork; all you have to do is provide the training and supervision, provide us with copies of the worker’s timesheets during training and submit an occasional simple evaluation form.
Call us and we can work out the specifics of the Training Plan, based upon the job duties, and develop a contract.
Work Experience Program: Another, similar training opportunity, is called Work Experience Program, or WEP. When we find a job-seeker, with little or no work experience, we can offer them the opportunity to try out work environments, while learning new skills. While they are in WEP mode, the Farm-worker Jobs Program pays 100% of their salary. So, you get a free “intern” just for providing experience and training at your worksite. Once again, we handle the paperwork.
Trained applicants: Many of the applicants we refer to you have studied English, gotten their GEDs and/or received occupational certificates, paid for by the Department of Labor Workforce Investment Act funds that support the Farm-worker Jobs Program.
Work Ethics: They have also gone to workshops that prepare them for looking for work in another field, if they are leaving Ag, but also in what employers expect. In other words, we strengthen their work ethics. Not that most of them need it, as they are hard-working individuals with strong family values.
Pre-employment requirements: We can also help our job applicants locate and secure pre-employment requirements, like: physicals, fingerprint cards, Food Handlers’ Cards, CPR & First Aide Certification, etc. And if you require it, we can pay for their drug testing results & criminal background checks, as well.
Training for Demand Occupations: While we’re assessing a job-seeker’s skills, we’re also talking to them about the current labor market and what industries are growing and which occupations are currently in demand. We work closely with local colleges, private schools & apprenticeship programs to develop workers skills that will meet the demands of the local market.
Services for Agri-business:
We understand that it’s hard to find and retain good Ag workers. We can recruit and screen applicants for agribusinesses, too. We can also develop OJT contracts with you for an individual job applicant.
All we require is that once your new worker is trained, he/she will receive a higher salary and will either have more responsibility and/or work more hours than before we invested in his/her Agricultural Upgrade Training.
You see, the purpose of the Farm Worker Jobs Program is to help our participants become self-sufficient and secure full-time/year-round unsubsidized employment.
More Agribusiness Benefits: In order to hang onto your loyal workers, we can help you design and develop training modules, tailored to your needs, utilizing several methods.
If you need educational services, like onsite English classes; or occupational training, such as tractor maintenance; or professional development, such as management or leadership classes, for example; we may be able to provide Customized Training, designed just for your company.
As long as most of the students are eligible for the Farm-worker Jobs Program, we can pay for half of the training.
Possible Apprenticeships: If there’s a skilled occupation that requires 2000+ hours of training and would be of value to many Agricultural employers, we can get assistance from Department of Labor’s Apprenticeship Division to help set up a certified apprenticeship program.
Post-employment Services (for all employers): Once a new employee, referred by us, starts to work for you, our work really starts, in earnest. It’s our job to make sure that our former program participants do well on your job. We stay in touch with them (and with you) to assure that your relationship flourishes during that first critical year.
We provide your new worker with work supports that will help him/her stay on the job – such as child care assistance, gas money, work clothes, tools, union dues, etc. We also act as coach, counselor and even mediator, if need be. And, we can provide translation assistance in some cases.
PPEP can even pay for your new worker’s occupational training for a certain amount of time after he/she starts the job.
PPEP staff can assist with:
- Job Analysis
- Job Description Development
- Applying for Tax Credits
- Getting workers Bonded
- Mass Recruitments, utilizing the One-Stop Career Centers
- Providing space for interviews
- Information on small business loans
To find out more about these services and more, simply call 1-800-376-3553. |
