program outline

In one of our efforts to address the root causes of poverty and need in the City’s Special Emphasis Neighborhoods, the Community Development division has partnered with several local residents, officials, employers and agencies to develop a Comprehensive Jobs Training/Improvement and Placement program called Lifelong Advancement through Diligence, Determination and Employment Resources (LADDER) .

LADDER is comprehensive in its approach as it addresses each individual participant’s needs through utilization of the program network.  This approach assists each participant in removing the barriers that diminish their chances of success. 

LADDER complements a community-wide effort to improve the living conditions of low and moderate income residents by affording them options focused on long-term results.  Participants are recruited from neighborhoods currently impacted by revitalization efforts.  This optimizes opportunities for neighborhood residents to benefit from the revitalization while reducing displacement.  The program also promotes the HUD Act of 1968, Section 3 requirements in directing job opportunities to low and very low income residents in government-assisted projects.

Under contract with Community Development, Sunbelt Human Advancement Resources, Inc. (SHARE) administers the LADDER program which assesses individual participants in forming unique “employment plans” geared at removing barriers to gaining family-wage employment.  Community Development and SHARE has partnered with  more than thirty (37) local service providers and employers  to offer pragmatic training that addresses current  job market demands. 

Eligible participants must reside with the city, be at least 18 years of age and earn less than 80% of area family median income.

national recognition

On January 22, 2004, the City of Greenville was presented with the Audrey Nelson Community Development Achievement Award for the Lifelong Advancement through Diligence, Determination & Employment Resources (LADDER) program. This Jobs Training/Improvement and Placement program was designed and developed by Community Development and then implemented by SHARE, Inc.

The Award is one of only 15 national awards this year presented by the National Community Development Association. The City’s award represented the only National Award from this source for a jobs training program. This national award recognizes the program’s comprehensive approach to addressing each participant’s barriers to family-wage employment with the final goal of sustained employment. Twenty-one individuals have already reached their employment goals with an annual increase in wages totaling over $381,763.00 (increased earning power within the low income community)! Beyond the obvious benefits, the 30+ partners (employers, service providers, faith-based community and individuals) who make up the LADDER Task Force also believe this program will allow low to low income residents the opportunity to participate in and benefit from the City’s neighborhood revitalization efforts.

For more information contact:

Rosalind Bryant, Chief Economic Dev. Facilitator
email: rbryant@sharesc.org
SHARE, Inc.
P.O. Box 10204
Greenville, SC 29603
864-269-0700 ext 255

David Gray, Financial Analyst/Grants Administrator
email: grayd@greatergreenville.com
Community Development
P.O. Box 2207
Greenville, SC 29602
864-467-4570