State Awarded $2.4 million to Improve Employment Opportunities for Adults and Youth with Disabilities

ATLANTA, November 5, 2015- The Georgia Department of Economic Development (GDEcD) was awarded $2.4 million by the U.S. Department of Labor (USDOL) to improve employment opportunities for adults and youth with disabilities. Georgia's Disability Employment Initiative is a partnership between GDEcD and the Georgia Vocational Rehabilitation Agency (GVRA). The initiative is designed to improve job placement rates for youth and adults with disabilities that live within two of the state's 19 Local Workforce Development Areas (LWDA).

'Georgia's workforce system succeeds when we provide every segment of our population with opportunities to utilize their skills in the workplace,' said Deputy Commissioner for Workforce Ben Hames, Georgia Department of Economic Development. 'This funding will be used to provide the kind of customized training opportunities that open doors to rewarding careers.'

Georgia was one of six states awarded this funding by USDOL. The grant will be distributed to Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) participants in Northeast Georgia, Richmond and Burke counties.

Georgia's Disability Employment Initiative will address six key elements necessary for the customization of career pathways including: building cross-agency partnerships, providing access to career technical and education resources, engaging business partnerships, providing customized support to jobseekers, offering on-the-job training opportunities and facilitating paid internships to participants.

'This grant will only strengthen our efforts to help Georgians with disabilities find and maintain employment,' said GVRA Executive Director Greg Schmieg. 'We're really excited about the opportunities that will come not only from this grant but also from our ongoing partnership with Economic Development. When we work together, anything is possible.'

For more information on employment opportunities within Georgia for those with disabilities, contact the Georgia Vocational Rehabilitation Agency.