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MAYOR IVAN ALLEN, JR. REMARKS OF GREE TINGS EASTERN REGIONAL EMPLOYMENT CONFERENCE NATIONAL URBAN COALITION ATLANTA-AMERICAN MOTOR HOT¢ DECEMBER 13, 1967 9:30 A. M."-- THANK YOU, MR. SULLIVAN. MR. PHILLIPPE, MR. FLYNN, MR. STERNE, DR. REDDICK, DISTINGUISHED OUT OF TOWN GUESTS AND FELLOW ATLANTANS. ' IT PLEASES ME TO SEE SO MANY OF OUR NATIONAL AND LOCAL BUSINESS LEADERS GATHER HERE TODAY TO EXPLORE THE POSSIBILITIES FOR AMERICAN FREE-ENTERPRISE TO USE ITS VAST POTENTIAL AS A MAJOR FACTOR IN SOLVING ONE OF OUR COUNTRY'S BIGGEST PROBLEMS. THIS IS THE PR OB LEM OF UNEMPLOYMENT. IT IS THE PROBLEM OF PEOPLE WHO NEED JOBS AND OF JOBS WHO NEED PEOPLE. OUR TASK IS TO FIND OUT HOW TO MEET BOTH NEEDS , TO DEVELOP A HEALTHY ECONOMY WHICH PROVIDES A VARIETY OF JOB OPPORTUNITIES FOR PEOPLE WHO NEED WORK AND TO PROVIDE WORKERS WITH SKILLS NECESSARY TO FILL THE VACANCIES WHICH GO UNFILLED FOR LACK OF QUALIFIED LABOR . �PAGE TWO IT IS SIGNIFICANT THAT GOVERNMENT AT THE LOCAL AND NATIONAL LEVELS AND BUSINESS LEADERSHIP ARE COOPERATING TO FIND A SOLUTION TO THESE PROBLEMS. IT IS FITTING, I THINK, MR. PHILLIPPE, THAT YOUR TASK FORCE ON PRIVATE EMPLOYMENT CHOSE ATLANTA AS ONE OF YOUR REGIONAL CONFERENCE SITES. IT HAS ALWAYS BEEN THE PARTNERSHIP OF BUSINESS AND GOVERNMENT THAT HAS PROVIDED THE STIMULATION AND RESOURCES WHICH HA VE ADVANCED OUR COMMUNITY IN ALL AREAS. THIS WAS TRUE OF URBAN RENEWAL, WHICH WAS THE CATALYST THAT LAUNCHED THE GREAT DOWNTOWN BUSINESS EXPANSION STILL GOING ON TODAY. EIGHTY PERCENT OF ATLANTA 1S NEAR DOWNTOW N SLUMS HAVE BEE N ELIMINATED AND ACTIVE PROGRAMS ARE UNDERWAY IN SOME TEN AREAS TO WIPE OUT THE REMAINDER. THE FORWARD ATLANTA PROGRAM PRODUCED IN - - - - NEW JOBS - - -- - YEARS. AND THE BUSINESS COMMUNITY HAS COURAGEOUSLY SUPPORTED THE ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITY PROGRAM, JOB TRAINING A N D JOB �PAGE THREE DEVELOPMENT FOR THE DISADVANTAGED AND I AM SURE WE CAN EXPECT IT TO CONTINUE TO DO WHATEVER IS NECESSARY TO MAKE LIFE BETTER FOR ALL CITIZENS. WHILE WE PROUDLY BOAST OF WHAT WE HAVE ACCOMPLISHED, WE READILY RECOGNIZE MUCH MORE NEEDS TO BE DONE NOW AND IN THE FUTURE. THIS CONFERENCE SHOULD HELP US TO MORE CLEARLY EVALUATE OUR SHORTCOMINGS IN THE AREA OF UNEMPLOYMENT, AND,I HOPE , TO DEVISE METHODS FOR OVERCOMING THEM. WE WELCOME YOU TO ATLANTA AND TO THE CONFERENCE . HOPE YOU CAN ALL REMAIN THROUGHOUT THE DAY. I �