Box 3, Folder 16, Document 40

To’ Whom It May Concern:

As Manpower Representative for Economic Opportunity Atlanta, In-
corporated, the private non-profit Community Action Program serving
Atlanta, I would like to state my support in principle for'a resident
Urban Skills Center for young women, Experiences in the Concentrated
Employment Program, Neighborhood Youth Corps and other training programs
which we sponsor has consistently demonstrated the need for additional
training opportunities for females. I believe a residential program
will be essential if a Skills Center is to serve young women from ex-
tremely deprived backgrounds in terms of providing a change of environment
and to provide in depth Supportive Services on a consistent basis.

Economic Opportunity Atlanta, Incorporated, has in existence a
well established system for dealing with many aspects relating to the
unemployed. We have established a strong working relationship with the
Georgia State Employment Service in a coordinated outreach, job referral
and job development effort. We also have viable linkage with other
community groups concerned with manpower problems such as the Atlanta

’ Urban. League, Model Cities, State Vocational Rehabilitation, and the
Atlanta Board of Education. Economic Opportunity Atlanta will be happy
to cooperate in these and other functions relating to a Skills Center
if such a Center is relevant to the needs of low income residents in
the Atlanta area. In addition, we would consider coordinating existing
training slots in our Concentrated Employment Program and other training
efforts provide funding levels are adequate and appropriate linkage to
the Skills Center could be negotiated.

We feel strongly that the Skills Center must provide a meaningful
opportunity for input as to design and functioning on the part of
low income residents to be served. Without this the Skills Center will
lack creditability in the community it purports to serve and will make
recruitment and retention extremely difficult. *

I am not by this letter endorsing any particular agency or company
seeking this contract but intend to convey our desire as an agency to
cooperate constructively with whoever receives the contract and providing
that the prime contractor presents a program that is relevant to the
needs of the people we serve.

Sincerely,

VA

Clint Rodgers, Associate
Administrator for Manpower