Gray urges hiring of D.C. unemployed

D.C. Mayor Vincent C. Gray implored major universities and other area employers Thursday to fill their job vacancies with unemployed city residents as part of the District's nascent "One City-One Hire" program.

"We are asking you to help us fill vacancies," said Mr. Gray, a Democrat. "We're not asking you to create jobs. We're not asking you for a handout. We're not asking you for charity."

The program asks all D.C.-area employers, including nonprofits and the public sector, to hire at least one unemployed city resident this year. In exchange, the District will facilitate incentives such as tax rebates and wage subsidies.

Mr. Gray and the D.C. Department of Employment Services introduced the initiative, modeled after a successful pilot in Atlanta, on Sept. 8 ahead of President Obama's job-creation address to Congress.

Incentives for employees include a $2,400 tax credit for each adult hire, $1,200 for summer youth hires, $4,800 for each disabled veteran who is hired and $9,000 for those who take on a longterm recipient of Temporary Assistance for Needy Families Assistance and retain them for two years.

The city will also offer wage reimbursements during an employee's training period.

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