Gap Inc. announced that it has joined the White House initiative Skills for America’s Future, a new public-private partnership focused on workforce development and job placement for community college students. The fashion retailer will roll out a new pilot program entitled “Gap for Community Colleges” in seven cities, which will offer community college students strategic job- and career-building skills to help take advantage of potential job opportunities.

Image Courtesy: www.retailbyme.wordpress.com

Skills for America’s Future were announced on October 4 President Obama at the President’s Economic Recovery Advisory Board (PERAB) public meeting. The program supports the President’s commitment to strengthen our nation’s community colleges and help rebuild the capacity and competitiveness of America’s workforce.

Beginning with Gap brand, the company will expand its community college partnerships, through a new program entitled “Gap for Community Colleges,” in seven new markets: Las Vegas; Denver; Houston; Atlanta; Detroit; Philadelphia, and; Washington, DC. The effort will include in-store job shadowing, interview and leadership training, and scholarships. Gap Inc. could expand the program to Gap stores in other markets, as well as to other divisions of the company: Old Navy, Banana Republic, Gap Outlet, and Banana Republic Factory Stores.

Through Skills for America’s Future, Gap expects to hire up to 1,200 students from community colleges in 2011, which represents approximately five percent of its annual hiring. In addition, Gap Inc. will make its in-house curriculum and training materials available to community college students nationwide, which alone are worth $1 million.