The University of Antelope Valley has an offer for area employers looking to fill job vacancies: a check for $2,000. The Lancaster trade school will reimburse businesses that hire its graduates during the month of September as a way to take the guesswork out of the job search process, school officials said. The graduates must fill a position related to their field of study, can be part-time or full-time and must last at least 90 days. The $2,000 will cover the first month’s salary. The University of Antelope Valley is operated by Marco and Sandra Johnson, a Lancaster couple who started the school as the Antelope Valley Medical College. The Johnsons bought the former Antelope Valley Inn on Sierra Highway to convert into the main campus for the school. The Smart Hire Employer Incentive Program is a way to motivate employers to hire people who are eager to work, Sandra Johnson said in a prepared statement. “Our focus since day one has been to educate and find jobs for our graduates who want to make a difference in this community,” Johnson said. “The quality of our faculty and instructional methods makes us confident in the abilities of our graduates.” The university does the pre-screening process for the employers to save time, money and effort while finding the right candidate for their business. Lancaster Mayor R. Rex Parris commended the couple for stepping up to help its students and the city’s businesses in a tough economy. “This streamlined hiring process alone is a great enough incentive for any business to consider UAV graduates for employment,” Parris said. “The reimbursement deal is a guarantee and simply icing on the cake.” —Mark R. Madler
University opens wallet for Jobseekers
