Workforce Development Board of Solano launches new initiative with Facebook

The Workforce Development Board (WDB) of Solano County launched a new initiative with Facebook to build a diverse talent pipeline of Digital Marketing professionals in Solano County.

The Facebook Career Connections Program is a new program designed to help underserved jobseekers become equipped with 21st-century skills for a more online economy, and to help our small businesses increase their digital presence online and with social media.

The digital marketing training will be made available for up to 70 job seekers, led by Facebook, and held online due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. The training will take place between March 23 and April 23 and will include group sessions, self-paced lessons and office hours.

“We want to help develop a strong Solano County talent base of diverse digital marketing professionals who can help our local businesses remain competitive at a time when it is imperative to reach their customer base digitally,” says Heather Henry, President and Executive Director at the WDB of Solano County. “Expanding an online presence is an essential component for our small business community in today’s growing digital marketplace.”

The program will be open to 50 Solano businesses, all of which will participate in a partner summit later this March, and receive two, one-hour trainings from Facebook on social media — all at no cost. The program fellowships will be held from late-May to mid-August at 20 hours a week, paid for by the WDB and supported by Facebook.

The WDB and Facebook are currently recruiting 70 job seekers and 50 businesses/non-profits to participate in the program, with an application deadline of Saturday, March 13. Additional details will be discussed with businesses and individuals before a firm commitment is expected.

Job seekers who wish to participate must have a high school diploma (or higher), and either be currently unemployed or underemployed. No relevant work experience is required; however, applicants are asked to be digitally minded and comfortable with social media.

Qualified jobseekers (age 18 and over) will receive:

• Exclusive training, resources, & support from Facebook (March — May 2021)

• A 12-week competitively paid remote internship with a local business or non-profit

• A Facebook employee mentor

• Facebook Digital Marketing Certification

• Networking opportunity with businesses and peers

• A path to a career in Digital Marketing

Businesses who participate must be looking to expand their business model digitally and be willing to host a paid-for, Facebook trained and vetted Digital Marketing intern for summer 2021.

Qualified businesses will receive:

• Connection to a Digital Marketing fellow trained and vetted by Facebook

• Exclusive training, resources, & support from Facebook (March — August 2021)

• Twelve weeks of a parttime fellow paid for by the Workforce Development Board of Solano

• A $500 Facebook/Instagram ad credit with improved social media & digital presence

• Networking opportunity with peers and Facebook program staff

To learn more about the WDB’s Facebook Career Connections Program and to apply can do so by completing a short form at https://careerconnections.fb.com.